Get gift buying all wrapped up
Buying the perfect present can be a daunting task but we've taken away the stress and hunted down some gorgeous gifts so you don't have to. If you’re stuck for ideas or simply hate shopping, take a look at our great pressie ideas at affordable prices to keep everybody smiling and make life that little bit easier. Gifts for him Think beyond the usual boring old socks and ties for the men in your life. There's nothing dull here - just fantastic gifts that will put a big smile on their face.
- Does he fancy himself as a bit of a George Clooney or perhaps a George Lucas? If he would love to see his name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame check out this personalised film star calendar for £14.95 from Gettingpersonal.com. You can spell out any name you want and it will be cleverly integrated into the twelve Hollywood-inspired pictures along with a personalised message of up to 150 characters on the front cover.
- A great gift for a gizmo addict could be the i-Wallet which functions as a chic black leather wallet complete with a rechargeable digital photo viewer. You can download up to 16Mb of photos, set up slide shows, and even record messages to accompany the pics. Simply connect the viewer to a PC and upload any photos you want so that the man in your life can keep his loved ones close to his other great love - his money! Check out Amazon for a great price at £24.98.
- If you want to find a more individual gift why not try Cafepress where you can either upload your own image or select an image on the site, and have them placed on various items including t-shirts, mugs and mouse pads. There are literally millions of images to choose from so whether the man in question loves poker or heavy metal you’ll be able to find a great selection. The prices are in dollars so you will be saving lots with the exchange rate. For other sites where you can print a digital image onto clothes try PhotoBox and SpreadShirt.
- For a nostalgic gift ideal for a man who is still a big kid at heart try out this Goonies Gift Box and let him relive his youth with a basket full of retro goodies like sherbet fountains and popping candy for £22.99. Once all the sweets have gone he can keep the tin box as a souvenir.
- For the metrosexual man a grooming kit is sure to be a winner and they can be picked up from most of the big department stores or specialised websites like Maleorder and Poshgeezer.
Gifts for her Whether you're looking to say 'I love you', 'Happy Birthday' or even 'I'm really sorry' we've got the perfect presents for your loved ones.
- If she loves to spend time in the garden but prefers her green fingers to have pink nails she might like this gardening set from the Pink Toolbox Co which you can buy from Amazon for £19.20. It comes with all the tools and gloves she’ll need and even some hand cream to restore glamour after a hard day’s digging and pruning.
- Us girls love to be pampered so toiletries are always a safe bet. Lots of shops and department stores do great gift packages to make smellies that little bit more special. The Body Shop has lots of bath, fragrance and skin care items ranging from less than a tenner to £35 and delivery is free for purchases over £20.
- If you dread the thought of walking into a shop to buy clothes for someone else don’t fret because there are lots of great online stores where you can get fashionable garments at great prices. All you need is the correct dress size so sneak a peak at one of her labels and check out online fashion stores such as ASOS or find out which high street shops she uses and browse through their online sites, keeping an eye out for any online discounts. Go to the special offers section on the Dorothy Perkins website to see what bargains you can find on jeans and shirts.
- For all things girly check out a website called Hot Pink Angels which is full of irresitible trinkets, candles, candles, jewellery and fabrics, with lots of options for mums, sisters and girlfriends.
Don't forget to check out our articles on buying flowers and Mother's Day gifts for more ideas. Gifts for kids Let's face it, there really isn't any point spending lots of money on presents for your kids because they'll either be bored of it in a week or it will get broken within days. Instead, look for affordable gifts to keep them entertained for hours.
- Go to John Lewis for great discounts on selected items in the boyswear section - like these indigo jeans (reduced from £15 to £7.50) and these orchid print board shorts for £4.50.
- For a fantastic way to spend time time with your offspring why not get creative with an arts and crafts kit? The Early Learning Centre has lots of fun collage materials like pom-poms, glitter, and feathers to decorate a card, box, or anything you choose.
- Let their imaginations run wild with fancy dress which you can either make yourself with some inspiration and step-by-step help from guide books like this or buy from a shop like Woolworths where fancy dress costumes for various age groups are priced from £8 for this very sweet Butterfly Fairy outfit to £20 for this reversible Spiderman costume.
- Keep your kids active and buy them toys that will get them in the garden having fun and running about! Wilkinsons have lots of cheap toys ideal for outdoor play like this First Swingball cricket set for £10.
Gifts for under a tenner
When it comes to giving presents it really is the thought that counts and doesn't have to cost a fortune. Here are some fab gifts that will show you care without burning a hole in your pocket. - If you’re having a bad hair day, straightening irons can come to the rescue but they can also cost a fortune. Check out BHS who have these ceramic ones for a mere £6 and they come in pink so they look cute too.
- A photo album can be a fantastic present for anyone especially if you fill it up with lots of lovely memories you’ve shared with the recipien. You can find them in lots of designs and sizes so you’re bound to find one suitable. There are quite a few girly looking options but we like this silver one from Woolworths which is a real bargain at £7.99 and ideal for a man with its simple but stylish design.
- Books are an excellent gift choice because you can find one to suit almost anyone. You could get a biography of your brother's favourite sports star, some chick-lit for your sister, a cookbook for your mum, or for someone who struggles with reading, an audio book could be the perfect choice.They are available from most high street book shops which have a fairly wide range of genres to pick from, or have a look at discounted audio books on Amazon where there are lots of choices for under a tenner.
Have a look at our bag a bargain article for more regularly updated discounts and special offers. Special occasions Is there a wedding round the corner? Has your son has just passed his driving test? Check out these gifts for something a bit different. - Why not try an engraved gift to mark the occasion in style. This website will deliver to the UK for free in 14 days and offers free engraving up to 40 characters (or less for smaller items) plus free stylish gift boxes which can be personalised with a suitable message or left plain.
- Celebrate the arrival of a baby with a memory box to store anything from first shoes to a first tooth. Memory Hands has a great range of elegant keepsake boxes but if you’re feeling creative why not buy a plain box of your choice and decorate it yourself with ribbons, buttons, glitter or whatever takes your fancy.
- Most of us like to celebrate with a glass or two of something tasty. Lots of stores do lovely gift packs, or for something a bit different why not personalise wine, champagne, or even spirits at Winegifts4u where you can use your own image or pick one of theirs and design a personalised label with any message?
- For a wedding or anniversary gift it's nice to give something that can be kept forever to remind them of their special day. Turn those memories into art by getting photos from the day printed on canvas. Photobloc's canvas printing service starts from £20 and it delivers for free to UK mainland.
Got some fantastic gift ideas of your own? Tell us all about it on the messageboards.
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