It’s the most wonderful time of year… unless buying gifts gives you rampant anxiety! I host a weekly Mom Talk Mondays on my Instagram page and here’s what your wife, mom, sister, girlfriend — or friend, who forwarded you to this post! — told me that she wanted for the holidays.

Most Requested…

Practical

Nearly half of my online friends surveyed said that they prefer something practical as a gift. Here are a few favorites:

Stocking Stuffers

I have and love all of these items.

From the Heart…

Let’s face it: your desire to buy something luxurious for your loved one may not match up to the reality of your budget this year. Most of the items on this page are admittedly expensive. They are not necessarily in our budget this year, as much as I’d love a weekly housekeeper or a weekend (or two!) away.

If you can’t afford a large gift this year, it doesn’t mean that you can’t come up with a thoughtful one that matches the spirit of your loved one’s dream. This is part of the card my husband made me for my birthday this year and it’s one of the nicest gifts I’ve ever received. He traced his and our children’s hands and put a thoughtful note with each of them.

A few ideas that are full of love, but don’t cost a lot:

• Print out your favorite photos and put them in an album. If you don’t have many candids of your loved one, make an effort to take a few over the next couple of weeks. If you have children, have them draw photos or write a note to include with the gift.

• Make a weekly playdate with the dads of your children’s friends or find a free event at your local library to get the kids out of the house for a few hours. Your wife can have the house to herself or go do something fun with a friend during this time.

• Find a copy of your wife’s favorite childhood book on eBay or at a used bookstore.

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