Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner. It’s that time of the year again – pull out the winter coats in your closets, baked goods fill the air in kitchens and people are more pleasant in the streets. With the holidays fast approaching, there’s no denying that shopping for your loved ones need to be taken care of, and fast.

Gift-giving guides should also be all over the Internet these days, and while every list is valid, you need to make sure that the website you’re reading your recommendations from isn’t one-sided and doing it for the sake of their advertisers. Although, you should expect one or two options that are sponsored. After all, that’s how it traditionally works.

So whether you’re planning on giving generously or just want to make sure that you survive the gift-giving without inadvertently making someone feel less than satisfied, here are our recommendations:

A New Phone

Ok, this here is a wide-ranging classification. But the truth is: it should just be between iOS or Android. The new iPhone 11 range should be perfect for the teenager or college student in the family, or the nice, caring niece or nephew you have. If they’re more of an Android fan, make sure that you ask for what they prefer.

But safe bets should be the S10 line of Samsung, or the new One Plus 7T Pro. Even the latest Huawei phones are great alternatives. Take note as well that these are flagships so you’ll need to have a deeper pocket for them. If you’re looking for cheaper alternatives, look at older but still capable models like the iPhone XR, Samsung S9+, and Huawei Nova 5T. But don’t throw the old phone away – this post on Cell Phone Deal has some great ideas about how you can still continue to use this phone so that you are getting the most out of it.

Authentic Watches

For the person with a more refined taste, you’ll never go wrong gifting them with authentic watches. A Patek Philippe or a Citizen watch will be duly appreciated. Plus, it will probably last them a lifetime. Look for mechanical or high accuracy Quartz movement on the watch your planning to buy and make sure service and parts guarantees are favorable.

If you’re feeling generous and want to take the gift-giving to the next level, luxury watches should do the trick. Any Rolex watch will make the receiver’s eyes bulge, and they’ll be more than thankful for it. Omega watches are iconic in their own ways and perfect for the manly man in your life. It’s James Bond approved and NASA is keen on it as well.

An Aesthetic Yet Highly Functional Planner

For the working person in your family, maintaining schedules, keeping up with meetings and note-taking can be taken care of by a simple planner. The best planners should be the perfect size and weight that it can be stored in any handbag, and light enough to be carried around all day.

Save yourself the trouble of looking around bookstores and go to the nearest Starbucks or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf instead. These coffee shops usually give out not only beautifully-crafted but highly functional planners – all you have to do is collect stamps through getting coffee. Plus, the planners contain vouchers that can be used all year long.

Donate to a great cause

Non-government organizations and private foundations always need a little help. Giving back to a great cause, even just the minimum will not only feel good, but it will also certainly go a long way. You can either donate a couple of hundred dollars, but you can set aside your time to help as well depending on the cause and organization you’re helping.

Some worthwhile causes you can look into is foster care, suicide prevention lines, and organizations that help a specific kind of disease. The more personal the cause is for you, the more you’ll be willing to give, so take that into consideration as well.

Takeaway

Thanksgiving and Christmas are certainly two of the most wonderful times of the year. Giving back to the family and people you consider as a family is fun and fulfilling but don’t forget to be kind to yourself as well, and give yourself the favor of fulfilling something that you’ve been wanting for a long time.