Gifts for someone who has everything in the US

Four kinds of gift that work

People who have everything usually have enough objects. What they lack is time, novelty and reasons to go out. Skip the gadget aisle and pick one of four kinds of gift.

Something they use up. Chocolate, olive oil and plants disappear or keep changing, so they never become clutter. The Dandelion Makers' Set, the Brightland duo and The Sill subscription all fit here.

A project. Storyworth gives a parent a reason to write down their stories. The Ooni Koda 12 gives a keen cook something new to master. The Craighill puzzle is a smaller version of the same idea.

A donation they direct. The Kiva Card suits someone who would truly rather you bought nothing. They pick a small business to lend to and lend again when it is repaid.

Budgets that make sense

You do not need to spend much on someone who has everything. A small, excellent consumable often beats an expensive object. At the low end there are the Kiva Card, the Manta mask and the chocolate set.

The middle band covers Storyworth, The Sill, the Craighill puzzle, the HomePod mini and the Garmin sleep monitor. Most people land here for a parent or partner.

Above that, the Ooni and the Kobo are the big gifts. If several people are pitching in, one larger gift goes over better than several small ones.

Mistakes to avoid

Buying a nicer version of something they already own. A person with a good speaker does not want a second one in the same room. The HomePod mini makes sense for a kitchen without one, not as a replacement.

Giving a subscription that becomes a chore. Storyworth only works if they answer the weekly questions. The Sill bills monthly until someone stops it, and the inReach needs a paid plan. Know the person before you sign them up for twelve months of anything.

Asking them what they want. People who have everything say nothing, and they mean it. Ask a partner or child what they have been doing lately instead.

Timing

The Kiva Card arrives by email and Storyworth can be given by email, with the book coming at the end of the year, so this list works when you have left it late. The pushpin map is made to order, and Brightland ships within the US only. The Ooni arrives as a bulky box, so order it early.

Questions people ask

What can I give at the last minute to someone who has everything?

In the US, the Kiva Card and Storyworth can both be sent by email the same day. Print the email or write a card explaining what it is, so there is still something to hand over. If you can get to a shop, a bar of good single-origin chocolate is a fine thing to wrap alongside it.