Around 79% of students at Bellaire have received a gift they didn’t like.

To avoid this issue, it’s best to start thinking of Christmas gifts well in advance so your family and friends aren’t disappointed. Thankfully, I have curated a list to help you throughout the hectic holiday season.

Girls:

Anything monogrammed: Personalized gifts are always a good idea! Almost anything can be monogrammed, like stationary, journals, bags, etc. This gift also shows that you actually put effort into the gift well in advance, and you didn’t run to the store on Christmas Eve because you forgot to buy a present.

UGGs: These shoes are perfect for every day during fall and winter. They can be styled in so many ways, and they’re super comfy! Some popular ones are the Tasman, Tazz and Ultra minis, but everybody has different preferences in style.

Blankets: In my opinion, this is the ultimate gift. The right blankets are comfy, cozy and just perfect for when it finally gets cold outside. One of my favorites is Barefoot Dreams, but I think that a girl would be satisfied with whatever blanket you give her.

Gratitude journal: These have risen in popularity over the past few years, and rightfully so. I don’t have one of these myself, but I have read about the benefits of using this journal daily. Gratitude journals help with stress management, enhance relationships and improve mental health according to the National Institute of Health. This would be a good gift depending on the person to be honest, but it’s a safe gift to give somebody. They might not use it, but the thought is there.

Water bottle: So many water bottles have gone through the rotation of being the “trendy water bottle,” like Stanley or Owala. You’re either a Stanley or Owala girl. Take that into consideration if you want to buy a girl a water bottle. I have both, but I found that I’m mostly a Stanley girl since I like the Stanley lid more. If you really want to knock it out of the ballpark, monogram the water bottle with the girl’s initials or name!

Jewelry: Similar to the water bottles, most girls wear either gold or silver jewelry. They just don’t mix well together. A nice necklace, ring, earrings or bracelet is a great gift. You could also get this girl a jewelry box so she does not lose the jewels you just bought her.

Guys

Watch: Watches are timeless, and they come in so many different styles. The price range for these are a bit higher. Some brand suggestions are Casio, Seiko and Hamilton. Definitely consider this for a guy.

Sports jersey: Any sports jersey for a guy is a great gift. It can be a football, basketball, baseball, hockey or any other sports jersey from their favorite team or player. If you are buying a sports jersey from a Houston team, DICK’S Sporting Goods or Academy will probably have it. If you’re buying a jersey from another team, you can order it online.

Baseball hat: This ties into the sports jersey, and a guy will usually wear this. You can buy them a matching jersey and hat, or just a hat.

College merch: This is a great idea for that diehard college football fan, even if they aren’t attending or plan to attend that college. College merch can usually be bought in stores near the college. For example, you could buy University of Texas merch at the University Co-op.

Cologne: Some guys are really into cologne, so this would be an awesome gift for them! Some suggestions are Dior Sauvage, Bleu de Chanel and Versace Eros.

Headphones: You can get this guy some nice headphones to listen to music with. If that doesn’t work out, maybe try getting him a record player or records.

Stocking stuffers:

Christmas candy: Tons of candy brands have limited edition Christmas candy, so this is a great opportunity to gift that. Maybe their favorite candy comes in a special peppermint flavor for Christmas!

Socks: Socks are probably the most useful gift you could give someone. They can be fuzzy socks, warm socks, thick socks, regular socks, funny socks, etc.

Lip gloss/chapstick: The cold weather makes lips very dry, so lip gloss and chapstick come in handy. There are tons of flavors and colors, so choose wisely! Some good holiday flavors to choose are peppermint, sugar cookie and candy cane.

Everybody says “happy holidays” for a reason! The holidays are meant to be surrounded by loved ones in the comfort of each other’s presence. Just remember that this is a list of the best gifts for girls and guys, but you don’t need to give somebody a gift that costs money if it’s given out of love and the holiday spirit. Sometimes the best gifts are ones that can’t be bought with money, but this is a good starting point if you need ideas.