Gifting season… it’s a lot. You’re trying not to be the Grinch, or somehow offend the sensitive people in the family (who knew free stuff could be offensive?), trying not to overspend but also not come across as a cheapskate, and honestly you mostly care about making the holidays magical for your kids. Everyone else? They’re getting the functional version of “thoughtful.”
At one of my old jobs, we did a White Elephant every year and gave a prize for “worst gift.” Unsurprisingly, the quality of gifts spiraled into the toilet. One year the winning gift was a single dead lightbulb. A dead lightbulb. Yea. So at least we aren't doing that. (RIGHT?!)
Anyway, here are three ideas for ways to cover everyone else on your list this year with minimal fuss and cost. Also, a friendly reminder that you can shop small businesses on Amazon, our overlord, because dammit Prime shipping is hard to beat.
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💸 The “Atlas Santa” Gift Finder
👉 Let AI do the mental lifting. When your brain hits “I don’t know, what do dads even like anymore,” go to your AI app (we recommend Atlas or another AI browser), paste someone’s social profile handle or a short blurb about them, and ask:
“Give me 10 gift ideas under $30 that match this person’s vibe based on this input.” (We tested this with 2 friends' IG accounts, and it worked surprisingly well!)
Best for: coworkers, nieces/nephews (you can't keep track), siblings-in-law, your brother who says “I don’t need anything.”
💬 The One-Gift-for-Everyone (But Customized) Bulk Move
👉 Stop picking gifts one-by-one when you don’t need to. Pick one universally-loved, low-cost gift (think $8–$14; ideas below) and give it to your entire “must-gift but not core family” list: neighbors, teachers, coaches, the coworker who keeps forwarding you memes.
A few options (under $15ish each):
Olive Oil bottle + homemade spice blend (get spices at the Dollar Store or international markets)
“Winter Reset” kit: lip balm + hand cream sample + tea bags
Car-emergency kit: gum + wipes + tiny hand sanitizer (people LOVE this)
Hot chocolate or coffee beans + crushed candy cane or toppings + $1 mug
Then personalize each one in seconds using this exact AI prompt:
“Write a 1-line gift tag that explains why a [$X gift] is perfect for [Name], my [relationship]. Keep it warm, short, and not cheesy.”
AI will spit out tiny, deceptively thoughtful lines like:
“Jill — a cozy treat for the neighbor who makes our street feel warm.”
Even though everyone got the same thing, it helps make the gift feel intentionally chosen.
Did you know? 🧃 JuiceBox is built by a tiny team of working parents just like you. We curate and write this stuff so you don’t have to but we’d LOVE for you to get in on the action.
💬 Got a time-saving tip or a chaos-fighting hack of your own? Hit reply and share it—we all need a village, and we’d love to hear from you.
👯♀️ Know a fellow parent who needs this? Forward away or hit this button:
🎒The “Art → Gifts” Magic Trick
👉 Time to put those daycare masterpieces to work for the grandparents. Pick 1–2 of your favorite kid drawings (yes, even especially the one where you have an enormous butt) and turn them into a gift to keep everyone smiling the whole year:
Upload the art to:
Shutterfly → mug, calendar, or notepad
Sticker Mule → stickers
It’s adorable, personal, and BONUS clears out the “I should save this??” art pile.
💼 This Week’s Work WTF
Inspired by real life events.
Scenario:
Your team announces a White Elephant, and suddenly you’re supposed to source a quirky-but-office-appropriate gift during the busiest month of the year.
What We Wish We Could Say:
“I refuse to spend my actual money on a novelty mug someone will leave in the break room by March.”
Steal This Response:
Honestly? This time, we'd probably just stay mum. Shop your house for an easy regift that won’t cost you a dime. A candle, a game, a soap set… add a quick tag and call it festive. Honestly, everyone's there for the food anyway.
K that’s all. You’re the best and we love you.
-CK “Pretending This Gift Was Chosen Just for You” Fuller (Editor) & the JB Crew 🫡
P.S. Next week: The Great December Schedule Squeeze. How to juggle school events, surprise half-days, end-of-year deadlines, and winter germs without melting into a festive puddle.
P.P.S. Quick note: Some links in here may be affiliate links. You know the drill- if you buy something, we might earn a tiny commission that helps offset the time we spend making JuiceBox… which honestly feels like winning the lottery as working parents. Thank you for supporting this project of ours.