<p>Buying a present for your dog is one of the nicer parts of having one. The pet shop aisles go on forever, though, and a lot of what is in them gets chewed to pieces in a day. These are the gifts that keep a dog busy, comfortable and healthy for longer.</p>

<h2>Interactive toys</h2>
<p>Dogs like to stay busy, and interactive toys keep them moving and thinking. Look at puzzle toys, balls for fetching and toys that release treats.</p>

<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=toys+for+dogs&language=en_US&crid=3TYJBSVLLBWCC&linkCode=sl2&linkId=31bfd9d010de5858fd92557a3fb63f81&sprefix=toys+for+dogs%2Caps%2C197&tag=giftlist0b-20&ref=as_li_ss_tl">Find the best toys for dogs at Amazon.com</a></p>

<p>Puzzle toys make your dog work out how to reach a treat, which tires out the brain as much as a walk tires out the legs. Fetch toys suit dogs that cannot sit still and need to run. Treat-dispensing toys turn snack time into a game that lasts more than ten seconds.</p>

<h2>Comfortable beds</h2>
<p>Dogs need a good place to sleep as much as people do, and a proper bed helps their joints and their health. There are orthopaedic beds for older dogs with stiff joints, soft beds with a raised edge to rest their head on, and flat mats for dogs that sleep in a crate.</p>

<p>If friends and family like to spoil your dog too, <a href="https://happygiftlist.com/wishlist/create">create a wishlist for your dog</a> so they can pick something it will actually use.</p>

<h2>Healthy treats</h2>
<p>Dogs love treats, so it pays to pick ones that are good for them. There is plenty of choice, from chewy rawhide to crunchy bones and biscuits.</p>

<p>Look for treats made with real ingredients and not much else, and skip anything with artificial additives. Fruit, jerky and freeze-dried meat are healthier options. Treats also make an easy gift if the family runs a <a href="https://happygiftlist.com/secret-santa/create">Secret Santa game</a> that includes the pets.</p>

<h2>Grooming supplies</h2>
<p>Keeping your dog clean is part of keeping it healthy, and grooming supplies make a useful gift: brushes, shampoo and nail clippers.</p>

<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Grooming+Supplies+for+dogs&language=en_US&crid=3QOJ80FEPA4VA&linkCode=sl2&linkId=2b8f20e9772cf58f6782f4426023ba96&sprefix=grooming+supplies+for+dogs%2Caps%2C194&tag=giftlist0b-20&ref=as_li_ss_tl">Find the best grooming supplies for dogs at Amazon.com</a></p>

<p>A brush or a comb keeps the coat smooth and free of tangles. A good shampoo keeps your dog smelling fresh, and nail clippers keep the claws short.</p>

<h2>Dog clothing</h2>
<p>Dog clothes are cute, and they are also practical. They keep your dog warm and protect it from the weather. You can find everything from smart coats to warm jumpers and protective boots.</p>

<p>A coat or a jumper keeps a short-haired dog comfortable on cold walks, and boots protect the paws from hot pavements in summer and icy paths in winter.</p>

<p>Start with what your dog loves most: chasing, chewing or sleeping. Pick the gift from this list that matches, and it will get more use than anything else in the toy basket.</p>


Gift ideas for your dog, from puzzle toys and a supportive bed to healthy treats, grooming supplies and a warm coat for winter walks.

The Best Presents for Your Dog

<p>A friend has just moved and you are standing in a shop wondering whether €15 looks mean or €50 looks like you are trying to prove something. Housewarming gifts sit in an odd zone: generous enough to count, small enough that nobody expects you to cover the notary fees.</p>

<h2>What people actually spend</h2>

<p>The usual range is €15 to €50, and your relationship with the person does most of the deciding. Close family and old friends sit at the top of that range. Colleagues and the friend of a friend sit closer to €15 or €25, and nobody thinks less of them for it.</p>

<p>The new owners have just signed for the biggest purchase of their lives and know better than anyone that money is tight in the month after a move. A €15 gift chosen with some thought lands better than a €50 gift grabbed at the station on the way over.</p>

<h2>Gifts that read as generous without costing much</h2>

<p>The gifts people remember are the useful ones they would never buy for themselves while the kitchen is still in boxes:</p>

<ul>
<li>A bottle of decent crémant with a handwritten card</li>
<li>A bag of beans from a local roaster, or a tin of good tea</li>
<li>A basil plant in a pot that can stay on the windowsill</li>
<li>A bar of proper soap and a hand towel for the new bathroom</li>
<li>A wool throw or a cushion in a colour that suits the sofa</li>
<li>Something from the market near the new house, like a jar of local honey</li>
</ul>

<p>All of these come in under €25 and get used within the first week in the new place.</p>

<h2>More for close family, less as a plus-one</h2>

<p>For a sibling or a close friend, €40 to €60 on something like a good picture frame, a Microplane grater and a cast-iron pan, or a doormat with the house number on it makes sense, especially if they would do the same for you.</p>

<p>If you are going as someone's plus-one and have met the hosts once, €15 to €20 is plenty. A candle, a box of good biscuits or a small plant does the job without overreaching.</p>

<p>If money is short, €10 to €15 is a perfectly good amount, and homemade things such as a loaf of banana bread or a bunch of flowers cut from your own garden cost even less and are remembered longer.</p>

<h2>Put €15 into a group gift and give €75</h2>

<p>Pooling money with colleagues or a group of friends lets you give something the new owners will still be using in five years: a stick blender, a print for the hall, a proper hamper. Each person puts in €10 to €20; the group ends up with €50 to €100 to spend.</p>

<p>It also solves the problem of three people independently buying the same candle. One person coordinates, sets the amount in the first message, and collects by bank transfer. On a wishlist, an expensive item can be opened for several people to contribute to, so the coordinating mostly disappears.</p>

<h2>If you are the one moving, write a wishlist</h2>

<p>If you are on the receiving end, a housewarming wishlist saves everyone the shop-aisle dilemma above. List a mix of cheap basics, tea towels, storage boxes, a good peeler, alongside a few bigger things a group can contribute to together. Each guest then picks something that fits their own budget, and nobody has to guess at yours.</p>

<p>You can <a href="https://happygiftlist.com/wishlist/create">create a wishlist</a> in a few minutes and share it with anyone who has asked what you need for the new place.</p>

What people actually spend on housewarming gifts, from a €15 bottle to a €75 group gift, what looks generous for little money, and why a wishlist helps.

How much to spend on a housewarming gift

<p>Sint Nicolas is on his way, and the shoes will soon be out by the chimney. Here are gift ideas for the day, from the traditional sweets to something more modern. If you want to keep your ideas together, or let the children make their own list, use the <a href="https://happygiftlist.com/wishlist/create">wishlist maker</a>.</p>

<h2>Traditional sweets</h2>
<p>No Sint Nicolas without sweets. Speculaas biscuits are the classic, baked in all kinds of shapes, including the Sint himself. Then there are pepernoten, the small spiced biscuits that are crunchy on the outside and soft inside.</p>

<h2>Chocolates and sweets</h2>
<p>Belgian chocolates are among the best and make a smart gift, with plenty of flavours to choose from. For something a little different, try a sweet bouquet: it looks like a bunch of flowers, and you can eat it.</p>

<h2>Sint Nicolas gifts</h2>
<p>For something festive, go for a Sint Nicolas mug, a T-shirt or some decorations. They are fun and get used all through the holiday season.</p>

<h2>Gadgets and electronics</h2>
<p>For a more modern present, gadgets always go down well, from smartphones to speakers. A tech lover might be happiest with a smartwatch or a fitness tracker.</p>

<h2>Books and board games</h2>
<p>A book is perfect for the long evenings around the holidays, and there are plenty to choose from for every age. Board games bring friends and family round the table, and classics like Monopoly and Scrabble always get played. Both also work well for a <a href="https://happygiftlist.com/secret-santa/create">Secret Santa</a> among the adults.</p>

<h2>Gift cards</h2>
<p>If you really cannot decide, a gift card lets the person choose for themselves. Cards for Amazon, iTunes or Netflix are easy to give and always used.</p>

<p>Start with the sweets, since they belong to the day, and add one real present per child. Buy the speculaas and pepernoten early, before the shops run low.</p>


Gift ideas for Sint Nicolas, from speculaas and pepernoten to Belgian chocolate, board games and a gift card for the hard-to-buy-for.

The Best Gifts for Sint Nicolas

<p>Your mum, your wife, your girlfriend, your sister or a close friend has a birthday coming up. You want a gift that suits her and shows you care, and the choice is huge. These are the classic gifts for women, with pointers on getting each one right.</p>

<h2>Flowers</h2>
<p>Flowers have always been a popular gift for women. A fresh bouquet can brighten her day straight away, whether it is a single elegant rose or a colourful mixed bunch. Romantic roses and cheerful sunflowers say very different things, so choose the flower that suits the occasion and her personality.</p>

<h2>Jewellery</h2>
<p>Jewellery rarely misses. Classy earrings, a delicate necklace, a trendy bracelet or a sparkling ring all lift an outfit. For something she will keep for good, go for gold, silver or platinum, with diamonds or another gemstone.</p>

<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=jewelry&language=en_US&crid=32CFG8K5ZPXKA&linkCode=sl2&linkId=1c80008682ecb5962ba06b2c0e40a6e2&sprefix=jewelry%2Caps%2C295&tag=giftlist0b-20&ref=as_li_ss_tl">Find the best jewelry at Amazon.com</a></p>
<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=jewelry&crid=1K6HHDKQ1UG24&sprefix=jewelry%2Caps%2C126&linkCode=ll2&tag=happygiftlist-20&linkId=4c993f9d7b68664623e32053e39ab3ff&ref_=as_li_ss_tl">Find the best jewelry at Amazon.co.uk</a></p>
<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=jewelry&crid=3MSZLTUADMCWF&sprefix=jewelr%2Caps%2C167&linkCode=ll2&tag=happygiftlist04-20&linkId=02110fa9d682bd0e40023421719866f9&language=en_CA&ref_=as_li_ss_tl">Find the best jewelry at Amazon.ca</a></p>

<h2>Perfume</h2>
<p>Perfume is a classic, elegant gift that can bring back memories and make her feel good. Think about her style when you pick a scent: floral, fruity, woody or oriental. A beautifully packaged perfume from a well-known designer or a small niche brand both make a lovely gift. If she already has a favourite, a new bottle of it is the safest choice.</p>

<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=perfume&language=en_US&crid=1NELVNEQNTY1T&linkCode=sl2&linkId=f644ddb0ba1fddd93611cd3c4cdbb1ba&sprefix=perfum%2Caps%2C243&tag=giftlist0b-20&ref=as_li_ss_tl">Find the best perfume at Amazon.com</a></p>
<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=perfume&crid=27OVDVCHC1TKX&sprefix=perfume%2Caps%2C97&linkCode=ll2&tag=happygiftlist0bd-21&linkId=665252b4e359bfffb542ab6034b6323f&ref_=as_li_ss_tl">Find the best perfume at Amazon.co.uk</a></p>
<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=perfume&crid=2Q8BUSS6JYCGA&sprefix=perfume%2Caps%2C168&linkCode=ll2&tag=happygiftlist04-20&linkId=fece51f58e3a3492596d43541fe1f06b&language=en_CA&ref_=as_li_ss_tl">Find the best perfume at Amazon.ca</a></p>

<h2>Chocolates</h2>
<p>Good chocolates feel like a treat and go down well with almost anyone. Rich dark chocolate, creamy milk chocolate or fancy truffles: pick the kind she eats herself. Artisan brands and chocolate gift sets make it feel more special than a box from the supermarket.</p>

<h2>Handbag</h2>
<p>A handbag is practical and stylish, and suits women of any age. A sleek leather tote works for the office, a clutch for evenings out and a crossbody bag for every day. Think about her style and what she carries before you choose.</p>

<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=handbag&language=en_US&crid=32WV8RTH6SEI2&linkCode=sl2&linkId=e1c28e23e1b345b08c6a524bd0932e65&sprefix=handbag%2Caps%2C194&tag=giftlist0b-20&ref=as_li_ss_tl">Find the best handbag at Amazon.com</a></p>
<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=handbag&crid=JQ1MNRKSCHM5&sprefix=handbag%2Caps%2C95&linkCode=ll2&tag=happygiftlist0bd-21&linkId=50384797924517a2466f632581d6f0e6&ref_=as_li_ss_tl">Find the best handbag at Amazon.co.uk</a></p>
<p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=handbag&crid=2GKA2OOR9J3BC&sprefix=handbag%2Caps%2C167&linkCode=ll2&tag=happygiftlist04-20&linkId=ec44d6998ff689964948eda3985ad728&language=en_CA&ref_=as_li_ss_tl">Find the best handbag at Amazon.ca</a></p>

<p>Flowers and chocolates are the quick wins, while jewellery, perfume or a good bag take a bit more thought and last longer. If you want to keep your own ideas in one place, <a href="https://happygiftlist.com/wishlist/create">create your wishlist</a> today.</p>


Gift ideas for her, from flowers and jewellery to perfume, good chocolates and a handbag that fits her day.

Best Gifts for Her

<p>The thank-you cards are written, the dress is at the dry cleaner, and the wedding list still shows the stand mixer, the wine glasses and a fondue set that nobody touched. Every list ends up like this. A few things stay unbought, and each of them needs one of four answers.</p>

<h2>Buy the things you needed anyway</h2>

<p>If an item went on the list because the kitchen has no large pot, the kitchen still has no large pot. Buy it. A KitchenAid is just as useful even though the guest who eyed it chose the towels in the end.</p>

<p>Check for a completion discount first. Department stores and many kitchen shops give 10 to 20 percent off whatever is left on a registry for a few months after the wedding, and on an expensive mixer that pays for a second set of sheets. If part of your list was with a store, ring them before paying full price.</p>

<h2>Keep the expensive things for the next occasion</h2>

<p>The Le Creuset casserole and the espresso machine were a lot for a single wedding guest, and that is why they stayed. They are a much more normal gift from parents at Christmas, or from a group of friends who want to give one bigger present for a thirtieth birthday. You can <a href="https://happygiftlist.com/christmas-wish-list/create">create a Christmas list</a> or <a href="https://happygiftlist.com/birthday-wish-list/create">create a birthday wishlist</a> and move the big items over, with a note that people can chip in.</p>

<p>Expensive things do better as a group gift in December than as a single wedding present. Six people each giving a normal gift amount is easy. One person paying for all of it is a lot for anyone who is not a parent.</p>

<h2>Reuse them for a housewarming or the first anniversary</h2>

<p>Many couples move in the year after the wedding. The unbought serving dishes, the good towels and the bedside lamps go straight onto a housewarming list, and friends who want to help you settle in get something concrete to pick.</p>

<p>A first anniversary is the other moment. The traditional gift is paper, which nobody sticks to, and parents and close relatives usually just want a hint. The linen and kitchen things that got skipped at the wedding give them one.</p>

<h2>Some of it is for later than you think</h2>

<p>A few things on a wedding list are really for the family you might have. The extra set of plates, the big storage boxes, the eight-litre pot and the second set of good towels all come into their own when there are four of you, and they can move over the day you <a href="https://happygiftlist.com/baby-registry/create">create a baby registry</a>. Towels in particular get used twice as hard once there is a baby in the bath every evening.</p>

<h2>Pass some of it along</h2>

<p>Not everything has to end up in your cupboards. A set of frames that no longer suits the flat might be just what a sister moving into her first place needs, and the pasta machine makes a good present for the brother who has just started cooking. Have a look at the lists of the people close to you. Sometimes the same item sits on two lists, and one of you can drop it.</p>

<h2>Let the rest go</h2>

<p>Be honest about the fondue set. Tastes change during an engagement, a smaller flat has no room for a 40 cm platter, and the thing you added in a rush at eleven at night was never going to be used. Take it off the list. Nobody remembers what was on your list eighteen months ago.</p>

<p>For the next person who asks what you would like, a shorter list with things you still want is more useful than a long one full of wedding leftovers.</p>

<p>Go through the leftovers once, sort them into those four piles, and move what is left. You can <a href="https://happygiftlist.com/wishlist/create">create a wishlist</a> for the next occasion in a few minutes and give the stand mixer a second chance.</p>

Some things on a wedding list never get bought. Which ones to buy yourself, which to move to a birthday or Christmas list, and which to quietly drop.

What to do with unclaimed wedding registry items

<p>The first week in a student room is a list of things you did not know you did not own: a can opener, a bathmat, a second towel. A birthday that falls in the same season is the moment to let the family cover the gaps, with a list, so the pan arrives before the third scented candle does.</p>

<h2>Kitchen basics you will actually use</h2>

<p>Ask for one good frying pan, one medium saucepan and one large pot for pasta, and stop there. A 28 cm non-stick pan from Tefal is around 30 and outlives the six-piece set from the discounter. Add one chef's knife (a Victorinox at 30 beats a whole knife block) and one wooden chopping board.</p>

<p>The small things go on the list too, because nobody buys them for themselves until the evening they need them: a can opener, a colander, two wooden spoons, a grater, a measuring jug. A moka pot at around 25 makes better coffee than any capsule machine that fits a student budget, and the coffee costs a tenth as much.</p>

<h2>Bedroom and living space</h2>

<p>Good sleep is the one thing that gets a student through January exams, so put proper bedding near the top: two sets of sheets (one on the bed, one in the wash), a real duvet with a tog for the season and two pillows that are not the ones from childhood. Check the mattress size before anyone orders; student rooms often have a 90 by 200 mattress and the sheets from home will not fit.</p>

<p>For the rest of the room, under-bed boxes and a rail with hangers solve most of the mess. A full-length mirror, a small toolkit with a screwdriver and an Allen key, and two extension leads round it off. A storage ottoman sounds clever and is the first thing that ends up in the corridor.</p>

<h2>Bathroom and everyday supplies people forget</h2>

<p>Bathroom things are boring to give and expensive to buy all at once. Two large bath towels, a bathmat, a shower caddy and a laundry basket are the immediate needs. A small first-aid kit with plasters and paracetamol, a pack of good hangers and a drying rack are the presents nobody photographs and everyone uses every week.</p>

<p>Put these on the list for the aunt who asks for something "practical". That is exactly what she means.</p>

<h2>Study setup and tech</h2>

<p>The desk chair in a student room is usually the one the landlord found on the pavement. A proper chair, or at least a seat cushion and a laptop stand so the screen sits at eye level, saves the back over a year of essays. A desk lamp with a warm bulb belongs on every list; the ceiling light in these rooms is one bare bulb.</p>

<p>A wireless mouse and a decent pair of headphones (a Sony WH-CH520 is around 50) are worth asking for. Skip the printer. The library prints for a few cents a page and the ink alone costs more than a year of printing there. A paper planner on the wall works better than the phone one, because it stays visible when the phone is face down during a study session.</p>

<h2>Comfort and downtime</h2>

<p>Leave room on the list for the evenings. A card game like Uno or Skull, or a box of Catan, gives four people in a small room something to do that is not a screen. A snake plant or a pothos survives a week of neglect during exams and makes the room look inhabited; an orchid does not.</p>

<p>A throw for the sofa, a hot water bottle for the badly heated room and a tin of good tea or coffee are the easy items for friends with a small budget.</p>

<h2>Building a list gift-givers can actually use</h2>

<p>Spread the prices. The grandparents want to buy the chair at 150, the friends want something at 15, and a list with only one of those groups on it leaves the other stuck. Link to the exact product wherever you can, with the size and the colour; "a pan" leads to the wrong pan.</p>

<p>You can <a href="https://happygiftlist.com/birthday-wish-list/create">create a birthday wishlist</a> in a few minutes and add things as you notice them missing, which in a first room is roughly once a day.</p>

What a student needs in a first room and to put on the birthday list: one good pan and knife, proper bedding, a desk lamp and the things people forget.