Non-Cheesy Unique and Personalized Gift Ideas

2023 is finally here!

We can look out across the coming year with a clean calendar and a blank slate. 

During the next 12 months, we will experience birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, and baby showers just as we did in 2022. 

So, now is the time to put some effort into unique and non-cheesy gifts that will one-up last year but not cost a fortune.

7 Personalized Gifts That Aren't Cheesy Or Expensive

In this post, we will give you some ideas that will please even the most difficult people on your list. 

1. Use their social media accounts 

When we love something, have fun doing something, or experienced a meaningful moment in life, we take pictures. The pictures we share have meaning for us. 

Pop over to someone’s Instagram or Facebook page and browse their pictures. Download a special picture and have it framed. This makes a perfect gift. If you want to kick it up a notch, download several pictures of the various photographs they shared.

Take the pictures to a print shop or printing company and have the photographs printed and spaced out throughout a leather-bound journal. Have “My Story” embossed or engraved on the cover. Adding their name would be a nice touch.

When they open the book to all the cool photos you collected, they are prompted to record what each photo was about. What a fun way to create a family history. 

If you have ever owned a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses you know they are the best. They come in various styles and colors. They are comfortable and very chic.

What you may not know is you can customize and personalize your Ray-Bans. You can choose between many frame colors and decide where you want each color. Your lenses are easily produced with 2 or 3 tones.

CREDIT: Unsplash

You can even add multiple colors so your Ray Bans lenses feature rainbow colors. Another way to make your Ray-Bans unique is to add a name or initials on the edge of the lenses at the top or bottom. Beautiful gold or silver lettering is available for the entire line. 

Do you have a friend or family member that loves to cook?

Set them up with a cooking class with a well-known chef. Does your wife or girlfriend love makeup?

Take them to a professional makeup artist for a makeover and instructions on how to get their best look. Book them time with a flight instructor, or a ballerina. Give them an experience of a lifetime and they will never forget your gift. 

We all have this person on our gift list that loves music. It can be tricky finding the perfect gift for your music lover.

Since every true music lover knows exactly what they want, it is easy to make a mistake. This could be challenging if you’re not familiar with music products.

One thing is for sure - there is a whole bunch of stuff out there to pick from, and one of best are deals for guitar center. 

5. Fitness lover 

If your loved one is into fitness, book them time with a personal trainer and/or a nutritionist. Being fit is not just physical. Consider gifting them yoga or massage therapy.

The road to fitness is mental and physical. Note: if your loved one is not a health buff and they just need to take off a few pounds, do not choose this gift.

Nothing says, “I love you” like saying you are overweight. 

Everyone has their own ideas of what smells nice. But, you don’t have to smell like anyone else. Give the gift of a signature scent. There are perfume and cologne companies that will send you a questionnaire and samples of base scents.

Every perfume has high notes, medium notes, and low notes. How they are mixed determines the scent of the product and the integrity of the life of the perfume. 

When you make your selections, you send them to the experts and they create a scent that is just for you. They will return your custom scent in a lovely bottle and you can create the name that you want on the bottle.

This is a very unique gift. Don’t forget to ask for the recipe of the scent for future purchase.

CREDIT: Pexels

If your friend is a DIY type, consider giving them the recipe to making their own perfume. The base is 100 proof vodka, and the scents are made from pure essential oils.

There are other recipes that use all-natural oils. You can find three different recipes for making perfume here. 

7. Forever flowers 

Flowers are a beautiful gift, but they do not last long. Instead, why not give the gift of a tree? If there is ample space in the yard, arrange to plant the tree there. However, if you want to make the gift extra special plant their tree in a botanical garden or donate a tree to a city park.

It will take some effort, but this is a gift that will please many people for generations to come. Some parks will allow you to place a brass marker with the name of the recipient of the gift on or in front of the tree.

If you choose a flowering tree, you are giving a gift of flowers that will bloom year after year.

If you really have a recipient that has everything, give a gift that shows how much you love them. Make a donation in their name to a cause that means something to them.

You can get here a list of well-known and charities that are doing great work. When you make the donation in someone’s name, ask them to send a card letting them know. This is a loving gift that expresses your love for them and others. 

There are many other personalized gifts. In order to select the correct gift, you have to spend some time and pay some attention to the person receiving the gift.

If you watch carefully and with caring eyes, you will find the perfect gift for any occasion.