Gift for young adult man with zero likes or interests

[hoarahloux]

My brother is 28 and doesn't seem to have any real interests as far as I can tell. We don't massively get on. No issues, but just nothing in common - I see him once or twice a year and have a fairly distant relationship generally. I asked him for any ideas and he said "don't know". He works but lives at home with our parents still.

I've crocheted everyone else in the family something (a hat for my sister, gloves for my dad, etc - things I know will be appreciated) but have no idea what he might like or want to wear! I bought him a scarf for Christmas last year, among other things. Obviously I should make him something but what? A hat as well? I'd never want him to feel left out. At the same time I know I'll get a box of chocolates as I have for the last 10 years.

So far I have a sock giftset and a brand of personal care products that I know he likes, but it doesn't feel like enough.

You could get him a plant in a pot and crochet a plant pot cover. Could be a low maintenance cactus/succulent or something cool like a Venus fly trap

I definitely wouldn’t crochet anything for him. Something edible or an Amazon voucher would be fine.

I’m 36 and would love a cat ear beanie 😹 🐱

That's really sad. I game online with my son all the time - we have just completed Baldur's Gate 3 together.
However he's not exactly sociable in general. I gave him a t-shirt with this logo for his birthday last month 😁
"You Read My T-Shirt. Thats Enough Social Interaction for One Day."

Having struggled for years with my brother and he with me. Not that much younger, but we are so different. He finally asked a couple of years ago not to exchange gifts. I gracefully said that would be fine. But if you need to for this year and there is a budget perhaps a coffee shop voucher. Costa are topping up this weekend. My son has already benefitted.

It's a bit different between a mother and child and a sister and brother, I think. Awesome that you connect with your child in that way. I don't find it that sad that I don't have much in common with my sibling, including games. There's so many genres of games.

Right? I'd make you one over the snotty "what adult would want a cat-ear beanie" type.

I don’t think this bloke would though, they’ve got that right 😹

If he games he must be buying the games from somewhere? Roblox voucher? Game voucher? Don’t know if the latter still exists haha

You sound like a wonderful big sister, who even though her brother refuses to share the details about his personal life / interests with you, you're still trying to get him a personalized and thoughtful gift. You're a great sister. But like everyone else says, seriously, this has to stop. He's not eight, he's not 18, he's 28 and before you know it he'll be 38 48 58 and you'll be having the same problem.... If he buys you next to nothing, and what tell you what he likes, and you've tried your best to do all the research and everything that you buy him is unsuitable, then either, go with what you've already got which is practical, maybe not exciting but useful (he's got feet, he can use socks).
And if you got along with him better and really really wanted to you could suggest you guys do some sort of an activity together, something that you both might find fun because it is a shared experience, like a concert or a night out doing karaoke and bowling, or going to a workshop on how to brew your own beer? And he's not trying to build the relationship with you, then don't try to build the relationship with him because you can't force him.
If you don't think the shared experience thing will work (keeping in mind, you buy the tickets and if he says no he doesn't want to do that, maybe you can go with someone else? Or, don't buy the tickets yet but instead print up a nice fancy looking gift certificate that you can print off the computer at home that says that you owe him a night of karaoke and bowling for instance, so you don't actually have to go out and buy any gift cards if he says no I don't want to do that...)
And you still want to give him something, I suppose you could always give a donation to a worthy cause especially one that he might possibly be interested in like for instance, "adopt a crocodile" (you don't really get the crocodile, you're just paying money towards the care of one for instance somewhere where they have rescue sanctuaries? That way the money is going to a good cause)
You might want to buy something like a tiny plush crocodile to go along with the fancy card slash custom printed gift certificate that shows where the donation has gone to. It might revolve a little bit of creative work on your part, but that's probably what I would do in your case. It's like giving a gift, but really it's giving a donation, which you can count as being a Christmas gift. So even if he doesn't like it, you won't have to be worried about returning it, or that he never uses it, because it's a donation. Just a thought. Hope it helps.

@StruggleFlourish I think that’s a really nice idea.
WWF has an ‘adopt a Komodo Dragon’ option https://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/species-adoptions/Komodo-Dragon?bgc=100755. You could give him a little crochet Komodo Dragon to open with it (they also have an axalotol option, which would be an adorable crochet project).
https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-us/p/komodo-dragon-crochet-pattern-by-crafty-creations?srsltid=AfmBOop1UTtBZm8aH8XV9-xu6xDrhrK4tzmpmG31-9N5VAPkWUorVVdy

This way at least the money you spend is doing good and it’s personal without giving him something he won’t use.

If you’re already getting socks, toiletries and chocolate/candy then I think that’s plenty!

Sorry - didn't mean to be snippy. It just makes me sad the number of threads where woman are going to a lot of effort (and stress) for men who don't deserve it or who don't respond with the same amount of effort.

The Guiness book of records has done a gamers edition this year, it’s got YouTubers and gamers in it- that and a beano/ dandy (get it for my brothers and I see them reading them despite their age and a roll of the eyes from one!) and a selection box. So it’s a big sis present but they’ll use it all!

You’ve had some lovely suggestions already but honestly, I feel that you’ve already bought him enough, especially if you’re only going to get the standard box of chocs in return.

I'm 52 and want a cat ear beanie after seeing a couple of people wearing them while out and about yesterday.

Disclaimer, I have quite a small head, so the main motivation is that I think it will detract from that a little.

But I also think the OP is putting more thought and effort in here, when it's reciprocated with a basic box of chocolates, no doubt picked up from the end of aisle specials at the supermarket/garage.

PlayStation or Xbox points, they would be useful for a gamer

I’m around the same age. I would probably smile warmly, thank them for the beautiful gift and all of their effort. Think WTAF and take it to the charity shop the first day they opened after Christmas.

I’ve bought my brother a Toby Carvery voucher, if that helps. He’s never that enthused by socks but he’d never pass up a giant Yorkshire pud….

My mother will tell me off for this as I am a serial offender :) but how about getting him into something? F1? Sport? Building something like models if you think he might have the patience? As you aren’t close I think you have enough but I know what you mean? How about a card wallet? Only suggesting this as I just replaced my mulberry one today - since doggo chewed mine in the weekend. :)

Amazon gift card :)

Get him a Visa gift card. He can buy what he wants.

That sounds an excellent idea! These are very cute. But if he keeps snakes then they're bound to me much easier!
No Sew CROCHET PATTERN " Lizard". English PDF Pattern With Photos. Amigurumi Toys. Plushie Toys. Stuffed Toys. Crochet Toys. - Etsy UK

You beat me to it - I was going to say crochet the awkward sod a better personality 🤣

Gift card for something his into, books, video games, movie theater....

Sounds a bit like a relative of mine. I gave him
one of those wearable blankets one year for when he was up late gaming and got cold, which I think he liked.

A voucher for somewhere not too specific, ie not a shop selling only books or only food!