This is my third year of posting gift ideas for hard-to-shop for guys the week before Christmas. The 2024 and 2023 lists are still full of good ideas (they’re both embedded below), so check those out if none of these items catch your fancy.
I’m not recycling some random lists I saw online. Everything below is stuff I got myself since I posted the last list, so I am giving firsthand testimony that I as a middle-aged dude (a) own and (b) am pleased as punch with all of these items. Btw, none of these are affiliate links. This isn’t a side hustle, just an act of helpfulness.
- Collar Extenders are really great if you have a dress shirt that feels tight when you button the top button. They’re kinda magical. About $8.
- An Anker Extension Cord/Power Cube — this thing is great when you’re traveling. My hotel rooms never have enough outlets (or they’re in a weird place). I love this thing for how compact and useful it us. Has both regular outlets as well as USB ports for charging devices. Around $20.
- Ear Wax Removal Camera — I love this device so much. It would be handy for any task that requires seeing into a weird space (like trying to find a screw that fell into some machinery), but I use it for ear wax and it delivers. About $10.
- Silicone Body Scrubber — I have long been annoyed with so-called “shower-flowers” and I stumbled upon this device. Works perfectly and is way more durable than other solutions I have tried. This is the one I bought, but scrolling down to “products related to this item” I see lots of interesting alternative designs. Probably a weird standalone gift, but it could be nice as a stocking stuffer. This one is about $6.
- Business For The Common Good — I do a fair amount of reading in the faith & work space, and I don’t love most of what I read. It’s often superficial on either the business side or the spiritual side. This is one of the books I had to read for my doctoral program and it is solid on both fronts. I liked it more than anything else I’ve read on this topic. Around $12.
- A Rug With A Custom Logo — you could put your family initials or even a family or pet photo on here. I made the round one with the Chi Alpha circular logo and it sparks joy. The rug itself is not super high-quality, but the vibe it creates makes me happy. $17 and won’t arrive in time for Christmas, but file it away for an upcoming birthday or something.
I hope at least one of these helps you out with any last-minute shopping (or inspires you to buy a lil’ something for yourself). Again, the last two years’ lists are still helpful. See below. Also — Merry Christmas!