Christmas, birthdays, gifts - shopping

JavaScript is disabled
If possible, please enable JavaScript for an enhanced experience on the CHOICE website.

Christmas, birthdays and gifts

Choosing the perfect gift for that special occasion needn't cause you stress.

It can be a daunting task buying a gift for a special occasion such as a wedding, birthday, anniversary or Christmas – especially when you've got absolutely no idea what the person wants or needs. If you ever thought buying someone a foot spa was a good idea, we're sorry but we can't help - you're too far gone. For the rest of you, read on for advice on choosing the perfect gift that the recipient won't even have to lie about loving.

Buying guides

How to buy a diamond When you're buying the bling for your intended's engagement ring, do your homework first to make the perfect choice.

How to buy the best gift cards They're a great last-minute present idea, but there are some pitfalls to avoid.

Father's Day gifts dads will actually want Forget the socks and jerky, here's our guide to smart gifts for modern dads.

Articles

Should you buy Christmas presents now? Experts warn you may want to get a jump start on your Christmas shopping this year.

A very CHOICE Christmas: our staff's Christmas gift picks CHOICE staff reveal what's on their Christmas list this year (and what is most definitely not).

10 tips to help you survive the week before Christmas Panicking over what to buy the in-laws or whether your food order will arrive on time? Our cheat sheet has all the answers.

10 thoughts we all have while Christmas shopping From Christmas songs on loop, to the horror that is a shopping centre car park in late December.

Fiona Mair's Christmas cooking tips The home economist and kitchen test coordinator shares her sage advice.

JB Hi-Fi rethinks gift card policy After ruling out using a JB Hi-Fi gift card for pre-ordered PS5 or Xbox Series X/S consoles, the retailer will now accept them.

CHOICE staff: the worst Christmas gifts we've ever received From a sewing machine to a single used chopstick, CHOICE staff reveal the most ill-judged or simply terrible gifts they've received.

Summer holiday injuries: the most common ways we get hurt The Christmas and New Year period presents unique risks – on top of hazards posed by millions of unsafe products in Australia.

Rights to a refund at Christmas What can you do if your Christmas gift turns out to be a dud?

The best kitchen gifts 2019: from KitchenAid to Nespresso and NutriBullets Splurge or save on our pick of the best kitchen gifts for Christmas, as recommended by CHOICE experts.

Best tech gift ideas for Christmas Here's what to buy to keep the tech geek in your life happy this Christmas.

What women want on Mother's Day Penny Flanagan thinks it's high time the realities of motherhood are reflected in the advertising.

The best gift ideas for Mother's Day Our selection of the greatest gifts to spoil Mum

Are lab grown diamonds the real deal? Technology means a perfectly real diamond can be made in a lab and sold for less than a quarter of the price of a natural gem.

Arbitrary expiry dates scrapped in new gift card reforms New South Wales could be the first state to mandate expiry periods.

Toys "R" Us honours 20-year-old gift cards Father stumbles across decades-old gift cards in daughter's room.

Spending up big on Mother's Day 7 May 2015 | Australians are set to spend $1.3 billion on mums.

Christmas shopping scams Your Christmas-time stress might make you more vulnerable to schemes and scams – here's how to avoid the main ones.

12 recalls of Christmas CHOICE says it’s time to check your homes for products which could ruin your festive season

The cut flower industry A beautiful bouquet of flowers may have an ugly back-story.

Show 16 more articles

Christmas, birthdays and gifts

Related

Shopping for special occasions

Choosing your energy supplier

Taking action and making a complaint