10 Versatile Gifts for Most Gift Giving Opportunities

Here's a list of versatile gifts that should cover most of your gift giving situations.

If one of these versatile gift ideas doesn't satisfy you, try browsing through our personality list to find something for your gift recipient.

Gift Idea #1: Gift Basket
Appropriate for: Families, couples, neighbors, people you don't know very well, co-workers, specialty food lovers... anyone!

With the exceptions of a gift certificate or money, a gift basket is probably the champion of versatile gifts. However, it's more thoughtful than a monetary gift because you can "customize" it by tailoring its contents to the likes of the recipient. It's also an excellent choice if you're giving to more than one person (i.e. a family or a couple) because it can include a variety of items. The best gift baskets are the ones you create yourself. They are also a good choice if you have to ship a gift or choose something at the last minute. Browse through our gift basket page to find just the right one!

Gift Idea #2: Bonsai Tree
Appropriate for: Anniversaries of any kind, Birthdays, Retirements, Grandparent's Day... anything that can be associated with a date.

What is truly unique about the bonsai tree is that it is already several years old. It's this time and age aspect that gives the

bonsai a unique quality perfect for celebrating anniversaries. It also acknowledges time that has passed for birthdays and retirement celebrations. So for someone's 25th birthday, you could give a 25 year old bonsai tree! For a retirement celebration after 30 years on the job, you could give a 30 year old bonsai tree! And birthdays... same thing... give a tree that was created in the year they were born! These are extremely versatile gifts for any anniversary, birthday or retirement. More about choosing bonsai trees here.

Gift Idea #3: DVD Club Membership
Appropriate for: Families, couples, neighbors, people you don't know very well, movie lovers, TV lovers.

This gift may not seem very versatile because you would, naturally, think it would target movie lovers only. But, really, many of us like to watch movies, TV, documentaries or other video programs to some extent. So a membership to an online club that ships rented DVDs directly to your house is a great gift for most people. It's convenient, and the selection of DVDs far exceeds that of a local video store, so hard-to-find movies and shows are easier to come by. It's also great for families and couples because you're not limiting the kind of movies that they get... they can vary their choices from week to week. And for people for whom you just don't have a clue about what they like, this is a safe bet (as long as they watch some sort of TV).

US DVD Rental	Canadian DVD Rental

Gift Idea #4: Sticker Clubs
Appropriate for: Kids of all ages

This one's for the kids. It's pretty specialized in that it targets kids who like stickers. But stickers are fun, and this is a unique gift that is extremely affordable ($6/month) and is delivered every month. Children especially love getting mail, so this covers that, too! Click here to learn more about the Sticker Club.

Gift Idea #5: Flashlight, Multi-tool, or Pocket Knife Combo
Appropriate for: Campers, hikers, outdoor lovers, fishermen/women, hunters, anyone with a car, teenage boys (or tomboys), Scouts, gadget lovers

This is a versatile gift that is usually great for Father's Day, but it doesn't have to be limited to just dads! Anyone who needs

Gerber Nautilus Multitool - Pocket LED Multitool

a handy tool now and then will appreciate a gift that consists of a flashlight and multi-tool or pocket knife. Face it... most people can't keep their hands off a flashlight when it's put in front of them... not to mention they can be extremely useful at times (camping, stranded in your car, power outage). And when someone is given a multi-tool or pocket knife, they usually go looking for something they can try it out on because they are just "neat", not to mention handy in a pinch. They can often be found in a set together, but you can easily make your own gift set. Check out the Gerber Nautilus Multitool complete with LED light to illuminate your task. Don't pay $50 or more at other stores for this multitool. Northern Tool has the Gerber Nautilus for just $29.99 everyday!

Gift Idea #6: Beer or Wine of the Month Club Membership
Appropriate for: Couples, college students (those who are of age, of course), anyone who likes beer or wine

Those people who like to indulge every so often in a bottle of beer or glass of wine will enjoy a monthly selection from a beer or wine club. They get to try new varieties every month. Note that some state or provincial regulations prevent the shipping of alcohol, in which case your choices may be limited. Check out our list of beer and wine clubs.

Versatile Gifts - Wine Club

Gift Idea #7: Movie Tickets
Appropriate for: Families, couples, neighbors, people you don't know very well, co-workers

A gift certificate to a local movie theatre or movie tickets are easy and versatile gifts to give. They are especially good for a family so they can have a family outing together. If you can afford it, include enough in the gift certificate to cover popcorn, drinks and other snacks. Perhaps you could throw in a gift certificate for dinner as well! You can search for movies and purchase movie tickets or gift certificates online at Fandango.

Gift Idea #8: Amplifier and Speaker System
Appropriate for: Music lovers, movie/TV lovers (and their families), computer geeks, gamers, teenagers

We really like this gift for anyone who can appreciate high quality sound... whether it's coming from a CD, an MP3 player, a

Versatile Gifts - Soundmatters MAINstage Amplifier and Speaker System

movie, a video game, a computer, or any other input device. This gift is a bit more expensive than our other suggestions, but you definitely get what you pay for with high quality sound for many who will appreciate it. Gamers (like XBOX or PS2 fanatics) will love this for "wicked" sound effects coming from their video games. Teenagers can plug in their MP3 or CD player - it's like having a hi-fi stereo system in a small compact form. Movie lovers can get home theater sound. And computer geeks can plug in their computer for all of the above! We highly recommend the MAINstage (tm) by Soundmatters - it may be only 2 1/2 inches tall, but it packs a wallop! It's truly versatile, with up to 4 inputs!

Gift Idea #9: Pi�ata
Appropriate for: Children of all ages, families

More versatile gifts for kids, especially for birthday parties. Imagine showing up to a birthday party with a pi�ata full of candy for the birthday girl/boy! The recipient and the guests will love it! Or create a new Christmas family tradition with a Christmas pi�ata. Find pi�atas for every occasion at Pi�atas.com .

Gift Idea #10: Book Club or Magazine Subscription
Appropriate for: Avid readers, curious minds, children... anyone!

For people who love to read, this is a no-brainer. For inquisitive minds, consider a magazine subscription to National Geographic or Popular Mechanics. For kids, they LOVE to get mail - it makes them feel special - so either a book club or a magazine subscription is appropriate, plus you're encouraging them to read! What's great about these versatile gift ideas is that there are books and magazines available for EVERY subject. So, no matter what their interests or hobbies are, you can always find a perfect fit! Browse through hundreds of magazine subscription choices here.