10 Things to Buy Your Uncle for Cheering Them Up

Buying for your uncle goes the same way most years: you get to the week before, panic, and buy the safe thing he already has three of.

These ten are here because they either get used weekly or they mark something. UK prices, one pick from our own range, and the card sorted at the end.

10 cheering him up gifts for your uncle

This selection suits any uncle who is going through a quiet patch and needs a gentle reminder that you are thinking of him. Use this guide when you want to lift his spirits with something tangible that shows you truly know his habits. As a practical tip, choose something that fits seamlessly into his daily routine rather than a dusty ornamental keepsake.

1. Coasters for the table he's already ruined. Cheap, funny and used every time you visit.
2. A print about his team, his trade or his favourite film. It shows you listened to the hour-long story he tells every Christmas.
3. The good bottle of the thing he drinks. One good bottle of his usual beats a gift set of things he won't open.
4. Tickets to a match or a gig, ideally with you going too. Going with him is the half of the present that isn't on the ticket.
5. Something for the garage, shed or allotment. Practical shed and garage things get used all year.
6. A photo of the family printed and framed. A framed family photo is the safest bet on this list.
7. A book about the subject he'll talk about for an hour unprompted. Feed the obsession and he'll talk to you about it for the next decade.
8. A puzzle, a game or a quiz book for the Christmas table. Something for the table keeps the whole room going after dinner.
9. Something that needs no reply. A parcel that arrives without asking anything of them is the whole point when someone is flat.
10. Our pick: the pack of 6 fun cartoon coasters - daft, cheap, and they'll be on the table every time you visit.

How much to spend

This budget guidance suits anyone wanting to show support without causing their relative to feel uncomfortable about the expense. Use these starting points before you begin browsing to keep your plans realistic and thoughtful. A sensible practical tip is to focus on the cost-per-use of your present, as a modest daily item often brings far more comfort than an expensive luxury.

• £15 to £30, and something for the kitchen or garage is safer than clothing.
• Pooling with siblings or friends on one bigger present beats three separate medium ones.
• A £15 thing used weekly beats a £60 thing kept in a cupboard.
• If money is tight, give time with a date attached instead - it isn't a lesser gift.

What to avoid

This advice suits anyone who wants to avoid the trap of buying well-meaning but ultimately useless clutter. Use these rules whilst brainstorming your ideas to filter out the generic options that often end up gathering dust in a cupboard. Our top practical tip is to ask yourself whether you would genuinely be pleased to receive the item yourself before making a final decision.

• Novelty ties.
• Aftershave he'll never open.
• Anything that's really a hint.
• Gift sets you'd be embarrassed to receive.

Getting the timing right

This timing strategy suits family members who want to ensure their gesture has the most meaningful emotional impact. Use these scheduling ideas when planning your delivery to ensure your support arrives exactly when the initial rush of sympathy has started to fade. For a useful practical tip, always coordinate your gesture with a promise of future contact to keep him looking forward.

• Send it in week three, not week one. Everyone shows up at the start.
• Small and soon beats big and late.
• Say when you'll next be round, and then turn up.

Don't forget the perfect card

This advice suits those who know that words of comfort often mean far more than the physical gift itself. Use these writing suggestions as the final touch to tie your gesture together and bring a genuine smile to his face. A helpful practical tip is to draft your message on a scrap of paper first, focusing on a shared happy memory to make it truly personal.

• The gift gets opened in a minute. The card sits on the shelf for weeks and in a drawer for years.
• Write something only you could write about your uncle - one specific thing from this year.
• Sign it properly. A name and a real sentence beats 'love from all of us'.
• Every card we make is designed in house and printed in the UK, and it posts in the same parcel as the gift.

Key things to remember

• Specific beats expensive - the best gift is the one only you would think of.
• Order the card with the gift so they arrive together.
• Write the card before you wrap, while you still have something to say.

Frequently asked questions

What should I buy your uncle for cheering him up?

Something he uses weekly or something with a date attached - a print for a wall, the good version of an everyday item, or an outing already booked. All three beat a gift set bought in a hurry.

How much should I spend on your uncle?

£15 to £30, and something for the kitchen or garage is safer than clothing.

What should I write in the card?

One specific thing from the last year, then how you actually feel about it. That single line is remembered long after the present has been put away.

What is a good example of 10 things to buy your uncle for cheering him up?

"1. Coasters for the table he's already ruined. Cheap, funny and used every time you visit." is one of 25 examples on this page. Pick the one closest to the tone you want, then add a specific detail of your own - a shared memory, a date, a name - so it reads as yours rather than copied.

Where to shop next

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