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What Do I Want for Christmas? 50 Great Gift Ideas for 2023

Everyone we know struggles with the question “what do I want for Christmas this year?” Just in case you’re shopping for someone who is notoriously tough to buy for, (or conversely, they’re trying to shop for you) we’re here to help make everyone’s holidays a whole lot easier and ensure that everyone will get what they really want.

We asked real people for their most wished-for gifts and developed this concise guide to the coolest gifts, gadgets, and goodies, large and small, requested by just about everyone.

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Editor's Note: In writing this article, we queried a diverse group of people to find out what they really wanted for Christmas this year - with no budget limitations or rules. The majority of our selections came directly from their feedback. 

What Do I Need for Christmas?

There's not a wide gap between telling folks what you want and what you need. In fact, most people get so busy trying to find unique gifts for everyone that they actually miss the mark, despite their efforts. In this interesting article about the science behind giving good gifts, writer Tiffanie Wen talked with experts who say you're better off giving people exactly what they want without worrying about being creative or avoiding duplication with others. 

Try to keep that in mind when you ask someone what they want and they respond with a gift that to you might seem subpar. Actually fulfilling their wishes might just be the best gift of all!

How Can You Get What You Want for Christmas?

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you can't be afraid to ask for what you want. Doing so actually eases the burden on the giver and results in a great gift for you. 

If you're asking for something that seems like a budget buster, be sure to let them know you'd be happier "with this one item" than a bunch of smaller gifts. 

It's also a good time of year to make a wish list. In fact, it wouldn't hurt to keep one all year long so when your birthday, anniversary, or Christmas rolls around, you won't be stumped for ideas.

If you're not sure of the best ways to handle the Christmas conundrum, the SmartWomanBlog has step by step instruction to help you get the gifts you really want this year.

What Do Women Want for Christmas 2020?

This year has been an anomaly with so many women working from home. At the same time, according to this story in USA Today, they're also taking on the most responsibility when it comes to their kids who are also learning from home. 

In light of this unusual situation, we think they'd love anything that frees up even a little bit of their time. Robot vacuums are high on this year's list of women's most requested gifts, and while we've featured one in our list, you don't have to get the most expensive one to make a big difference for her. 

Self-care often goes by the wayside when time is limited, so you can encourage the women on your Christmas list to indulge a little, with gifts like luxurious bath sets, premium skincare and makeup, or even more spiritual kinds of items.

What Do Kids Want for Christmas This Year?

We thought it might be helpful to give you some extra insights about gifts for kids because products and what's popular seem to change at lightning speed. As long as you're on top of the hottest toys of the year, your gifts are bound to be hits.  

For the littlest folks on your list, you can't go wrong with some of the basics, and you'll always with the toys from Melissa & Doug. As you'll see if you clicked that link, you can shop both by age and by interest area.

In the 12 and under age group, you can't go wrong with LEGO sets, and for those on the older end of that spectrum, the more difficult the better. Super popular this year are LEGO Star Wars Sets as well as LEGO Architecture.

L.O.L. Surprise dolls and sets are high on the list for girls, but if you're looking for a tomboy, what she wants for Christmas might be drastically different than what you expected. 

STEM gifts are always a great idea for kids, especially chemistry sets and science kits that will develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills while they think they're playing.

And don't forget about current technology. Electronics are a part of every kid's life these days, but we're not just talking smartphones here. Think about hoverboards, gaming devices, and even cameras. There are options for all of these that are age-appropriate for kids from toddlers to teens.