The free gift finder: Gifts that make them say “how did you know?”

1. 

   1~$50

   Ticket to Ride Board Game (View on Amazon)

   Days of Wonder Ticket to Ride

   A board game about claiming railway routes across a map, for two to five players. The rules take five minutes to explain, so a ten-year-old and a grandparent are evenly matched by the second round, and a game wraps up in about an hour. It’s a handsome box to unwrap and the kind of game a family still pulls out years later. Buy it for a household that likes a game after dinner; for a crowd bigger than five, pair it with a party game.

   Board Game FansTravelers

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2. 

   2~$75

   Retro Movie Night Popcorn Machine (View on Amazon)

   Nostalgia Vintage Tabletop Kettle Popcorn Maker

   A tabletop popcorn machine styled like the ones at the movie theater, with a kettle that pops and a deck that keeps it warm. It’s a family gift with a built-in ritual: the Christmas movie on the 24th now comes with real popcorn and the smell that goes with it. It does take counter or shelf space, so it suits a house with room to store it between movie nights.

   Movie LoversHome Cooks

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3. 

   3~$25

   Gingerbread House Kit (View on Amazon)

   Pre-baked walls, icing and a bag of candy for building a small house. Give it early in December, not on the day, so the family has time to build it and set it out before Christmas. It works for little kids, competitive teenagers and adults who claim to be above it right up until they start arguing about roof shingles.

   Bakersfun

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4. 

   4~$25

   Matching Christmas Pajama Set (View on Amazon)

   Burt's Bees Men's Holiday Pajamas

   Holiday-print pajamas in adult sizes, bought in a run so the whole group matches. It’s a small, silly tradition that gives you a family photo you’ll be glad of in twenty years. Hand them out on Christmas Eve so everyone wakes up in them. Check sizes carefully, and let teenagers opt out gracefully if they’re mortified.

   funcozy

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5. 

   5~$20

   Hot Water Bottle with Knit Cover (View on Amazon)

   No cord, no app, no learning curve: fill it from the kettle and tuck it in at the foot of the bed. Cheap enough to buy for three people on your list.

   Self-Care LoversHomebodies

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6. 

   6~$85

   Electric Boot and Glove Dryer (View on Amazon)

   DryGuy Force Dry Boot, Shoe and Glove Dryer

   Dries boots and gloves overnight with gentle warm air. Ideal for snowy places, dog walkers and kids who come in soaked; pointless somewhere it never snows.

   Skiers & SnowboardersHunters

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7. 

   7~$130

   Barefoot Dreams Cozy Throw Blanket (View on Amazon)

   Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw

   A very soft throw for the sofa. Expensive for a blanket, which is why few people buy one for themselves, and why it lands as a real treat.

   HomebodiesSelf-Care Lovers

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8. 

   8~$80

   Rechargeable Heated Socks (View on Amazon)

   Thin heated socks for skiers, sideline parents and anyone whose toes go numb outdoors. Charge them before wrapping so they work on Christmas morning.

   Skiers & SnowboardersHunters

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