Black Friday was last week. Hopefully you finished all your shopping but if not, no sweat—your favorite blogger is here to help. I am just about to solve all your gift-giving conundrums but before I reveal my recommended present for 2025, let me provide some context…

For “Brent’s Gift of the Year” I choose a practical and inexpensive gift suggestion that retails in the $10-$15 range. The goal is for it to be versatile in a way that makes it a perfect choice for a white elephant gift exchange, stocking stuffer, or thoughtful present.

For example, in 2018 I suggested an LED cinema lightbox marquee, in 2019 I championed a blanket, in 2020 I pushed a framed photo, in 2021 I recommended a book of stamps, in 2022 I invited my readers to pick out a tasty six-pack of beer, in 2023 I pitched cookie mix, and in 2024 I endorsed premium air freshener.

My goal each year is to suggest a gift that goes beyond something that is solely material. Although I always pick something that is tangible/physical, I try to ensure that it elicits emotion, too. I think this year’s gift once again hits that benchmark.

Each year, our Christmas tree becomes more special. It obviously has nothing to do with the tree itself—we put up the same artificial pine every December. However, what increases its value is the collection of ornaments we hang from it. And no, I am not eluding to monetary value because we surely aren’t hanging diamonds or gold nuggets. Instead, I am talking about the sentimental value that is priceless.

Most of the ornaments that hang on our tree are special. This ornament follows the “date it and name it” formula I will mention below.

Take a look at our tree and most every ornament will tell a story. Either it marks a milestone, vacation, experience, preference, belief, or gift. Did you catch that last item? I said gift. Some of our favorite ornaments were gifts that now hang on our tree year after year.

My recommended gift of the year is an ornament.

There are so many options when gifting someone an ornament. The easiest route might be to simply find something that matches the person’s tastes. Give them an ornament of their favorite team, food, beer, or board game. This gesture conveys that you know the person and that you took time to celebrate their preferences in a meaningful way.

Sloan looks at a Snickers ornament found inside Old World Christmas. Gifting someone an ornament of their favorite candy bar shows thought and uniqueness.

You can also go the extra mile and customize an ornament. Head to the mall or go online where you can easily use a vendor to produce a picture ornament. Capture a special moment for the recipient (and even yourself) by choosing a photo that includes both of you. The picture ornament will be etched in time as it hangs on the person’s tree through the decades. Although the person will get older as each Christmas passes, their youthfulness will remain intact on whatever branch the ornament hangs.

Sloan will always be a baby in this picture ornament we gleefully hang from our tree each year.

But you don’t even have to go the lengths of finding a photo to achieve customization. You can convey thought and uniqueness by marking or engraving your ornament with something special. Honor someone’s milestone or life event by “naming it and dating it.” For example, the white elephant gift I am bringing to my work’s holiday party simply commemorates the party itself. Honestly, it’s not that hard…but it is thoughtful.

This is the EWU ornament I had customized for our office holiday party later this month.

And again, let me re-iterate in a bold way the best part of gifting an ornament: it has lasting power.

If the ornament you give is thoughtful and unique, it will stay on the recipient’s tree every year. Whenever they take it out at the beginning of the Christmas season or return it to storage post-December, you (or your family) will most likely be on that person’s mind. If the combination of the event/preference the ornament celebrates and the thought of yourself brings a smile to the recipient’s face, you have succeeded at giving a truly remarkable Christmas gift.

This ornament celebrated our wedding and was a gift from our mentor couple, Tim and Kathy McCormick. Sid and I remember them each time we look at this ornament.

Go on, give a thoughtful ornament to someone this Christmas season. I recommend visiting Old World Christmas for an impressive collection of branded ornaments or reaching out to JJ’s Designs for a beautiful but inexpensive customized ornament. Don’t Blink.