Buying the perfect gift for a loved one can be difficult sometimes. You want to make sure you’re giving them something personal that speaks to their individual personality and interests. But, you also want to make sure it’s something they will like and actually use — even if it’s a silly gift. 

If you’re looking for gift ideas, we’ve got you covered with this guide to buying a gift for a loved one — whether it’s your mom, grandpa, best friend or significant other.

Best Gift Ideas for Loved Ones:

Zodiac Sign Candle

For the astrology fanatic in your life, there’s no better gift than a zodiac candle. Birthdate Co. has fragrances for every sign like their Cancer candles. To make it even more personalized, you can even select the exact date of your loved one’s birthday. Each candle has been designed to emanate a lovely scent that speaks to the personality of every sign. On the birthday candles, a personalized character reading describes signs born on that day.

Funny Mug

It may seem like an obvious suggestion, but a cute, funny or even personalized mug can make for a great gift for parents and grandparents. Find a mug shape and size you like, and then customize it with a special message, a family saying or a funny joke. Cute graduation-themed mugs are also great gifts for recent graduates. If you want to really take it up a notch, give your parent or grandparent a custom mug with a family photo printed on it. These gifts are great for friends too.

Donate or Become a Member to an Organization

This gift is a bit more selfless than other options, but if your loved one has a cause or a group that they really care about, this could be a good option. For the bird lover in your life, perhaps a membership to The Audubon Society is the perfect gift. There are many other causes out there that allow you to purchase a gift membership or adopt an animal.

Jewelry or a Gift Associated with Their Birth Month

A great idea for a special gift is a piece of jewelry or another item tied to your loved one’s birth month. If you’re looking for jewelry, consider buying a necklace, bracelet or ring that features your loved one’s birth month. These gifts are special and often become like heirloom items passed down through the family. If you’re looking for a different kind of birth month gift, there are plenty of options. For example, an excellent August birthday gifts is a customized candle. Birth month flowers that have been delicately pressed or a hand-painted item featuring a birth month flower can be beautiful decor pieces your loved one will cherish. 

Photo Album with Pictures

This gift will require a bit more effort on the part of the giver, but it’s a heartfelt and sentimental way to show your loved one just how special they are to you. In the world of cell phones and the internet, we often forget to print photos of our more precious memories or fun times. 

You can upload photos to your local photo center on your phone or computer, print out your favorite images of you and your friends or family and then thoughtfully arrange them into a photo album that your loved one can hang on to and look back on for years to come. 

Personalized Gift Box

If you really can’t decide on one item for your loved one, why not consider a personalized gift box? Many companies and stores offer premade boxes with a theme like new parent boxes with gifts for couples with a newborn, birthday boxes with celebratory items and recently married boxes with items like champagne flutes. 

You can also find gift boxes or baskets with an item theme — for example, a chocolate gift basket for the chocolate lover in your life. If you want to make the gift more personal, you can try pulling together a gift box yourself. Find a nice box or basket at your local craft store, and then fill it with your loved one’s favorite items from snacks to wine to self care products like face masks and nail polish.

A Family Cookbook

A sentimental gift for the cook in your life is a custom cookbook. Take some of your loved one’s favorite recipes and family recipes, and then hand write them into a make-your-own-cookbook. Be sure to leave some pages blank, so your loved one can continue to fill in the cookbook with new recipes! 

You can also opt to get the book printed, for a cleaner look, but again, leave some space for new recipes to be added! If you want to combine this gift with a personalized cooking item like a wooden spoon or wine glass, you’ve got all the ingredients for the perfect gift!

Celebrate Your Loved One with a Special Gift

If you’re looking to buy a gift for a loved one, there are endless options of great gifts, so it can be hard to know where to start. Consider your loved one’s interests and personality. If they’re the type of person who loves astrology and the stars, giving a zodiac-related present like a Scorpio candle is a great way to make them feel special and get a gift that they’ll love.