Holiday GIF Guide: 10 Must-Haves to Help You Win the Holidays

The holiday season can be a stressful time: the rush to wrap up all your year-end work before vacation. The travel. All that shopping.

And while there’s tons of advice out there on how to choose the perfect present for every conceivable family member and/or personality type — need something for your world-traveling, eco-conscious second cousin? No problem — all those purchases can start to add up. See, gifts are expensive. GIFs, on the other hand, are not. Plus: there’s no need for gift receipts, wrestling with wrapping paper or outrageous shipping costs.

So, in case you’re still looking for some last-minute shopping ideas, but don’t feel up to braving the hordes at your local mall, I channeled my inner Goop and came up with 10 holiday GIF ideas sure to satisfy even your most hard-to-shop-for loved one.

For the Tech Junkie

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Sure, you could shell out for the most buzzworthy next-gen gadgets, but let’s be real: it’s near impossible to keep up with the latest tech. And no matter what you get, you can guarantee it’ll probably be rendered obsolete by a new, better model before the giftee can even get it out of the box. This GIF, on the other hand, is future-proof, and it’ll never go out of style.

For the Foodie

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Knife sets won’t make it through TSA. Artisanal cheeses don’t exactly travel well. Heavy cookbooks could put you over your luggage allowance (and we all know everyone gets their recipes online, anyway). This year, get the foodie in your family the ultimate non-perishable: this GIF of Homer eating donuts for all eternity. …Donuts are still hip, right?

For the Sports Fan

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Jerseys of their favourite player are great (at least until they leave town). Courtside seats are a cool idea, but also presumably out of your price range. So get the sports fanatic in your life this classic crowd-pleaser instead: the Raptors mascot bailing on roller skates. If there were a GIF Hall of Fame, this one would be a first-ballot HOFer.

For the Holiday Hater

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Contrary to what you might be led to believe by Lifetime movies and Starbucks, not everyone loves the holiday season. So if you’ve got a relative who’s waging their own personal War on Christmas, give them a GIF that’s sure to warm their cold Grinch heart: a massive Christmas tree taking out Shaq.

For the Outdoorsman

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Do I know how (or why) this ostrich learned how to ski? No. Have I been able to stop watching this GIF ever since I first found it? Also no. And neither will any winter sports lovers you know. If a picture’s worth a thousand words, this GIF is worth a thousand lift tickets. Ostriches may not be able to fly, but this one sure can carve.

For the Gym Buff

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As anyone who’s ever watched a holiday-themed sitcom episode knows, there’s no quicker way to ruin a perfectly healthy relationship than by buying your significant other a treadmill (or a gym membership). I recommend avoiding that potential minefield all together and gifting them this treadmill-themed GIF instead. Added bonus: laughing at this dude going flying also doubles as a great ab workout.

For the Animal Lover

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Everyone loves a good cat GIF. We’re pretty sure it’s what the internet was invented for. The trick, then, is finding one they haven’t already seen a hundred times before. And trust us, this one is purrfect. (Sorry… That joke’s going to kill with your aunt though.)

For the Gearhead

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Outside of families in car commercials, I’m not sure who out there actually buys someone a car for the holidays. And honestly, even if you could afford it, wrangling those oversized novelty bows just seems like an accident waiting to happen. So save yourself the hassle and get them a GIF that’s sure to appeal to their inner fixer-upper.

For the Globetrotter

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Passport wallets, those little sleep masks, the latest Lonely Planet guide, a new Ambien prescription – all fine ideas for an intrepid world traveler. But if you’re looking for a present that they’ll truly be able to use, this GIF offers the would-be jet-setter a genius solution for dealing with jet lag.

For the Man (or Woman) Who Has Everything

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Have someone on your list that’s especially difficult to shop for? Or maybe you’re just hoping to give them something they don’t already have? If you’re looking for a truly unique gift idea, there’s whatever the hell this is supposed to be. Or, better yet, this GIF of a manatee playing chicken with the aquarium wall (and losing), over and over again. It’s the GIF that keeps on giving.