25 Thoughtful Gifts for Someone Who Has Everything
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There is always one.
The person who buys themselves what they want. The person who says, “I really don’t need anything.” The person who somehow makes you forget every single thing you know about them the minute their birthday approaches.
Shopping for someone who has everything is less about finding something they need and more about finding something that feels particularly, wonderfully them.
Which, conveniently, is my favourite kind of gift.
So if you’ve been searching for unique gifts for someone who has everything, here are 25 thoughtful ideas, with plenty of Canadian-made and Canadian-designed finds along the way.
First: stop trying to find something they need
This is where I think we get stuck. We ask: What could they possibly need? Probably nothing.
Instead, think smaller. What makes them laugh? What are they always talking about? What does their Saturday morning look like? Are they the person carrying a novel everywhere? Do they disappear to the cottage whenever possible? Do they have very strong opinions about mugs?
The best gifts usually come from noticing those little things. Here’s where I’d start.
For the person who buys themselves everything
1. A tiny luxury they wouldn’t justify buying themselves
Fancy soap. A beautiful candle. Really lovely hand cream. A room spray that makes their house smell incredible. Nothing enormous. Nothing terribly practical. Just something that makes an ordinary Tuesday a little better. That, incidentally, is an excellent category of gift.
Curious pick: A Canadian-made artisan soap set or a lovely room and linen mist.
2. Something consumable
Consumable gifts are particularly good for people who insist they don’t need more stuff. Tea. Coffee. Chocolate. Beautiful soap. A favourite scent. They get the pleasure of having it without acquiring another permanent object that needs somewhere to live. Everyone wins.
3. The oddly specific thing
This is where great gifting gets fun. Not “a mug” — a mug that immediately makes you think of them. Not “a tote” — the tote with the phrase they would absolutely say. Specific beats expensive almost every time.
For the reader who already owns enough books
I say “enough books” cautiously because readers tend to reject the premise entirely. Still, buying a book for a serious reader can be surprisingly tricky — they may already own it, have read it, or have Thoughts about the edition. So buy around the reading instead.
4. A very good book tote
A proper book tote has to carry three things:
- The book they’re currently reading.
- The book they might read next.
- The completely unnecessary book they bought while they were out.
Those are the rules.
Curious pick: the Books & Breakfast Club Tote, or another literary tote that feels particularly them.
5. A literary mug
Readers and hot beverages have entered into some sort of ancient pact. I don’t make the rules. A clever literary mug paired with tea or coffee makes a small gift feel instantly more personal.
6. A reading journal
Especially good for the reader who likes keeping track of what they’ve read, what they want to read, favourite lines, five-star books and the books they would like to discuss at length with anyone willing to listen.
7. Bookish clothing that isn’t terribly obvious
Bookish doesn’t have to mean giant stacks of books printed across everything you own. A quiet literary reference, a beautifully designed sweatshirt or something that makes another reader do a little double-take can be much more fun.
Curious pick: something from our Book Related Fun collection or Buy Me Books & Tell Me I’m Pretty for the person who prefers their literature with a little cheek.
For the homebody
8. Something that makes home feel nicer
Not home decor, necessarily — think atmosphere. A favourite scent. A beautiful mug. A cozy throw. Something for the bedside table. The best homebody gifts quietly become part of someone’s routine.
9. A puzzle worth leaving on the table
A beautiful puzzle is one of those gifts people rarely buy themselves but are delighted to receive. I especially like ones that are pretty enough that you don’t mind seeing them half-finished for a few days.
Curious pick: our Northern Camping 1000-piece puzzle, designed in Canada, for the person who would happily teleport themselves to a quiet lake under the stars.
10. A really good mug
Yes, another mug. I own a gift shop — I am contractually obligated to defend mugs. But there is absolutely a difference between a mug and their mug. The one they reach for first. The right weight. The right size. The one that makes them smile. That is a perfectly good gift.
For someone who doesn’t want more stuff
11. Something useful, only nicer
This is one of my favourite tricks: take something they already use and give them a version that’s more beautiful, more interesting or made by someone worth supporting.
- Soap
- A notebook
- A tote
- Tea
- A kitchen towel
Useful can still feel special.
12. Something they can do
A puzzle. A craft kit. A journal. Something to make. Experiences don’t always need reservations and tickets — sometimes the gift is simply an excuse to spend an afternoon doing something different.
Curious pick: a wooden stained-glass-style paint kit made in Ontario. Unexpected, creative and, importantly, not another thing they could have bought at the mall.
13. A beautiful everyday object
There is a certain person who would never ask for a decorative tray, a really nice notebook or a beautiful little dish — and yet uses it constantly once they have it. Those are excellent gifting odds.
For the person who loves Canada
14. Something Canadian without putting a maple leaf on absolutely everything
I love Canadiana. But Canadian gifts can be quieter than red plaid and enormous flags. Think Great Lakes. Canadian landscapes. Local artists. Familiar places. Nostalgic references. Things made here. Something that says home without shouting it.
15. A Great Lakes piece
For the person whose summer plans somehow always involve water. Jewellery, prints, clothing and small accessories inspired by the Great Lakes make particularly lovely gifts because they can hold a very specific meaning — the lake they grew up beside, the cottage, the beach they return to every summer.
Curious pick: a Great Lakes necklace.
16. Something designed by a Canadian artist
There is something lovely about being able to tell the recipient a little about where their gift came from — who designed it, where they live, what inspired it. The story becomes part of the gift.
(psst...this print, my favourite Ontario beach...never have I ever had a more perfect beach day then here, with my favourite ladies)
For the person who is hard to shop for because you don’t know them that well
This is a different category entirely — teachers, hosts, coworkers, your cousin’s new partner, the neighbour who did you an enormous favour. You want thoughtful. You do not necessarily want intimate.
17. A really lovely consumable
This is where tea, coffee, soap, candles and other small luxuries shine. They feel generous without requiring you to know someone’s precise taste in home decor.
18. A great notebook
Almost everyone can find a reason to use a notebook. And if they can’t, it can sit beautifully on a desk while they pretend they are going to become a person who journals. I support both outcomes.
19. A small Canadian-made gift
Something locally or Canadian made automatically gives you a little story to tell with it. “I found this from a Canadian maker and thought you’d like it” feels a lot more personal than grabbing something from a giant aisle on the way to the party.
20. A gift under $50 that doesn’t feel like a compromise
Price and thoughtfulness are not the same thing. There are plenty of really good gifts under $50: mugs, jewellery, totes, stationery, puzzles, soaps, candles, accessories and small pieces of home decor. You don’t have to spend wildly for a gift to feel generous.
For the person with a very specific personality
These are actually my favourite people to shop for.
21. Something funny
Not generically funny — their funny. The mug that makes you hear them saying it. The card you almost don’t need to write anything inside. The mildly inappropriate thing you know they will immediately show someone else. A good laugh is a very respectable gift.
22. Something tied to where they’re from
A hometown gift can be surprisingly emotional — a street, a lake, a neighbourhood, a familiar phrase. For someone who has moved away, especially, a little piece of home can land much harder than something expensive.
Curious pick: something from our Chatham-Kent Collection for people who carry CK with them wherever they go.
23. Something for their niche little obsession
Birds. Gardening. Books. Camping. Coffee. The lake. Stationery. Whatever they will happily discuss for twenty uninterrupted minutes — lean in. People love receiving gifts that tell them their particular weird little corner of joy has been noticed.
And for the truly impossible person...
24. Make a little collection instead of one big gift
Three tiny things can be much more fun than one large thing. Try:
- A mug + favourite tea + chocolate
- A notebook + nice pen + funny sticker
- Artisan soap + hand cream + little dish
- A book tote + bookmark + coffee shop gift card
It feels curated, which is really another word for I thought about this.
25. When in doubt, give them the choice
There are times when a gift card is genuinely the right answer — especially when the shop itself has been chosen thoughtfully. A gift card to somewhere that reflects their interests still says: I know you. It just also says: I respect that you may have extremely specific opinions. Fair enough.
So, what do you buy someone who has everything?
You don’t need to find something they’ve never seen before. And you definitely don’t need to spend more just because they’re difficult to shop for.
Pay attention to the tiny things:
- The book permanently tucked into their bag
- The lake they talk about all winter
- The ridiculously specific sense of humour
- The scent they always choose
- The mug they always reach for
Those little clues are usually where the good gifts are hiding.
Because the best gift for someone who has everything isn’t really about giving them more. It’s giving them something that makes them think: You know me. And that’s the bit that matters.
Looking for more ideas? Explore our 35 Thoughtful Canadian Gift Ideas They’ll Actually Love, browse Canadian Gifts Under $50, or wander through The Curious Gift Co. until something makes you say, that’s them.
Small things, well chosen.
FAQ: Gifts for Someone Who Has Everything
What is a good gift for someone who already has everything?
Look for something personal rather than something expensive. Small luxuries, consumable gifts, hobby-related finds, experiences, beautiful versions of everyday items and gifts connected to a favourite place or interest can all work well.
What do you buy someone who says they don’t want anything?
A consumable or small experience is a good place to start. Think artisan soap, coffee or tea, a puzzle, craft kit, candle, favourite treat or another small item they can enjoy without adding permanent clutter.
What are good gifts for a hard-to-shop-for person?
Start with what you know about how they spend their time. Readers might enjoy literary accessories rather than another book. Homebodies may love a cozy everyday luxury. Lake lovers might appreciate something connected to a favourite place. The more specific the connection, the more thoughtful the gift tends to feel.
What are some thoughtful Canadian gift ideas?
Canadian-designed puzzles, locally made soaps, Great Lakes-inspired jewellery, literary gifts, Canadian-made home goods, stationery and products from independent Canadian makers are all thoughtful options.
Do thoughtful gifts need to be expensive?
Not at all. A well-chosen $15 or $25 gift can feel much more personal than an expensive item picked without much thought. The trick is choosing something that reflects the person receiving it.