The joy of giving - gift ideas for the difficult to buy for

When it comes to giving, I love it. The problem is, every person on my list has unique qualities that I must match up with an equally unique gift. This being said, all my gifts must sing to me. By singing, I don’t mean they must be possessed with the “La La La’s!” Gifts must present a special quality for me to spend my hard earned money on them. I want to see the recipient’s face light up with absolute joy. This is not achieved by gift cards or by the gift basket filled with bathroom goodies. These are for the last minute when you can’t find the gift that sings.

This need to hear a gift sing to me has made holiday shopping more and more difficult each year. I spend hours wondering through stores only to come up empty handed… or if I am lucky… maybe one gift in hand. Therefore, I have turned to the internet to search for some oddball gifts or special treasures I am sure to be a hit for that difficult-to-buy-for recipient.

Now, while we typically think of gifts for the holidays. There are many other times we feel the need to give gifts as well. Graduations, birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, or maybe just because we are thinking of them. These gift suggestions can work for any situation. Or maybe you will just want to splurge and buy one for yourself!

Here is my list of some great gift ideas… feel free to help yourself and take the credit.

This is my favorite find for the year. This matches up with my personality (because a part of me is a little bit of a jokester), and mostly because it is unique and definitely matches my criteria for being a crazy find. While this isn’t a gift I would give to anybody, it is perfect for those single males or those who can take a joke. It is also great for kids, especially those who find shower time a chore when they start getting a little older.

The gift ranges in price from $11.29 all the way up to $18.43 (plus shipping and handling depending on the order), which makes it a great gift for the budget. The gift is rather simple; it is a big nose that attaches to the wall with three suction cups. Just a small press will have the gel squirting out the nostril so you can suds your way clean. Add some gel and you got a complete gift that will have people talking about how clever and creative you are! A big thumbs up to you!

For those gentleman who like a good BBQ in the backyard, or maybe those who just like guns… what a great gift to keep your hands free and your beer with you the whole time! This gift ranges from looks, from the black leather beer holster for $34.95 to a six pack holster belt for as cheap as $8.49.

This gift is perfect for the fathers or father in-laws. It is also a great one for godfathers or maybe your brother who parties a lot in college. It can be budget friendly depending on the style you like or it can be a little bit more pricey for a better quality. This is my second choice not only for its uniqueness, but also for its usefulness. This will be a gift that gets used time and time again.

This is the perfect gift for any occasion, however, my choice would definately be for Father's Day. After all, I am sure Dad already has enough ties, so maybe it is time to give him something that he would use. It can also be a handy housewarming gift. A utility belt for the man of the house who wants to be hands free with his drink will grilling.

Do you buy for someone that likes a challenge… well here is the perfect gift. This is a great gift not only for Christmas, but also for birthdays, or graduations. There is a few different varietys of this gift, ranging from a more decorative one for $23.09 to a more simplistic one for $7.95. Great gift for all budgets.

The part about this gift that intrigued me is that you can add a gift card, money, or even lottery tickets inside for an extra kick. The bonus… until they solve the puzzle they will be unable to retrieve their prize. Based off some feedback, this gift is not impossible but can be a challenge. With that in mind, I probably wouldn’t put anything extra inside that has an expiration date attached.

For Christmas, I gave this gift to my sister. She loves puzzles so it was the perfect match for her. It was challenging enough for her to figure out, but still easy enough were she didn't get frustrated. And after she got out the extra gift, she was able to use the maze as a decoration in her house. It is definately a conversation piece.

Dr. Freud’s Therapy Ball

Do you remember the Magic 8 Ball? Well, this is very similar. Only this gag gift can give the recipient a bit of advice! A great gift for those who have “issues” or are indecisive.

This gift works particularly well for the therapist, the patient, or maybe the student in your life. Be careful when giving this gift to others… for the low price of about $10, it is not worth the joke if the recipient doesn’t have a sense of humor.

In addition to this Magic 8 Ball spin-off, you might find these other gifts to be just as useful. Also available is a Sarcastic Ball, The Happy Smiley Face Affirmation Ball, and the Instant Excuse Ball. There is a variety that can fit just about every personality type. If anything, it will be a great conversation piece that will have everybody laughing!

I know when I was younger, I had a magic 8 ball. I loved my magic 8 ball and when it no longer worked, I later replaced it. These other types of balls would be a wonderful addition to the collection. There are several out there with a different purpose. Feel free to pick and choose depending on the recipient. I personally would love to have each and every one of them!

Whether Christmas is right around the corner or a whole year away, any time is a good time to get the shopping started. Hopefully this will give you a few ideas and get you started.

When it comes to the holidays, shopping can be stressful or it can be fun. With the internet available at your fingertips, online shopping has made it easier than ever to get what you want relatively painlessly. With a few great ideas, your holiday shopping can be done with a click of the bottom and without the pain of traffic or crowded stores.

Yet, it isn't necessary to wait until the holiday push to start your shopping. You can pick up these items at any time to have a gift on handy. You never know when you might need a last minute gag birthday gift or something to give away just to make a friend smile.

Now what are you doing still reading this... get out their and start your shopping! Good luck!