The Gift Guide for People Who Have People to Shop For

Oct 30

A little planning, a realistic budget, and a lot of shopping small.

Somewhere between buying a gift for your mom and remembering that your kid's teacher, your favorite coworker, and the neighbor who brings your trash cans in also deserve a little something, holiday shopping can get wildly out of hand. We're here to help you get your holiday shopping together before December turns into a financial and logistical nightmare.

1. Make a List. Check It Twice. Actually Use It.

Santa was onto something with the list. Before you buy a single gift, open your Notes app and write down everyone you plan to shop for this year. Not just your immediate family and best friends, but all the people who tend to sneak onto your shopping list at the last minute. Think teachers, coworkers, neighbors, hosts, and anyone else you'd like to show appreciation to.

Now, here's where it gets useful: next to each name, write down anything you know about what that person actually likes. Your sister mentioned wanting new earrings? Write it down. Your coworker is obsessed with candles? Add it to the list. Your dad has been using the same wallet since 2004? You know what to do.

The best gifts usually come from paying attention, not spending more money.

And if someone genuinely doesn't want a gift? Respect that, too. Not everyone wants more stuff.

Your Holiday Shopping Cheat Sheet

We're making this ridiculously easy for you. Copy the template below into your Notes app, fill in your people, and keep it handy while you're shopping.

🎁 HOLIDAY GIFT LIST

Total Holiday Budget: $_____

Name:
Gift Ideas:
Budget: $_____
Actual Spent: $_____
☐ Purchased
☐ Wrapped

Copy and repeat for everyone on your list.

🛍️ NOVEMBER FRONT PORCH SHOPPING

Vendors to Visit:

☐
☐
☐

Gift Ideas to Look For:

☐
☐
☐

Market Day Budget: $_____

🔗 November Front Porch Gift Guide:
[Paste the link to this blog post here]

Once you've filled out your list, copy the link to this blog post and paste it at the bottom. When you get to Front Porch on November 7th, you'll have your gift list, budget, and our entire vendor lineup in one place.

Less aimless shopping. More names crossed off your list. And significantly fewer December panic purchases.

2. Set a Budget Before Your Bank Account Does It for You

We love a generous spirit. We also love being able to pay rent in January. Before you start shopping, decide how much you can comfortably spend on holiday gifts. You can set one overall budget or break it down by person, whichever makes the most sense for you.

And yes, it's perfectly reasonable to spend more on your partner than the coworker you occasionally share office snacks with. The important thing is to make those decisions before you're standing at checkout convincing yourself that another $40 doesn't really count. Remember, a thoughtful $15 gift can mean significantly more than a generic $75 one.

Your holiday budget should reflect what you can afford, not what you feel pressured to spend.

3. Match the Gift to the Person, Not the Other Way Around

Not everyone wants another coffee mug. Some people love practical gifts. Others appreciate something handmade, personalized, or unnecessary but delightful. Think about the person you're shopping for before deciding what to buy. And when you're shopping from independent makers and small businesses, you've got a pretty spectacular advantage: you can often talk directly to the person who created what you're buying.

Need help choosing a scent? Ask the candlemaker.

Not sure which piece of jewelry fits someone's style? Talk to the artist.

Looking for something specific? You might even find someone who takes custom orders.

Which brings us to our favorite part.

4. Your November Front Porch Shopping List

One market. A whole lot of names crossed off your gift list.

On Saturday, November 7th, Front Porch is teaming up with Chicas Market for our first-ever market collaboration, bringing together two lineups of independent businesses for one very good day of holiday shopping.

Whether you're shopping for your impossible-to-please sibling, your favorite coworker, or yourself (we support it), there's a good chance you'll find something worth wrapping.

Your Assignment

You've got your list. You've got your budget. Now it's time to figure out where to spend it. We've sorted our November Front Porch vendors by gift-giving category. Take a look through the businesses below, add your favorites to the shopping list you created earlier, and save the link to this blog post right there in your Notes app.

When you get to Front Porch on November 7th, you'll have your shopping list and vendor directory ready to go. Consider it your cheat sheet for crossing off as many names as possible before December.

🎁 For the Person Who Already Has Everything

You know the one. Impossible to shop for because they either already own it or insist they don't need it. Original artwork, personalized gifts, unexpected finds, and one-of-a-kind pieces are your best bet here.