Christmas Fail-Safe Gifts #DitsyDecember

Every single Christmas we all seem to stress over what to get our loved ones. Then of course there's the matter of what they like/dislike, what we can afford and what we bought them last year, to name but a few. With that in mind I thought I'd compile a bit of a list (we all know how much I love a good list) of a selection of - what I like to call - 'fail-safe gifts'. These are the type of presents that, hopefully, should be all-round people pleasers and would suit a wide variety of friends and family members. Still stuck for what to buy your one (or a fair few) or your loved ones? Look no further...

Sweet treats. A classic. Every year I seem to be bought at least some form of chocolate. Not that I'm complaining, of course, but I think it'd be fair to say it has to be the top 'I don't know what to buy [insert name] for Christmas' gift of all time. Whether it be bars, selection boxes, cartons or bags, from the chocolatier or from the supermarket - this type of gift encompasses all degress of budgets. And, like I said earlier, it's to most extents a crowd pleaser, with the majority of people liking some form of confectionary.

Smellies. Again another classic, but you really can't go wrong with a box of smellies for women and men alike. You could go stick to bath and body, go down the fragrance route or even venture down the skincare avenue. You could go with brands you know they love, or perhaps encourage them to step out of their comfort zone a little and your gift just may be the start of a new-found love.

Experiences. Now here's one that may not be so obvious. Has a loved one ever mentioned something that they've always wanted to do but have never got round to it? Or maybe you could envisage them doing something that they may not have ever thought about doing before? Perhaps you could treat them to a special experience that they won't forget - hopefully for all the right reasons of course.

Jewellery. You can never go wrong with a nice piece (or pieces) of jewellery for Christmas, for  both women and men. Maybe you've seen them eyeing up a certain piece recently every time they go past the shop window, or maybe you could surprise them on the day with some bling that you know they'd look great in.

Vouchers. To some this may not be technically seen as a gift, as it basically equates to giving someone money and allows them to choose their own gift. However, I like to think that vouchers actually show more thought and consideration than simply putting some notes into a card. Think about what stores your loved one frequently shops in or even shops they always like to browse in but never feel they have the budget to actually make a purchase?

Alcohol. Now obviously this isn't a fail-safe gift for those under the age of 18 (myself included, until next year - bring on 2015) but for those who are legally allowed a tipple or five you really cannot go wrong with some alcohol. Wine, beer, spirits - think of your loved one's favourite drink and you're bound for success.

Magazine Subscription. Does your loved one have a particular favourite mag that they are never seen without? Perhaps you could buy them a subscription so every single issue is delivered ahead of print to their doorstep? I think some magazines even offer a discount and 'thank you gifts' for those who order a subscription, so plenty a good deal to be had there!

A Calendar or Diary. Now this is one I like to crack out more often that I perhaps should. Take advantage of the fact 2015 is closely round the corner and get your loved one prepared with a brand new calendar or diary. Of course at the rate things are brought into shops nowadays they may already have snapped one up, but is it just my family who like to have numerous ones scattered all round the house? These are also a perfect opportunity to really personalise your gift. Calendars especially come in so many prints - 'Rabbits 2015', 'Cupcakes 2015' etc. - I'm sure you could find one that suits them down to a tee.

A Christmas Jumper (of course). Now, I know that there is a minority who view this type of clothing as tacky and gimmicky so perhaps this isn't completely fail-safe for those people. However, for those who are quite partial to the festive season in general and like to show it in every way possible, this may just be the perfect gift for them. They've already got a Christmas jumper? I'm sure another wouldn't hurt...

Socks.