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A Grinch’s Guide to Christmas Giving: Obligatory Gifting For Those You Tolerate

the grinch in bed resisting Christmas

Let's be honest: not all of us are the best at giving Christmas gifts. In fact, shopping for presents during the holiday season can be one of the most stressful parts of the supposedly most wonderful time of the year. That said, you know you can't show up empty-handed to your family get-together, and it certainly has to seem like you at least tried to get everyone something they really like.

So, what do you do when you have absolutely no clue of what to get everyone and hate picking out gifts? You turn to the following subscriptions for help! All you have to do is draw up a few memories of past Christmases and utilize your not-so-desirable experiences from bad gifting in the past to fuel your shot at redemption this year.

Best Subscriptions For Obligatory Gifting To Those You Love Tolerate

1. My Christmas Crate - Best Subscription For The Christmas-Obsessed Person

My Christmas Crate Open Box with Christmas items

About the Subscription: Cliché? Maybe. Highly applicable and extremely well-loved by the online community? Absolutely! My Christmas Crate is the ultimate subscription box for Christmas lovers who can't get enough of the holiday season. You may not know anything else about the person you're buying for other than they are die-hard fans of Christmas and can't seem to get enough of this time of the year.

Rather than worry about handpicking these festive items, My Christmas Crate contains a little bit of everything to spark the holiday cheer (something that Grinches are best suited for selecting themselves). Each box from My Christmas Crate contains 3-5 individual items like cookie mix, jewelry, ornaments, snacks, and even beauty products.

The Cost: $36.85 for a one-time crate. Gift it and get on with it - order today!

ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off any subscription!
CODE: CRATE10

What Our Readers Say:

"With Christmas only weeks away I’m enjoying My Christmas Crate even more. I love how opening the box each month brings a little holiday cheer into our house." - Jessica Telesmanich

Ships to the US. Check out our My Christmas Crate details and reviews to learn more. 

2. Harry & David - Best Subscription For Families Who Want To Make Sure Santa Eats His Fill

Harry And David Big Book of Christmas Cookies

About the Subscription: We all know that one family who has to get back home way ahead of time on Christmas Eve to track Santa's whereabouts and set out his cookies to fuel his worldwide trip. However, we also know that many times the children who are responsible for baking the cookies in this family and also happen to be cursed with the affliction of always torching Santa's cookies (poor guy).

So, you decide you're going to save these parents the hassle of wasting money on cookies again this year and also extinguish the potential fight between their kids on what type of cookies to make. You decide to get them The Big Book of Christmas Cookies from Harry & David.This set of cookies comes with 38 cookies total and contains the following mixture of flavors: 4 raspberry-filled tree-cutout shortbread, 6 cranberry-orange shortbread, 6 fruitcake, 4 gingerbread sandwich, 6 raspberry galettes, 6 caramel apple raisin, 6 double chocolate cherry.

We know what you're probably thinking - but the children love baking the cookies each year! I know, it may seem cruel at first to take away their baking privileges, but trust me, you're doing the parents a major favor this year and you're also ensuring that there will be enough cookies by the time Santa arrives (or for when you inevitably have to go over to their house later on Christmas day). Santa may not get his classic chocolate chip cookie this year, but that's ok, as gift-giving is really more of his top priority anyway.

The Cost: Starts at $34.99. Gift it and get on with it - order today!

Ships to the US. Check out our Harry and David details and reviews to learn more. 

3. Candy Club - Best Subscription For Kids Who Always Complain About Their Stocking Stuffers

Candy Club April 2019 review all candies

Image from our review.

About the Subscription: At some point, almost every kid alive has faced some type of disappointment with their stocking stuffers. Even though they may receive nearly everything they wanted one Christmas, there was still that one darn item in the stocking that resembled coal in their eyes. As a Grinch, you know you have limited patience to tolerate these complaints and figure, hey, what kid doesn't like candy?

So, you turn to Candy Club to rescue Christmas day and provide the parents of the children you bought this for with sweet relief that their kids are way too preoccupied with chewing their candy mix to murmur a single word about the one stocking item they didn't like. In order to make sure that there's at least one type of candy they like, you go with the Good Times subscription box that contains 13 different types of candies like Choco-PB Pretzel Pillows, Cinnamon Bears, Cookie Dough Bites, Pink Piglets, and Big Apples.

The Cost: Starts at $69.99. Gift it and get on with it - order today!

What Our Readers Say:

"The unicorns, rainbow belts, and confetti drops were all adorable and delicious! The rainbow fudge drops were also super cute and small enough so that their richness worked well. The PB Pretzel balls were by far the most rational treat in this box, and they didn’t last long either. This sub tends to lean more on the expensive side, but the packaging is adorable and it is a great way to show someone you care about some love, especially if they are candy enthusiasts.." - Megan K.

Ships to the US. Check out our Candy Club details and reviews to learn more. 

4. Decorated - Best Subscription For The People Who Say They Can Never Have Enough Christmas Decorations

Christmas Snowman decoration by Decoration

About the Subscription: Grinches certainly don't understand how some people can't seem to stop filling their homes with more and more Christmas junk each year. However, people like this really do exist and you know that Christmas decorations always seem to work as last-minute gifts. You realize that there's no end in sight to their accumulation of Christmas decorations and ornaments, so why not just accept their addiction and roll with it?

Rather than get them the same items they most likely have, you turn to Decorated to help give their home an upgrade. Decorated offers seasonal subscription boxes full of home decor items that are stylish and definitely can't be found at your local supermarket. The Christmas Box by Decorated contains 4 festive holiday items that are sure to enhance anyone's holiday décor.

The Cost: Starts at $39.99. Gift it and get on with it - order today!

What Our Readers Say:

"I was introduced to this subscription box by a friend and I absolutely love it! I can decorate my house according to the season and I get so excited everytime the box arrives. I 100% recommend it!" - Nashla Akel

Ships to the US. Check out our Decorated details and reviews to learn more.

5. Foot Cardigan Sock Subscription - Best Subscription For People Who Like To Stand Out In Family Photos

Foot Cardigan Sock Subscription Christmas Theme Socks

About the Subscription: There's always that one person who has to go all out each year for Christmas photos. Not only do they wake up before presents to get into character, but every single item of clothing they wear for Christmas day is themed. Although you as a Grinch think this is quite disturbing, you know that buying this person some type of Christmas attire always seems to work as a gift each year. However, since you have no idea what size they are in clothing you decide that buying socks is probably the safest route to go.

Foot Cardigan Sock Subscription offers a ton of options when it comes to finding themes for just about anything and you know that they always have a few Christmas sock pairs on sale. Whether you get them Frosti the Ski Man or Lumberjack socks or even the Holiday Pair, you know they're going to put these crazy socks on right away for all remaining family pictures.

The Cost: Starts at $12.00. Gift it and get on with it - order today!

What Our Readers Say:

"My dad and stepmom recommended this subscription to me as my stepsister buys it for them as a Christmas present. I really like this subscription. I've only gotten one pair so far but they were really cute." - Kim

Ships to the US. Check out our Foot Cardigan details and reviews to learn more. 

6. Silk + Sonder - Best Subscription For The Planners And Go-Getters

Silk & Sonder Holiday Gift Set

About the Subscription: You definitely have at least one person in your family who's literally always planning something. Whether it's their next trip across the world, their hourly plans for the day, or getting a tighter grip on their child's rotating schedule of endless sports, that person magically ensures that all goes as planned.

While you certainly don't care what they're planning, you know that they'll be elated to know that you recognize their planning efforts. Perhaps the best way you can show your appreciation (read tolerance) of their non-stop planning and preparation is by getting them Silk + Sonder. Silk & Sonder's holiday bundle comes with a wellness journal and a pen along with a candle and bath bombs so you can help the go-getters of your family to continue proactively planning yet chill out for a brief second to enjoy their few moments of relaxation and resetting.

The Cost: Starts at $46.00. Gift it and forget it - order today!

What Our Readers Say:

"This Journal gives you inspiration to do things, try new things, and to make you feel good about yourself. This Journal had given me hope that I might make it. You will enjoy it!!" - Cindy

Ships to the US. Check out our Silk + Sonder details and reviews to learn more.

7. BarkBox - Best Subscription For People With Dogs

December Bark Box

About the Subscription: So, you finally run into buying presents for someone in the family who isn't much of a fan of Christmas either and you know almost nothing else about - except that they have a dog. The good news for you is that rather than have to worry about picking out the right gift for this person, you can get a gift for their dog-child instead. Since you don't want to completely rain of the Christmas parade and face your family's eternal judgment, you decide to stick with a Christmas-themed dog subscription box from BarkBox.

The Super Chewer Box contains 2 tough toys, 2 full-sized bags of treats, and 2 meaty chews to keep your family member's dog hard at work and play while they can sit back and watch in total admiration. The best part? You can let BarkBox build this gift for you so that the only effort you put in is just purchasing this gift.

The Cost: Starts at $45. Gift it and get on with it - order today!

What Our Readers Say:

"My one year old mastiff absolutely loves her super chewer bark box. She knows the packaging and her special treats. Customer service is outstanding! I only wish you could purchase a side box." - Christina Farnquist

Ships to the US. Check out our BarkBox details and reviews to learn more. 

8. Meowbox - Best Subscription For People With Cats

Meowbox December

About the Subscription: Same concept as above, except this time it's for the cat-mom/dad of the family. Just as before, you have no idea what this person actually wants for Christmas as they only talk about their cat-child, and literally nothing else. You figure the best path for this Christmas gift experience is to find a subscription box that's fully tailored to this cat as it has full possession of its owner.

Thankfully, Meowbox has everything you need to keep any cat-parent satisfied. Its holiday-themed boxes contain a mix of high-quality toys and treats that are either organic, single-ingredient, or grain-free. Boxes like the one pictured above come with items like kitten mittens, crochet toys, turkey treats, and turkey dinner.

The Cost: Starts at $29.95. Gift it and get on with it - order today!

What Our Readers Say:

"Just received Dec 2020 box and my cats are in heaven! All of the toys were so cute and perfect for this season of year!" - Robin Krauth

Ships to the US. Check out our Meowbox details and reviews to learn more. 


Interested in learning more about holiday subscriptions? Check these out:

Kathryn Giuffrida
Kathryn Giuffrida

Hi, I'm Kat! I’m a SAHM and swimmer who loves sharing about brands that make life easier as a mom and maximize athletic performance. If I'm not baby-wrangling or writing, you can usually find me training or chugging an extra large coffee.

I've contributed to over 200 articles on My Subscription Addiction including best-of lists, recurring reviews, and informational guides. I also work behind the scenes at SUCCESS.com as Associate Editor contributing to digital publications on personal and professional development.

Want to get in touch? Contact me at [email protected], or connect with me on social media.


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