help with hard-to-buy for men in family

LaLeeLee

My husband and I have this problem each Christmas...a gift for his grandfather and his great uncle. I have no clue what to get for them. Something in the $20 range is about what we do...but I'm at a loss! Neither is into reading much, or the outdoors, tools...Any suggestions? 

blu-eyedwife

wallets, watches, slippers, sweaters, scarves - these are all the type of gifts we get for the men in SIL's family

Lilou902

Lottery tickets.  It's nice expecially if they have everything the need.

WA1215

Im buying my Dad plain white t-shirts (Kirklands brand) and socks (Russell Atheltic)- (got both from Costco, the quality is awesome), he needs them so badly (he's diabetic and very picky about his socks, these apparently are the only kind he likes for his feet).

If all else fails, edible gifts are always good too!  Candy (turtles, fudge, box of chocolates, etc)  or a fruit basket, assorted nuts or a tin of popcorn.  Maybe make them each a food basket of their favorites that might be a little pricey that they hardly buy for themselves. 

festivegal2008

Any kind of liquor they like?  Perhaps a bottle of scotch and a set of glasses?  Or you can never go wrong with a gift card to their favorite restaurant!  That's usually my "safe haven." 

Alispidali

I agree a bottle of their favorite liquor.  A lot men like silly electronics- an electronic weatherstation, the smartset alarm clock that sets itself (at walmart), electonic massager or a fancy universal remote.  Also, my brother is 23 but I usually get him a remote control car/plane and he loves it.  Men still have the little boy in them at christmas time.  Something fun is always perfect.

mrs.starbucks

a magazine subscription? that hardly counts as reading. 

MBaz

I have a very hard to buy for man in my family, but he happens to love to cook, especially barbecue. I get him a gift certificate to the best butcher shop in town (and hope for an invitation to dinner!).

Dyork

Ooooh these are some good ideas. I always have a hard time buying for the men in my family.

LaLeeLee

These are good ideas, thanks everyone! I'm thinking of doing a basket of 'favorite goodies' for grandfather and a gift card for great uncle...thanks y'all!!!

CanadianGurl

It's more of a gag gift, but something DH would enjoy I thought: a bacon-flavored gift pack from J&D Foods (I got the Jones Soda giftpack for him and another for my family's Xmas day chinese exchange). http://store.baconsalt.com/Gift-Multi-Packs_c_12.html

 Another idea is a wire puzzle from puzzlemaster. I bought my BIL one ($20 at a game store at the mall, but some are much less) and have bought them at one point or another for almost every male family member, it seems to be a great gift that everyone gets involved in solving on Xmas day. http://www.puzzlemaster.ca/browse/wirepuzzlemaster/40-the-tree-puzzle 

We've also given an indoor/outdoor digital thermometer (with display that mounts inside to tell you indoor and outdoor temperature, humidity, etc.) that can be found at radioshack, futureshop, etc. You can easily find one under $20, and if you start looking at the online flyers, you can often get a fancier one close to 50% off. http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2049773&retainProdsInSession=1 

LaLeeLee

Wow, more good ideas!!! Thanks so much!