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Who\u2019s left on your holiday list? There are always a few people who are tough to shop for, and you told us the giftees stumping you the most are preteens\/teens, in-laws, and teachers. So, here are a bunch of of ideas, many of which are under $30\u2026<\/p>\n
TEENS AND TWEENS:<\/strong><\/p>\n Preteen and teens are notoriously hard to shop for, so here are a few ideas: a caf\u00e9 gift card with permission to order whatever they\u2019d like, or a silent basketball<\/a> so they can dribble even when parents are working. If they\u2019re style-conscious, consider a cute nightshirt (budget-friendly option here<\/a>), a gift certificate to H&M, or a cool phone case<\/a> (I\u2019d love this myself, ngl). Finally, if you\u2019d like a book recommendation for preteens, 11-year-old Anton and I are tearing through the graphic memoir Uprooted<\/a>, in which Ruth Chan recounts her childhood move from Toronto to Hong Kong.<\/p>\n TEACHERS:<\/strong><\/p>\n Now that my kids are in middle and high school, I feel more indebted to teachers than ever. (Anton\u2019s teacher recently had to ask the kids to ease up on the cologne, lol.) Share your appreciation with thank you notes, says a teacher named Kristyn: \u201cI pin them behind my desk to cheer me on tough days.\u201d Also, \u201cEmailing our bosses to share an anecdote about something we did for your child is THE BEST,\u201d adds Whitney. Gift certificates to neighborhood caf\u00e9s, lunch spots, or Target would come in handy all year. Keep in mind, \u201cTeachers have allllll the mugs,\u201d says Katie, but kids themselves can do no wrong, says Sarah: \u201cA leaf your child found will bring me to tears every time.\u201d And if all else fails, I swear by these earplugs<\/a> around yappy teenagers, and my boyfriend Freddie, who teaches history, admits, \u201cI always love a good scarf.\u201d<\/p>\n IN-LAWS\/GRANDPARENTS:<\/p>\n For the in-laws or grandparents, choose a personal gift, like a traditional snack, condiment or cookies from where you\u2019re from (I\u2019d do British shortbread or Michigan cherry jam). Or go for something they\u2019ll use regularly, such as a magazine subscription or duckhead umbrella<\/a>. Another approach is to consider their hobbies. If they love home decor, how about a a bow hook<\/a>? If they\u2019re big readers, consider this witty novel<\/a>, which topped many Best-of-2024 lists. Finally, a donation to a cause they care about is always a wonderful gesture.<\/p>\n Thoughts? Are these helpful? What other stumpers do you have in your life?<\/strong><\/p>\n P.S. Last year\u2019s hard-to-shop-for guide<\/a>, and the complete<\/em> 2024 Cup of Jo gift guide<\/a>!<\/p>\n Note: If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission or have a sponsored relationship with the brand, at no cost to you. We recommend only products we genuinely like. Thank you so much.<\/em><\/p>\n