Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

7 Perfect Gift Ideas for the Acquaintances in Your Life

A gift bag with a tie and tag for the recipient.
Chuttersnap

‘Tis the holiday season, a time for hanging mistletoe, baking sugar cookies, and figuring out what the $#% to get Sue from accounting for the office Secret Santa. Whether it’s a random coworker or your best friend’s cousin’s wife, buying gifts for acquaintances you don’t know well can be downright difficult. But thankfully, not impossible.

To help you out, we’ve rounded up a few gift ideas for the acquaintances in your life. They range from the artsy to the practical and are sure to help you navigate this tricky gift-giving task with ease.

Animal-Themed Gift

Four plates displayed on a white background with animal prints on the plates.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you know your acquaintance is really into a certain animal, get them something cute that features their favorite critter. It doesn’t matter if it’s a coaster, towel, blanket, print, fridge magnet, or mug — just make sure it offers up a subtle nod to their furry friend of choice.

Monogrammed Good

A monogrammed set showing two envelopes, a stamp, and scissors.
Monique Carrati

Need to get something for someone with slightly more sophisticated tastes? Consider going with a monogrammed gift!

You could do stationery, thank you cards, jewelry, or even a couple of rocks glasses — just keep the lines crisp and clean. It might seem like an overly simple idea, but the simplicity is actually what makes it such an elegant option. Plus, it’s personalized without you having to know too much about the person.

Candle

Brooklyn Candle Studio candles shown in and out of their boxes on display.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you need something for a gift exchange or Secret Santa, we recommend buying a fancy candle. We love Brooklyn Candle Studio, which packages all its delectable scents in super chic, minimalistic jars. Pro tip: Pick a neutral scent as you may not know the personal preferences of the recipient.

Desk Tchotchke

A home desk setup with a laptop, keyboard, mouse, plants, and lamp on top.
Nathan Riley

The best gifts are ones that are as gorgeous as they are useful, so brighten up your acquaintance’s workspace with a playful little desk tchotchke. Present & Correct sells a ton of utilitarian goodies that are sleek, cute, and totally gender-neutral.

Fun Tote

TacoCat tote bag displayed near a person's feet.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Another useful gift that’s fun and quirky is a book bag or tote. This could be a fantastic option for an individual with whom you have a warm connection but no real intimate relationship (think a friend’s mother or maybe the fiance of your partner’s sister). Take a peek around a site like Cafe Press and see if anything jumps out.

Framed Print

Framed prints leaning up against a wall.
Christopher Burns

If you really want to impress your acquaintance, get them a small framed art print. It might seem like too much for someone you don’t know that well, but it could be appropriate if you see the two of you getting closer in the future (say, your partner’s dad or a new roommate).

Society 6 is a favorite place to scope out new prints because you can choose your size and even have the print framed.

Grubhub Gift Card

Four GrubHub giftcards.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Everyone’s gotta eat, so give the gift of good food with a Grubhub gift card this season. If you’re unfamiliar with the company, it’s basically a food delivery service that partners with local restaurants to bring food right to the customer’s door. We can 4,000% guarantee that this gift will be appreciated and put to good use.

Well, folks, that does it for this guide to the best gifts to give an acquaintance! For more gift-giving inspiration, check out our guide to the best travel gifts for men.

Editors' Recommendations

Cody Gohl
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Cody Gohl is a Brooklyn-based writer who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, including travel, fashion, literature, LGBT…
The 20 best stocking stuffers for men in 2022
Best stocking stuffers: These small goodies are the perfect presents
stocking stuffers for men christmas stockings

The most wonderful time of the year can, at times, also be the most stressful time of the year. Shopping can be a great undertaking and can require a bit of time and effort to find the best present for that special man in your life. Whether you're buying a gift for your best friend, brother, son, dad, father-in-law, boyfriend, or husband, it can be tricky to find something for the man (men) you love. You don't always have to have the biggest or best gift in order to make them happy - sometimes, smaller is better. To help make this holiday season a little less stressful, we're sharing the best stocking stuffers to add to your cart. No matter who you're shopping for, you’ll find small and useful items that fit both his lifestyle and the holiday stockings.

Read more
The 14 Best Valentine’s Day Gifts for Men

When you think of the best Valentine's gifts, you might picture roses, chocolates, wine, and perhaps scanty apparel. While a gentleman can, by all means, enjoy flowers, sweets, and intimate garments, let's be honest; is that what anyone really wants? Shift your vision and picture a cool laptop case, a luxurious robe, and a high-quality sweater.

Don't overthink what makes a great gift for a man. When you do, you usually end up with something that will sit in its packaging for months. Instead, just ask what are the best gifts for men generally, then work from there. If he's a foodie and loves kitchen-related gifts, find a hot sauce brand or flavor he's never tried before. Make him a cocktail. And if he's into sneakers, get a new style from his favorite brand. A good gift is something he probably would not buy for himself, but will not want to be without once he has it. It's something truly thoughtful and selected with him in mind, not just picked at random.

Read more
Gift Your Family Starz for the Holidays With This Limited-Time Deal!
Starz streaming app full list of devices on display.

Looking for a last-minute gift idea for family or friends who love movies, TV shows, and streaming content? An excellent idea is to gift access to Starz. Don't forget yourself, either -- you could always gift a subscription to watch your favorite movies and shows! Starz has a limited-time special offer that drops the price of a new subscription for its streaming service down to $3 per month for the first three months. Normally $9 per month, that's an incredible $18 in savings during your first three months. It's also your last chance to catch fan-favorites before they leave Starz, like Elf, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and Jumanji: The Next Level. The special offer won't be available long, so take advantage while you can!

In addition to excellent movies -- like Bad Boys for Life, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, The Equalizer 2, Matilda, Bloodshot, and many others -- you can also catch a host of high-production, obsessable TV shows on Starz. Exclusives include the Power series, Heels, Blindspotting, P-Valley, American Gods, High Town, and beyond. In fact, Starz is one of the best streaming services for lovers of both movies and TV shows, original productions notwithstanding. We've even put together some lists to help you find the best shows on Starz, as well as the best movies on Starz, all streaming now.

Read more