St. Nicholas Day Gifts for Adults: 27 Ideas for December 6

Cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise and dried orange peel in a small jar: a mulling-spice kit fits in a stocking and promises a warm evening. Ready-made blends cost $8–12. Add a bottle of red only if you know the person drinks; the same spices work in tea or hot apple cider.

For a coworker or neighbor who drinks coffee daily, a 12 oz bag of beans from a local roaster costs $15–20 and beats anything from the supermarket. Check whether they own a grinder; if not, ask the roaster to grind it for their brewer. Tea drinkers will like a tin of loose-leaf instead.

A small succulent, snake plant or ZZ plant in a 4–5 inch pot is a neutral gift for a coworker or neighbor, and it survives a dark December. Expect $10–20. These tolerate low light and forgetful watering. In freezing weather, wrap the pot in paper and a bag: leaves get cold damage within minutes outside.

Touchscreen gloves mean no bare hands at the bus stop for every text, and a wool-acrylic beanie doesn't itch. Uniqlo's HeatTech ribbed beanie is about $10; decent gloves run $15–25. Check the glove size on a pair they already wear; if you can't, pick a scarf, where size doesn't matter.

Parents and grandparents rarely scroll through phone photos, so print 20–30 of the year's best family shots and put them in a slip-in album for 4×6 prints. Printing runs about $0.30 a photo and the album $15–25. Write dates and names next to them: in ten years the captions will matter most.

A headlamp keeps both hands free in a dark stairwell, a garage or a kitchen during an outage. The Petzl Tikkina costs about $20, gives 250–300 lumens and runs on AAA batteries or the rechargeable Core pack. For lighting a whole room, a lantern with a hook and warm light works better.

For anyone who walks the dog at 7 a.m. or waits for a late bus, a rechargeable hand warmer gives 4–8 hours of heat, and some double as a phone power bank. Good ones cost $15–40. Buy from a known seller, check the model isn't on a CPSC recall list, and never charge it overnight unattended.

A pocket knife lasts decades in the hands of someone who fixes things at home, camps or spends weekends at a cabin. The Victorinox Spartan, with two blades, can opener, screwdrivers and corkscrew, runs about $30. Remember it can't go in airplane carry-on.

If they mostly pay by phone, they don't need a bulky wallet but a slim leather card holder for 4–6 cards that fits a stocking and a jeans pocket. Expect $25–40 for full-grain leather. Check whether they still carry cash; if so, choose one with a center slot for folded bills.

Sterling silver studs or a thin bracelet fit under a pillow and stay with her for years. Simple 925 silver studs cost $30–80 depending on the stone. Check that her ears are pierced and which metal she wears; if you've only been dating a few weeks, keep it small and simple.

In a drafty apartment, plaid flannel pajamas keep someone warm without a blanket around the shoulders. A good cotton flannel set costs $30–50. Fleece is warmer but can feel stuffy at night. Check the size on something they already wear and include a gift receipt.

For someone who walks to work, works outdoors or keeps the heat low, a merino base layer stays warm and doesn't hold odors. A merino-blend top runs $50–80; Smartwool or Icebreaker sets cost more. Synthetic layers are cheaper and dry faster, so they suit sports better. Check the size on something they already wear.

For parents who spend hours at a desk or over the stove and complain about a stiff neck by evening, a heated shiatsu neck massager helps. Good models cost $40–80. Look for an auto shut-off after 15–20 minutes and a removable, washable cover.

A small Bluetooth speaker plays in the kitchen, the bathroom or at the cabin and runs on battery. The JBL Go 4 costs under $50, is IP67 water- and dustproof and plays for about 7 hours. Check whether they already own a speaker they like, and pick the color they'd choose.

A bouquet that never wilts, plus a calm evening of building. The LEGO Pretty Pink Flower Bouquet 10342 is about $60; the smaller Orchid 10311 is around $50. The older 10280 bouquet is being retired, so grab it only if you see it in stock. There's no vase in the box.

Tickets to a concert, a play or a stand-up show turn a small gift into a night out. Two theater or comedy-club seats often run $40–80. Pick a date in January after the holiday rush, check they're free that evening, and print the tickets so there's something to find in the shoe.

Pottery, cooking or candle-making: a class gives two people something new to do instead of another object. A two-person session usually costs $60–120. Check how long the certificate is valid, whether it covers one or two people, and whether the studio has open dates in January.

For someone who brews coffee at home every morning, a hand grinder gives a fresh grind and works without power. The Timemore C3 runs roughly $70–110 depending on the version and sales. The regular C3 suits filter and French press; the C3 ESP also grinds fine enough for espresso.

An instant camera turns a holiday dinner or a winter walk into prints for the fridge. The Fujifilm Instax mini 12 is a simple beginner's camera at around $80, and the newer mini 13 adds a self-timer. Film comes in 10-shot packs, so buy one or two extra with the camera.

Grandkids send photos from their phones and the frame shows them right away. Frameo-based 10-inch frames cost $50–80 with a free app; the Aura Carver runs $143–179 and keeps photos in Aura's cloud. Set it up on their Wi-Fi before you hand it over so grandparents don't have to touch a thing.

For a parent who reads every evening, an e-reader with adjustable font size and a front light is easier on the eyes than paper. The Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16 GB) often drops to about $125–135 on sale. The Signature edition has no lock-screen ads; make sure they have a USB-C charger.

Socks are the classic stocking stuffer, so make them worth it: warm merino instead of a novelty print. A pair of Darn Tough or Smartwool merino socks costs $20–27, keeps feet warm and doesn't smell after a long day. Pick a thicker hiking weight for someone who's outdoors a lot.

Something sweet in the shoe is the most traditional St. Nicholas gift, and adults like it as much as kids. Skip the supermarket assortment: a Compartés bar or a box of Chocolove truffles costs about $10. Check for nut allergies and ask if they're cutting back on sugar.

A travel mug keeps morning coffee hot on the commute or in a chilly office. A 12–16 oz Stanley or Zojirushi costs $25–35. Look for a leak-proof lid that opens with one hand and a size that fits the car cup holder.

A massage voucher gives someone a free hour in a hectic December; a couples massage works for parents. An hour-long massage typically costs $70–120. Choose a spa close to their home and check the validity period so it actually gets used.

A power bank is never wasted: on a trip, a long day out or during a power cut. For a phone, a compact 10,000 mAh Anker costs $20–30. For a laptop, look for USB-C Power Delivery at 65 W or more.

A couch throw works for almost anyone, from parents to a friend who just moved. A 50×60 inch wool-blend throw costs $30–60; fleece is cheaper and easy to wash. Pick a neutral color that fits most living rooms.