Diamonds are so over for millennials, and it has nothing to do with what you think. It's not due to possible mining conditions or even blood diamonds—it's due to the amount of money they’d rather not spend on a fancy rock.
They like natural stones or even lab-synthesized versions. Look instead for a special bracelet or handmade craft from the creators on Etsy.
Unless it's bought at a deep discount, millennials are buying the Target or Amazon version of bags previously designed at Coach, Kate Spade, and Dooney and Bourke. Again, the amount of knockoff bags out there is staggering, which has forced designers into outlet-type conditions.
But if you’re looking for a great deal for yourself, check out CoachOutlet or Poshmark.
Now, while millennials won’t necessarily turn down a free lunch, the source of that meal is to be determined. Fewer people of this generation are sitting down at restaurants for meals, even pre-pandemic.
Why? Apps like Grubhub, Uber Eats, and Postmates will deliver their desired meal to them. So, choose one of those gift cards or even spring for a meal-kit company like Dinnerly.
If it's plastic or paper, you better look for something else. Anything that contributes waste to the environment is out. A hard example: napkins. Millennials just opt for paper towels because of their versatility.
What can you gift instead? Gift them a really good water bottle—like Brita’s filtering bottle. It makes all tap water taste good. Or consider some bamboo sheets, which are sustainably sourced and made.
Perhaps it’s the sound from years of movies, but millennials don’t like doorbells—not even the camera kind.
They’ve mastered the art of online living and that comes with delivery notices and emails. Instead of giving them something that makes noise, consider an app with a membership like Calm, or better yet just stick to an Apple Gift Card.
I can’t count the number of nail kits, bath products, shaving kits, or makeup brushes I’ve received over the years as gifts. But guess what? Millennials don’t want them. They’ve either settled on a particular set of products/tools, or they're using something for double duty—like body wash for bubble baths too.
If you’re looking for a great gift, look towards gift cards to Sephora or Ulta, where they can spoil themselves with something special.
If you’ve been saving a trip memento from earlier this year, understand that this age group likely won’t warmly receive it unless it's food or something very special that reminds them of childhood.
Millennials are less attracted to token gifts and souvenirs from travel. Consider a hand-crafted gift you can pick up from a local artisan or a piece of art from a street vendor.
As digital as this generation is, it's not hard to see that the written word has gone by the wayside. They type everything instead and can create virtual stationery, cards, etc. They also don’t seem keen on printed photos or frames.
Instead of anything in this category, consider creating a digital record of all of your favorite photos of them to share. They’ll appreciate the time you took to curate it.
I know that those little fancy $50 mop buckets are cute and fun to operate, but no millennial wants one. They also don’t need aprons, fancy cleaning supplies, or bougie dishtowels.
They’re reverting to tried and true home products like vinegar and baking soda to clean. If you want to make their day, consider Wool Dryer Balls, which serve double duty as a softener and dryer time reducer.
Don’t gift a cruise to anyone you don’t already know who loves a cruise, but more importantly, a millennial. They don’t get them at all. They’re up to date on the greenhouse gasses burned and the amount of waste produced on these magical vacations.
Look instead at gifting an Airbnb or VRBO certificate, where they can choose a location to have a more authentic vacation experience.
Now, no one is suggesting a gallon of milk and a box of cereal under the Christmas tree, but do be aware that more millennials drink alternative milk instead of regular milk and eat breakfasts that have much more protein.
Milk consumption in the United States has dropped more than 40% since the 1970s. There’s a reason that their Starbucks orders seem so complicated. So make sure you have their choice of breakfast handy during the holiday season.
Like milk, millennials aren’t interested in your run-of-the-mill Budweiser or Miller Light. In fact, many don’t even drink as much as previous generations. As the generations have progressed, craft beer and local IPAs have popped up and replaced as much as 60% of the market nationwide.
So run by the local brewery and pick up a growler for your favorite millennial or a locally sourced wine with a screw cap. They’re unlikely to finish a bottle in one sitting and prefer to keep the rest for another time.
Before you think of gifting a down payment to your favorite millennial, make sure they actually want to buy a house. Due to the rising prices of homes and increase in insurance, many are forgoing ownership right now and renting instead.
While it doesn’t make sense to you, remember that they’re likely making much less than you were at their age. Offer that down payment in the form of rent for x number of months and watch their faces light up with relief.
Gone are the days of clock radios, cameras, e-readers, or even globes. Everything in a millennial's life is done via phone—from maps to pictures to alarms
Instead of redundant technology, look for new tech helpers like charging device stands, fast charge cables, some really nice headphones, or a great waterproof speaker.
Camping would be the one place you think that gear would remain the same, and that’s where you’ve gone terribly wrong. Tents are as archaic as 8-track players, and sleeping bags are so backyard childhood— as are propane stoves and real lanterns.
Camping gear, like most everything else, got a tech upgrade. Things like hammocks, ultralight weight chairs like the Cliq, and solar-powered lanterns are the new way to camp. Of course, a gift card to REI, LL Bean, or Backcountry Gear will be most appreciated by the hard-core campers in your life.
When they were 12 all they wanted for Christmas was the Millennium Falcon Lego set. Today all they really want is cold hard cash to pay off their crippling debt. Alas, rather than help them follow their dreams you took a deep dive for something they wanted two decades ago, and failed.
It's true that it's not the iconic Star Wars set that they had been pleading with you for years to get them as a child, but isn't it the sentiment that counts? BZZT Wrong! Don't bother giving them a forever ago wish unless they specifically ask for it. Chances are, at this age, they might already have it.
Nothing quite says "I don't see you as an adult" like giving your millennial a funny shirt they didn't ask for. Sure, you could have asked, or maybe even just give them cash, but no. You decided to give them something that's just going to take up space in their closet until the day they die.
"They could just donate it!" you'll shout. Please, we all know how sentimental and material millennials are. No, just because it's about their job doesn't mean they're going to wear it to work. If anything, they'll just wear it the next time they have an obligatory meet up with you. Congratulations. This is what they'll wear every time they see you. Good job.
Ah, the good old responsibilities gift. Generation Y grew up seeing pets as gifts on TV, and boy oh boy did it seem magical. Unfortunately, they now have a fully functioning brain. They can look at a darling little creature and math out just how much blood, sweat, and tears it's going to cost them.
If they could afford a pet, they would likely already have one. Thus, if you decide to give them a pet, perhaps have it checked out at the vet, and attach a check for five thousand dollars (at least) to that cute little bow. All joking aside, there is also a very real reason why they might not have a pet, allergies, fear, etc.
This generation grew up with the internet. They formed it, molded by it, and likewise, it formed them. These cool cats have been sharing recipe's online since online recipes were a thing. They coined the nickname "Foodbook" for Facebook. Needless to say, they rarely, if ever, use a book to cook.
The chef, bartender, or baker in your family does not need another cookbook. We promise you, they have been gifted these their entire lives, and they still just look up recipes and food ideas online. Every millennial everywhere will thank you for bringing them chicken nuggets rather than a book on how to make them this Christmas.
Oh, the fanny pack, the one-size-fits-all solution for those of us who constantly want to be mistaken for tourists. The initial promise of more space and greater accessibility is far outweighed by the significant hit to our social standing. For 70 years, this waste-worn human pouch has plagued our streets.
The allure of convenience ruined many a brilliant young mind's social life. Ask yourself this: Would you really trust a person with a fanny pack to care for your kids? If the answer is no, then remember that you have the power to end this fad; stop gifting fanny packs.
For the love of bananas, please do not buy your beloved apocalypse survivor a car. Yes, we have all seen the enchanting commercials where the whole family runs outside to find a Ford with a big red bow. We love it. It's great. Don't do it. Your millennial is very picky about their automotive choice.
They scour the internet for environmental impacts, gas milage, and number of seats. Handing them something they might not like can be a disaster. Unless they have explicitly told you exactly what they want (and for how much) - do not buy them a car. Give them your old car, or cold hard cash.
No millennial wants a shake weight with extra double entendre side as a gift, just so you creepy uncles in your midlife crisis know. You may think it's hilarious to mime how to use it, but it's not. It's not a gift; it's an insult in pretty wrapping paper with a bow.
You think they don't get enough forearm exercise writing resumes for companies that think they'd love to apply for an entry-level position that requires 15 years of experience and pays the same as minimum wage? Wow, okay. So, before you place that order, shake your head. Maybe you'll come to your senses.
Nothing quite says "I know next to nothing about you, and I'd prefer to keep it that way" like a randomly selected assortment of fruits or skin care products. Lord forbid they would like something that is useful or has even a single drop of consideration put forth into it.
What could you possibly buy for that millennial friend or family member of yours? Perhaps a calendar of the doomsday events they had to endure or a flipbook of all the once-in-a-lifetime events that occurred in the last few years alone. If you're thinking a basket is better, no, it's not.
It's about time you went to the gym, right? Wrong. The moment has come to learn the time-honored lesson that each and every millennial ultimately learns: the dreaded gym membership is not a gift; rather, it is a proclamation. Giving your significant other a gym membership sends the message, "You fat," and honestly, they know. We promise they know.
Instead of being caught off guard by our friends who only eat chicken rice and broccoli attempting to unload that extra membership, perhaps this year they can shed some pounds in a more time-honored tradition, by cutting those people out of their lives. No? That's not what you want? Don't buy them the membership.
The oldest millennial is well over 40 years old. Many people have children and eat pizza every Saturday. Their wonderful high school clothes don't fit nearly the same now, if at all. They are, nevertheless, mostly intelligent. They can glance at a stack of ribs and instantly know how many calories they are going to consume due to years of monitoring on numerous applications pushed their way.
They are aware of whether their BMI is significantly over or below the healthy range. I assure you that unwrapping a bathroom scale will not bring them delight. In reality, it would provide almost no delight to anybody. Pass on this present unless you want to offend them on the most joyous day of the year.
