The delightful tear of wrapping paper, the high-pitched giggles that ensue, the never-ending sound of laughter and fun with a brand new toy – ahh, holiday shopping for kids is so easy to do and even easier to enjoy after the gift has been given. But not everyone on your holiday shopping list is going to be this easy to shop for, and in fact, you might need a little inspiration to get you going on the shopping train.

It might not even be inspiration that you need to possess – it might actually be inspiration that you need to give. It could be inspiration to work harder at a job or keep striving to reach that dream. Whatever it is that may end up being the perfect gift for those on your list that are hard to shop for, everyone needs a little inspiration, and here are just 6 ideas for those tough-to-buy-for folks that need it most.

The Grumpy Coworker

The grumpy coworker is the one who just can’t seem to get into the holiday spirit. Instead of bouncing around the office in holiday cheer like so many other folks around this time of year, this person will sit quietly at their desk with headphones on (NOT playing Christmas music), not participate in company holiday parties and completely tune out the joy of the season.

So what do you buy for this friend and coworker of yours that just doesn’t seem to like the holidays? You’re best off going with something simple for this person, like a plain ceramic mug that they can use to sip on coffee, or better yet, hot chocolate, if you wish to instill some holiday cheer in them. Find a mug that has a great quote on it, something either encouraging or funny, and stuff it with some hot cocoa mix, a candy cane and a peppermint spoon all tied up in red and green ribbons.

It’s a simple way to say “Happy Holidays” without being over-the-top for someone that you rarely see outside of work and who doesn’t particularly enjoy the holidays, anyway.

The Awesome Boss

Sticking to the office gifts for now, what do you get for the boss who you just love to come in and see every day (hopefully, we’re all so lucky!)? You want something that isn’t too personal, but is still thoughtful enough to say that you enjoy working for them and you’re thankful for your position in their company.

Here’s just one idea: take your company’s logo, or a photo of the whole team out at a company outing, and have it made into a holiday ornament. An ornament is thoughtful and will be put out year after year in your boss’ home, and nothing is more inspiring to a boss than knowing that their employees think this highly of them to give such a wonderful gift. It’s simple, it’s affordable and it’s definitely memorable.

The Mother-in-Law

Your in-laws can be some of the hardest people to shop for during the holidays, most specifically your mother-in-law, mainly because no matter how long you’ve known them, chances are you’ll still never know them like you know your own parents. Choosing a gift for them, then, can prove to be a major challenge.

For your mother-in-law this year, why not purchase some inspirational jewelry, like a necklace or a pair of earrings, that have a positive, uplifting, loving quote inscribed on the jewelry itself? Often times you can find these items at a relatively low cost (usually online), and it’ll be a simple, constant reminder to your MIL that you love her and you want her to be happy and stay positive always.

The Brother

Men are tough to find gifts for as it is, and your brother makes it even tougher sometimes because, well, he’s your brother, and that’s his goal in life – to make your life more difficult.

If he is of age, consider purchasing a Beer of the Month Club membership on his behalf. These things are everywhere, so it’s not like they’re hard to find, and they really are a gift that keeps on giving. He’ll receive a certain number of craft beers from across the world every single month for as long as you choose to purchase his membership for (careful – the longer you’re a member, the more money you pay – if you have to stay on a budget, choose a short membership, like 3 or 4 months). Plus, they send along info about where the beer was brewed and the history and stories behind each brewery.

It’s a perfect way to say “I love you” and “I’m thinking about you all year long, not just during the holidays” and even “I care about your interests, too.” The next logical step is an across-the-country beer tour with your big or little bro, but save that for a time when you have a ton of vacation days left and nothing better to do, of course!

The Spouse

Ahh, the spouse. The one person on your list that is either the absolute easiest person for you to shop for, or possibly the complete most difficult one. If you’ve been together for many, many years, you might even be running out of ideas, but you know that you have to get something extra special for the one you love during the holidays.

Depending on the kind of person that your spouse is, a different gift might inspire him or her to do one thing or another versus someone else who is entirely different. That said, one great gift that will convey love and thoughtfulness perfectly is a custom homemade blanket with a hand embroidered love quote in one corner. It sounds harder than it is.

All you really have to do is hit the fabric store, choose 2 prints of fleece that your spouse may like, cut strips all the way around both pieces and tie the strips to each other to make a double-sided blanket with little fringe knots on the edges. The embroidery is easy, too – just pick a color of thread that goes with the blanket and is visible, draw your quote out on the fabric first, then stitch over it. You can remove the marker outline with a simple fabric cleaner.

Everyone loves to be all warm and cozy in the wintertime, and who knows, this custom, loving blanket may even inspire your spouse to snuggle up with you more than ever!

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Maya Richards is a freelance writer who loves the holiday season. She volunteers in a small shop in her hometown every year that mainly sells holiday employee gifts, so she gets tons of great ideas for everyone in her life from the shop!