Nine Great Alternatives for Generic Holiday Gifts

by Alison Syrett Cleary


Paperweights, shrink-wrapped shower products, mall-brand candles-all those generic, extra gift-y gifts-aren't necessary bad presents. People can usually find some use for that sort of stuff. Really, the only problem with giving a standard-issue something is that it seems hurried and impersonal, as if you didn't put any thought into it. Think about it: who unwraps a mini zen garden kit and says, "Wow, they so get me"?

Gift clichés are tricky, there's no way around it-which is why I've included less-expected alternatives for nine generic presents in the slideshow above. Although my picks are all crowd pleasers, you'll find that each one is more special than your average holiday-themed toiletry or office supply, so no one on your list will feel slighted. Click through to kick up your gifting game.

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