What to Get a Person Who Has Everything for Christmas: Gifts They Don’t Already Have

The person who has everything is the hardest person to shop for. They don’t need more stuff. They already have the things they want. And if you buy them something they don’t have, it’s usually because they didn’t want it in the first place. The problem is that most gift advice for this person suggests “something personal” or “something unique,” which is vague enough to be useless. The real answer is more specific: give them something they can’t buy for themselves, something they wouldn’t think to buy for themselves, or something that gets used up.

What to get a person who has everything for Christmas covers gifts for people who are difficult to shop for because they already own what they need and want. The best gifts are consumable (they get used up), experiential (they can’t be owned), personal (they can’t be bought), or upgrades (they improve something the person already has). The worst are more stuff that adds to the clutter.

The right Christmas gift for the person who has everything is something that doesn’t take up space. Here’s what works, what to skip, and how to think about it.

The Four Categories That Always Work

Consumable Gifts

Consumable gifts are the best category for the person who has everything because they get used up. They don’t add to the clutter, and they can’t be regifted because they’re gone.

Good picks:

• A high-quality bottle of what they drink (the upgrade, not the same bottle they always buy)
• A box of good chocolate or truffles
• A small bag of fancy coffee beans or a tea sampler
• A jar of fancy jam, honey, or preserves
• A set of good spices or a spice subscription
• A gourmet food basket (cheese, crackers, and spreads)
• A snack box subscription (monthly delivery of snacks from around the world)

Why it works: The person who has everything doesn’t need more things, but they still eat and drink. A consumable gift is a treat they can enjoy and that doesn’t take up permanent space.

What to skip:

• Anything with nuts if they have allergies
• Anything that requires refrigeration if they’re not local
• A generic gift basket from a department store (low quality)

Experience Gifts

Experience gifts are the second best category because they can’t be owned. They don’t take up space, and they create a memory.

Good picks:

• Tickets to a concert, show, or game they’d enjoy
• A gift card to their favorite restaurant
• A spa day or a massage
• A cooking class or a workshop in something they’re interested in
• A weekend trip or a day trip
• A wine tasting or a brewery tour
• A museum membership or an annual pass to a local attraction

Why it works: The person who has everything doesn’t need more things, but they still value experiences. An experience gift is something they can enjoy without adding to their possessions.

What to skip:

• An experience they can’t attend (check their schedule first)
• An experience that requires travel if they’re not able to travel
• An experience that’s too physical if they have mobility issues

Personal and Sentimental Gifts

Personal gifts are the third category because they can’t be bought. They’re made by you or customized for the person, which means they’re unique.

Good picks:

• A photo album or a framed photo of a shared memory
• A custom piece of art or a commissioned portrait
• A handwritten letter or a book of letters
• A recipe book of family recipes
• A custom map of a meaningful location (where they met, where they got married, where they grew up)
• A custom piece of jewelry with a meaningful date, location, or message
• A book of memories from friends and family (everyone contributes a page)

Why it works: The person who has everything can’t buy a personal gift for themselves. It’s the one category that’s always unique because it comes from you.

What to skip:

• Anything too sentimental for the relationship
• Anything that’s clearly a regift

Upgrade Gifts

Upgrade gifts are the fourth category because they improve something the person already has. The person who has everything has things, but some of those things are old, worn out, or due for an upgrade.

Good picks:

• A better version of something they use daily (a quality wallet, a good water bottle, a premium pen)
• An upgrade to something they already own (a better knife, a better coffee grinder, a better tool)
• A replacement for something that’s worn out (a new belt, a new bag, a new phone case)
• An accessory for something they already have (a phone accessory, a camera accessory, a kitchen accessory)

Why it works: The person who has everything has things, but they might not have the best version of those things. An upgrade is a gift that improves their daily life without adding a new category of stuff.

What to skip:

• An upgrade for something they don’t use (if they don’t cook, don’t buy them a knife)
• An upgrade that’s too similar to what they already have (if they have a good knife, don’t buy them a slightly better one)

How to Choose the Right Gift

The key to choosing the right gift for the person who has everything is thinking about what they don’t have.

They don’t have more time. Give them an experience that saves time or creates time. A meal delivery subscription, a house cleaning service, or a weekend trip.

They don’t have more space. Give them something that doesn’t take up space. A consumable, an experience, or a digital gift.

They don’t have more stuff they want. Give them something they wouldn’t think to buy for themselves. A personal gift, a custom item, or an upgrade.

They don’t have your perspective. Give them something that shows you know them. A gift that connects to a shared memory, a hobby they haven’t mentioned in a while, or a treat they love but don’t buy for themselves.

What to Skip Entirely

More stuff. The person who has everything doesn’t need more things. Don’t buy them a decorative object, a gadget, or a novelty item. It will sit on a shelf and collect dust.

A gift card to a store they don’t shop at. A gift card is fine if it’s to a restaurant, a service, or a store they actually use. A gift card to a random store says “I didn’t know what to get you.”

A donation in their name. It’s a nice idea in theory, but in practice, it can feel like you didn’t get them a gift at all. If you make a donation, also give a small personal gift.

A generic “luxury” gift. A generic gift that’s supposed to feel luxurious (a fancy soap, a designer candle, a premium towel) is still a generic gift. It’s just more expensive stuff.

Anything that implies they need to improve. A gym membership, a self-help book, or a productivity tool. Give them something they’ll enjoy, not something that sends a message.

FAQ

What do you get someone who has everything for Christmas? Give them something consumable (good chocolate, fancy coffee, a quality bottle), an experience (tickets, a spa day, a restaurant gift card), a personal gift (a photo album, a custom item, a handwritten letter), or an upgrade (a better version of something they use daily). The key is giving something that doesn’t take up space.

How much should I spend on someone who has everything? Match the cost to the relationship. $25 to $50 for a casual relationship, $50 to $100 for a close friend or family member, $100 to $200 for a partner or parent. The key is thoughtfulness, not cost. A $30 consumable gift they love beats a $100 object they don’t need.

What are the best consumable gifts for someone who has everything? Good consumable gifts include a high-quality bottle of what they drink (the upgrade), a box of good chocolate, a bag of fancy coffee, a jar of fancy jam or honey, a set of good spices, or a gourmet food basket. The key is quality and specificity to their taste.

What are the best experience gifts for someone who has everything? Good experience gifts include concert tickets, a restaurant gift card, a spa day, a cooking class, a weekend trip, a wine tasting, or a museum membership. Check their schedule first and choose something they’d enjoy but wouldn’t book for themselves.

What should I avoid buying someone who has everything? Avoid more stuff (decorative objects, gadgets, novelty items), a gift card to a store they don’t shop at, a donation in their name without a personal gift, a generic luxury gift, and anything that implies they need to improve.

Is a gift card a good gift for someone who has everything? A gift card can be a good gift if it’s to a restaurant, a service, or a store they actually use. A $50 gift card to their favorite restaurant is better than a $50 object they don’t need. Choose a specific store, not a generic Visa card.

How do I find out what someone who has everything wants? Pay attention to what they complain about (something worn out, something they wish they had), what they talk about (a restaurant they want to try, a show they want to see), and what they do (their hobbies, their routines). Their daily life is their wish list.

References

• New York Times Wirecutter. “Best Gifts for People Who Have Everything.” https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/gifts/gifts-for-people-who-have-everything/
• Good Housekeeping. “Gifts for People Who Have Everything.” https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/gift-ideas/g29463927/gifts-for-people-who-have-everything/
• The Spruce. “Gifts for People Who Have Everything.” https://www.thespruce.com/gifts-for-people-who-have-everything-4150120