The holidays are a celebration of life and love, and it brings with it tremendous pressure to pick out just the right gift for everyone on your list. 

Sometimes it really is the thought that counts – a fun mug for your favourite uncle or warm socks for your neighbour are both totally acceptable – you want to let them know you’re thinking of them without breaking the bank. For all those special people that touch your daily life, you’ll find some low-priced “thinking of you” gifts.

On the other hand, if you’re trying to show your significant other just how much you care, there are some higher-price-point items that will illustrate the point well.

Whether you’re Santa’s perfect helper or a notorious gift-card giver, here’s some help to get that something special for all the special construction workers in your life.

Low

A Toque That’s Music to the Ears

For a person who’s outside a lot, whether for work or for play, a warm hat is a must. Even better if that hat takes your phone calls and pipes through your favourite retro album. This wireless BlueTooth beanie features removable speakers and mic for easy washing.

Price: $27.99 CAD

Bamboo Toothbrush Subscription

This year has been the perfect year for introspection, especially about the affects our behaviour has on the environment. Case in point: toothbrushes. Experts recommend we switch out our toothbrushes every few months, but each toothbrush can take hundreds of years to  break down once it hits the landfill. That’s a lot of plastic! Instead, sign your pal up to receive a new, biodegradable and sustainably made BamBrush toothbrush every two months – just when it’s time for a fresh one! It’s a great reminder with a great social impact, too.

Price: $35 CAD per year

Monogrammed Steak Branding Iron

Have someone on the list that’s serious about grilling, and even more serious about meat? Let them put their mark on every barbeque event with this steak branding iron – it heats up over the open flame, then is pressed into the meat to leave the cook’s initials behind.

Price: $60.00 CAD

Moderate

A Germ-Free Phone

Right now, hyper-vigilance is the name of the game when it comes to germs. Hand sanitizers clean your paws, but what about your electronics? Zap the germs away with this PhoneSoap UV sanitizer for touch screen phones. Bonus: it also charges Qi-compatible phones while it cleans them.

Price: $112.00 CAD

A Serious Coffee Caraffe

Cold days on the jobsite deserve hot coffee – litres of it. Keep your worker warm with this large coffee carrier from Yeti. It’ll keep the coffee hot for longer, with double-wall vacuum insulation and a full inch of lid insulation, which is good since it can hold a gallon of liquid – about enough to get through a long day.

Price: $169.99 CAD

The Gift of Preparedness

Ever have one of those days, when ever tool you reach for is somehow missing? Those days are in the past with this wearable multi-tool from Leatherman. It features 29 tools on its stainless steel links, including allen keys, screwdrivers, and box wrenches.

Price: $199.95 CAD

A Piece of Nostalgia

Got a big hockey fan on your list? Bring home a piece of the glory with a wallet constructed from a game-used Toronto Maple Leafs hockey jersey. The billfold divider is constructed of an NHL-verified home or away game jersey. The proud carrier can even look up which wearer and game the jersey is from.

Price: $240.00 CAD

High

Hand-Held Massager

After a long day on the job, your builder probably has some achy muscles. Give them the gift of a massage in a box with this ‘percussive massager,’ that promises deep tissue treatment and Smart App integration with Bluetooth.

Price: $399.00 CAD

Premium Sound Bar

Quality sound is a gift anyone can appreciate. Whether rocking out or gaming on, your favourite nice-lister deserves a quality sound bar like the Arc from Sonos. Lifelike sound provided by Dolby Atmos technology can be controlled through the Sonos app, your TV remote, Apple AirPlay2 or by voice command.

Price: $1000.00 CAD

Exercise Equipment That’s Not an Eyesore

Rowers are low-profile, quiet exercise machines that work every major muscle group. This line of water rowers from Battife even comes in a stylish wood finish to fit in with the rest of your decor. A BlueTooth monitor tracks your time, performance, and calories burned.

Price: $1,200.00 CAD

Happy Shopping!

You can see sometimes the perfect gift isn’t the conventional sort. The crucial component is to remember to buy presents that reflect the recipients’ interests, but might not be something they’d get for themselves.

You don’t have many shopping days left so be sure to check the shipping dates before you drop money on online gifts. Better yet, check out all your local retailers to see who stocks the perfect gift for each person on your ‘nice’ list.