How to Find Great Gifts for Your Brother or Son

Choose a gift for your brother or son that reflects his personality.

Finding a great gift for your brother or your son doesn't have to be as difficult as it sometimes seems. Always keep in mind your brother's or son's personality when choosing a gift. When they're little, they're likely to tell you directly what they want; when they're grown up, try asking your brother's or son's spouse or partner for gift ideas. Financially speaking, it may be wiser to buy smaller gifts for Christmas or Hanukkah, and save the larger presents for a milestone birthday. You can also buy a gift with another sibling or a spouse to afford the present your brother or son really wants.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Consider the gift occasion for your brother or son. If it is a special birthday such as his 18th, you need a considerable gift that reflects this milestone. For example, give him the latest smartphone or electronic device for an 18th or 21st birthday. Some electronics can be personally engraved to mark the special occasion.

2. Choose a gift that reflects your brother's or son's personality. If he loves sports, tickets to see his favorite team play would work. Or consider personalized sports equipment, such as a backpack or a fair-trade basketball that is eco-friendly.

3. Choose a humorous gift that will make your brother or son laugh out loud. A miniature figurine that is special ordered to look just like him would give your relative a good laugh. Send photos of your brother or son to become immortalized into a mini-figure. Choose from different themes, such as college graduate or rock star.

4. Donate money to his favorite charity as a gift. Money can be given in his name to an international charity such as Heifer International, which uses donations to purchase livestock for families in the Third World, or to an environmental charity, such as the National Wildlife Federation, which protects wildlife (see Resources).

5. If your brother or son is a foodie, give him the perfect coffee maker. Choose a specialized coffee kettle that brews coffee in two minutes and 30 seconds. Throw in some beans and a grinder. Or choose a cookbook that covers his favorite regional cuisine.

6. Choose an indulgent gift for the brother or son who has everything, like a designer desk chair with lumbar support for his back and an architectural design. Another idea would be one of the latest high-tech showerheads; some feature colored lights, music and water pressure that varies from rain to waterfall.

7. Give a modern spin to a classic. Even if you turn to that men's gift standby, the wallet, today's possibilities range from those made with planet-friendly materials, to Tyvek, to steel.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use a gift as a replacement for being in touch with your brother or son. Sometimes a phone call or a visit is a great gift in itself.

References

• "Wired Magazine"; Things We Want; Mario Aguilar, et al., November 2010
• "Women's Health"; Best Gifts for Your Brother; Loren Chidoni
• Gifts: Unique Gifts for Men
• "Wired Magazine"; The Right Gift for the Geek Who Has It All; November 2010

Resources

• Heifer International: Give
• National Wildlife Federation