Practical Gifts People Will Actually Use (And Think of You Every Time)

There are two kinds of gifts:

• The ones that get used once, maybe twice, and then live in a drawer.
• The ones that quietly get used every single day until they fall apart.

This list is the second kind.

If you’re going to spend money on someone you love, you might as well give them something that makes their life easier, safer, and/or more comfortable on a regular basis. Think: things they’ll reach for without thinking. The “I love this thing” items that become part of their routine.

These are the gifts that make people think of you again and again—because they’re actually useful.

Below is a short list of practical, use-all-the-time gifts, from under-$20 tools to a whole-home safety net, in order of price from lowest to highest.

The Practical Holiday Gift Guide for Everyone in Your Life (including the White Elephant!)

1. Auto-retractable box cutter ($19): how many times have you nearly sliced your hand with a knife cutting open an Amazon package? It’s only a matter of time until it actually happens… unless you switch to an auto-retractable box cutter. The blade slides back in as soon as you let go, so you can toss it in a drawer without worrying, and it’s much safer if little hands happen to find it. Comes in pink too ($20)!

2. A (dishwasher-safe) rotary cheese grater that doubles as a hand-safe mandolin ($23-33): the kitchen gadget for the person who loves to cook or just loves cheese. From adding fresh cheese to salad and pastas to slicing cucumbers and carrots without slicing your finger off, this is a never-knew-how-much-you-needed-it-til-you-got-it kind of gift. Comes in tons of colors to match anyone’s kitchen, too.

3. The Salad Pod ($25): perfect for the healthy, always-on-the-go person you know, this salad jar is great for building the perfect salad (complete with its own dressing container), then shaking it up and easily eating anywhere. Instead of a sad, soggy takeout salad, they get a fresh one that travels well and actually tastes good. It’s the kind of thing someone will use multiple times a week if it’s in their cabinet.

4. A really good quality t-shirt ($54): we all know the person that has lived in the same Hanes for years and there is nothing wrong with that – but a really good quality, soft T can make all the difference. Marine Layer’s cotton-bamboo blend is soft, light, and live-in-forever-able. Men’s and women’s are both $54. It’s not a “wow” gift when they open it, but it becomes the shirt they reach for over and over. That’s the point.

5. A stainless-steel salad spinner that doubles as a serving bowl ($56): why use 2 dishes when you can use 1? Also, we always opt for glass or metal in place of plastic when possible! If you want to splurge, you can get the Rosle version ($165), which is a glass top instead of plastic.

6. The best sheets they’ll ever own ($55-95/set, depending on size): made from organically grown bamboo, these sheets are the softest, most buttery-luxe you’ll ever touch, yet not so expensive that tears will be shed if something spills on them or, well, life happens. Pro tip: buy a set for yourself, too. You will not regret it.

7. Cashmere house slippers ($97-107): for the woman who literally has everything, and who either loves spending time at home, or who is on her feet all day. A little luxury she’d probably never buy herself.

8. Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Air Fryer ($160): we love this thing. Seriously, we use it for everything – from cooking a steak (yes, really) to reheating leftovers, this thing could replace both your microwave and your oven, and usually cooks everything in half the time it takes to cook in the oven. Most things cook in roughly half the time they would in a traditional oven. And because the main vessel is mostly glass, you cut down on exposure to some of the coatings used in older nonstick baskets (PFAs). For busy people, this is an “I cook more at home now” machine.

9. Shark WANDVAC cordless hand vacuum ($169): super slim and weighing in at only 1.4lb, this handheld vacuum is super strong and great for quick cleanups in the kitchen or around the home, for when you don’t want to drag the whole dang vacuum out. You can leave it on the charging base in the kitchen or laundry room and grab it for tiny messes in 5 seconds. It’s perfect for apartments, cars, stairs, and “I’ll just do this real quick” cleaning.
   
10. A home warranty from Total ($375-550): we obviously couldn’t leave this off the list! Coverage of all plumbing, appliance, electrical, and AC with zero copays and unlimited service calls – the ultimate practical gift. Instead of scrambling to find a plumber or AC tech at the worst possible time, they make one call and it’s handled. It’s an entire year of peace of mind wrapped into one gift.

The Gifts People Remember… Because They’re Used Often!

The best gifts don’t always photograph well… and they don’t always sparkle under the tree.

But they do something better:
They get used. Every day. Every week. All year.

A great T-shirt that’s worn 200 times. Sheets they sleep on every night. A box cutter that saves them from a trip to urgent care. A home warranty that saves them from a very expensive, very stressful emergency.

If you’re stuck on what to give this year, choose the thing they’ll reach for over and over—the one that quietly makes their life easier, safer, or more comfortable.

That’s the kind of gift that feels good to give and good to receive. And it’s the one that will keep you in their thoughts long after the wrapping paper is gone.

Happy holidays from the Total family!