| Quick answer: When someone owns everything they need, the answer isn’t another object, it’s an experience, a consumable they’ll happily use up, or a genuine upgrade to something they use daily. Below are 12 ideas across those three categories. But the honest best solution is simpler: ask them to keep a universal gift list on MyRegistry, so you’re never guessing about a person who already has it all. |
Every family has one: the person who buys whatever they want the moment they want it, leaving gift-givers stumped every year. The trick isn’t finding a cleverer object, it’s changing category entirely. Here are 12 ideas that still land, plus the one solution that solves this permanently.
Experiences They Can’t Buy Twice
Airbnb Experience Gift Card — a memorable outing rather than another possession.
Cozymeal Cooking Class — a hands-on evening they’ll actually remember.
Topgolf Gift Card — an afternoon out with people they enjoy.
Put It All on One List With MyRegistry
The gifts above come from many different brands, which is exactly why a universal gift list from MyRegistry makes hard-to-shop-for gifting easier. Instead of juggling links across a dozen stores, add any of these items to one free list and share a single link, so friends and family can give what you actually want, with no duplicates.
| Feature | MyRegistry | Single-store list |
|---|---|---|
| Add from any brand | Yes | No — one store |
| Cash / experience funds | Yes | Rarely |
| Group gifting | Yes | Sometimes |
| One link, no duplicates | Yes | No |
| Cost | Free | Free |
Build your hard-to-shop-for list from any brand — start free on MyRegistry.
Consumables They’ll Happily Use Up
Bellocq Rare Tea — an exquisite consumable that leaves no clutter behind.
Burlap & Barrel Vanilla — a rare ingredient even a well-stocked kitchen lacks.
Sourced Craft Cocktails Kit — a premium experience in a box, then gone.
Upgrades to What They Use Daily
Bellroy Leather Card Holder — an elevated version of something they carry every day.
Byredo Candle — a luxury they’d enjoy but rarely buy for themselves.
Aesop Hand Wash Duo — a small daily indulgence with real staying power.
Meaningful & Personal
Storyworth Family Book — captures their stories — something money can’t replicate.
Framebridge Custom Framing — turns a meaningful photo into something they’d never do themselves.
Charitable Donation in Their Name — for the person who genuinely needs nothing at all.
For someone who has everything, stop giving objects and start giving experiences.
Gifting by Budget
There’s a great gift for someone who has everything at every price point, give the best version of what fits your budget, and a thoughtful small gift always beats a generic expensive one.
| Budget | Great option | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30 | a rare consumable or fine tea | Thoughtful and genuinely usable |
| $30–$75 | an experience or daily upgrade | The sweet spot for most gifts |
| $75+ | a memorable outing or custom keepsake | A memorable splurge or group gift |
For a higher-end pick, several people can pool through group gifting on a universal list, so even a $150 gift can come from a group giving comfortably.
The Real Solution: Just Ask
Here’s the honest truth about this problem: the person who has everything usually still wants specific things, you just don’t know what they are. A universal gift list solves it permanently. They add what they genuinely want from any store, you give it with certainty, and the annual guessing game ends. It feels less spontaneous, perhaps, but the gift actually gets used, which is what spontaneity was aiming at anyway.
| Pros • Experiences beat objects • Consumables leave no clutter • Upgrades to daily items always land • A gift list ends the guessing entirely | Cons • Objects rarely work for this person • Requires knowing their taste — or asking |
| Expert tip: For the person who has everything, change category: give an experience, a consumable they’ll use up, or an upgrade to something they touch daily. Better still, ask them to keep a universal gift list, it permanently solves a problem that clever guessing never will. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you get someone who has everything?
An experience, a fine consumable that leaves no clutter, or an upgrade to something they use daily, rather than another object they don’t need.
What’s the best solution long-term?
Ask them to keep a universal gift list. The person who has everything usually still wants specific things, you just don’t know what they are.
Are donations a good gift?
For someone who genuinely needs nothing, a donation in their name to a cause they care about can be the most meaningful option.
The Bottom Line
Stop guessing for the person who has everything, give experiences, consumables, or ask them to keep a list at MyRegistry.
