Not sure what to get? Answer three questions, and you’ll land on a short list of ideas that fit the person and your budget.

Step 1: Who is the gift for?

Start with the person. Each section groups gift ideas by who you’re shopping for.

Step 2: How old are they, or what’s the occasion?

Age matters most for children, because a good gift at 2 looks nothing like a good gift at 9. Our guide to gifts for kids by age walks through each stage with safety notes.

Shopping for a birthday? Our birthday gift ideas by age cover everyone from a first birthday to a 90th. You can also browse all gift ideas by occasion.

Step 3: What’s your budget?

Decide the amount before you shop, and the choice gets easier. Our gift budget planner helps you set a total, split it by person and track every gift, with a free printable.

Every pick on Tidy Dollars shows an approximate price, and guides are grouped by budget: Under $10, $10–$25, $25–$50, $50–$100 and $100+.

How our picks work

Every idea is researched, not tested, and matched to a person and a budget. Each one tells you who it suits and when to skip it, and most guides include a lower-cost or homemade alternative. See how we choose gifts.