Birthday Gift Ideas for People Who Say They Don't Want Anything
A curated list of five reliable, everyday gifts for the friends, coworkers, and family members who insist they don't need a thing — but you still want to show up with something.
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We all have those people: the friends-of-friends, coworkers, even aunts and cousins that insist on the fact that they don't want anything for their birthday. Chances are, you still need to get them a present anyway, putting you in a universally felt position: searching for a gift for someone that says they don't need any more clutter in their lives.
Well, lucky for you, we have just the thing: a perfectly curated list of the top 5 items of the 21st century to fuel the desires your acquaintance didn't know they had.
Coasters
First off on this list is a pack of affordable and reliable coasters. We all know what those dreaded rings and coffee stains look like on our nice coffee tables and home office desks, and yet we all keep putting our mugs down on the raw surface each time. Whoever your companion is, help make sure they never have to scrub coffee rings out of their countertop ever again. These Lazebox Coasters (only around $8 on Amazon) are a perfect addition to everyone's home. Along with their practicality, they're easy to clean, can fit into any home decor setting, and are made out of a soft cotton and linen blend so your acquaintance doesn't have to worry about their coasters scratching their furniture. Choose between 14 different color themes to match your friend's vibe, from vibrant reds and blues to modern neutrals.
A Weighted Blanket
Next is a fan-favorite and a wonderful enhancement to anyone's home: a comfy weighted blanket. This weighted blanket on Amazon has 32 different color options ranging from around $36–90. You can also choose the size and weight of the blanket, personalizing it for the person who will be receiving the gift. If you've never used a weighted blanket before, you'd be delighted to find out it's just like getting a comfy hug from your favorite person. Its equal weight distribution helps everyone, at any stage in their life, fall asleep faster.
I have a great anecdote about weighted blankets that inspired me to include them as one of the best gifts for people who say they don't want anything — a couple months ago, my mother had been complaining about how much work she had to do and how she wasn't getting any sleep. Sound familiar? Anyway, I could see it in her sluggish movement and confused demeanor that sleep deprivation was a pretty negative force in her life. After talking to her about it and later picking out a weighted blanket in her favorite color (purple), she thanked me for days for introducing something so meaningful in her life. My mother felt touched that I was actively taking part in making her daily life a little easier, one gift at a time.
A Reliable Tumbler
After all that rest from the weighted blanket, your mornings should be perfect. Take that perfection with you! A reliable tumbler is not something to take lightly. Of course, nothing is better than taking that first sip of your homemade coffee or tea and it being the ideal temperature. Keep your drink warm or refreshingly cool with this acclaimed YETI tumbler (around $35 on Amazon). With almost 50 different design options, you'll be sure to find one that your coworker, friend, or family member will use day to day.
In my family, we have at least three tumblers (all different colors) that we keep in rotation. I constantly find myself whisking up a matcha latte and bringing it with me to class, and I find that the 20oz size is not too big or too small, and actually fits in my car cupholder. You don't even need to just use it in the winter! My dad uses his navy blue YETI tumbler frequently during the summer to keep his iced black coffees extra cool. Even if the special someone that is receiving this gift might already have one, another tumbler in another color (perhaps cherry blossom pink, solar flare red, or royal blue?) just means more options and less doing the dishes just to have your favorite tumbler clean again for the next outing.
A Monogrammed Tote Bag
Nothing says personalized like a monogrammed tote bag that looks like it belongs on a summer trip to the Hamptons or a Sunday-night trip to the grocery store. This Lands' End Pre-Monogrammed Letter Canvas Tote Bag (around $50 on Amazon) is a little pricier than the past couple of options on this list, but is so worth it — when someone says they don't want anything, a tote bag that is already monogrammed with an initial is one of the best ways to go about the situation. A tote bag is one of the most versatile things you can own, and it's definitely a safe card to play when your friend or family is a little indecisive. With each letter coming with its own vibrant color, the recipient is sure to love this.
A Portable Charger
Last but certainly not least is one of the items I personally find to be the most life-saving and underappreciated: portable chargers. From impromptu all-day outings to planned concerts that are hours long, no one knows just when their phone could die — often, in the most important situations. Make sure your friends and family never get stranded with this handy portable charger from Amazon (around $24).
To illustrate just how important portable charging banks are, I'd like to include a story from my own life; a time when I was often unprepared and putting myself in risky situations. I was on a trip to New York City with some friends when the inevitable happened — I glanced at my phone and saw it was going into low power mode. Those three dreaded words sent me into a spiral, wondering if I should raise the alarm and make it known to my group that my phone, which we had been using for directions, could die at any moment. Thankfully, I quickly turned us around and backtracked a little bit to find a convenience store. Although I made some friends angry that I was unprepared, I swept up a portable charger, hastily paid for it, and immediately plugged it in. The sigh of relief that escaped my lips could have blown over the three little piggy's straw house. I know that getting someone a portable charger for their birthday might not sound too enticing, but if you can save your friend, coworker, or family from the type of situation I found myself in they would be eternally grateful. Choose practicality.
As an Amazon Associate, Sunbrd earns from qualifying purchases. The author chose every product in this post on its merits.