When Christmas rolls around every year, millions of Americans frantically pack malls or neighborhoods in search of the best gifts for their friends and family.

It can be hard to come up with the perfect present — knowing that billions of dollars’ worth of gifts are returned each year.

That said, here are nine types of gifts you can feel confident about giving someone this Christmas season.

[lz_ndn video=33338825]

1.) Subscriptions. Know people who have an interest but refuse to subscribe to something that caters to it because they don’t want to pay the yearly or monthly fee? No problem — give it to them as gifts.

There are hundreds of different gift subscription possibilities. News, sports and comedy websites can cost money to access, of course — and outside of the digital realm, magazine subscriptions still exist. Streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime also fit this mold, as do mail-order food and health supplies, which can arrive at one’s home every month for a year.

2.) Work supplies. Giving these as gifts can show an interest in the recipient’s profession, especially if said gift makes it easier for a friend or loved one to do a job.

For someone in a manual labor position, new tools or boots could be a welcome gift option. For those who work a desk job, basic office supplies or bigger items like tablets or laptops can definitely make that person’s work life just a tad easier.

Related: For Conservative Movie Lovers, a 2017 Christmas Gift Guide

3.) Cord-cutter gift basket. These days, not everyone has to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year for cable or satellite television anymore. For those who are stressed out about the price of cable service, a gift could help alleviate that stress. Network television is still free with antennas — and they’re compatible with certain DVR boxes to record hundreds of hours of shows.

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

The other obvious gift is a streaming service and Roku device that allows the recipient to watch shows and movies with the click of a button on a TV without a traditional cable service.

4.) Homemade Christmas cookies. These are always a delicious hit in December. There are thousands of different cookie recipes online, but here is a rather simple but delicious Christmas sugar cookie recipe to make, from The Food Network.

What you’ll need:

2 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
½ teaspoon of baking powder
1 cup of softened butter
1 ½ cups of white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
3 to 4 tablespoons of buttermilk
sprinkles/colored sugar

How to prepare:

Remove all pans from the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Then stir together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a small bowl.

From there, cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl. After that, beat the egg and vanilla into the large bowl and mix in the dry ingredients. Use the buttermilk to soften the dough, but not to the point where it is wet.

Scoop out cookie dough with teaspoons onto a cookie sheet. Now, take the rest of the buttermilk and moisten each ball of cookie dough with a drip of it. Then put sugar or sprinkles on top of the cookies.

Finally, put the cookies in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes. When they appear slightly golden, they will be ready to take out. Be sure to also allow a few minutes for the cookies to cool, and then enjoy.

An alternative to homemade cookies would be baking or cooking a special meal for someone — food is always a practical gift that will be used.

Related: The Gospel According to ‘Peanuts’ Creator Charles Schulz

5.) Beverages. The most obvious choices here are in the wine and spirits category — but they’re not the only choice. Coffee is not too expensive when bought in bulk; hot chocolate is a popular alcohol-free wintertime drink. These gifts could also be paired with a special glass, cup, or mug with designs by you or someone else.

6.) Clothing. Buying this for loved ones not only adds to their wardrobe, but takes the hassle out of shopping for themselves — after all, clothes shopping isn’t exactly every person’s favorite thing. This could be as simple as buying someone a hat, a T-shirt, or socks. It could also be more complex and involve buying dresses, suits, and dress shoes — perhaps with some information or input to make that task easier and more special. Clothes as presents usually work best for adults, not kids, for all the obvious reasons.

7.) Personal hygiene products. The beauty of this kind of gift? It can bought in bulk; most often, there are no expiration dates involved. People are bound to use products like shaving cream, razors, deodorant, and shampoo on a regular basis and go through each quickly. That said, helping stock up on favorite essentials is a gesture that would likely go over well.

Related: The Nuns’ Success That None Expected

8.) Services. It’s cool to help others improve or fix something they already own. Taking care of someone’s car repairs/car detail or hiring a lawn care service for them or a house-cleaning service could be a great way to show appreciation. After all, it saves the recipient both time and money.

9.) Gift cards. These cards have always been easy and useful presents to give — as long as your recipients will use them. Store and restaurant gift cards are popular, but so are gas and grocery cards. as there’s little doubt as to whether or not the recipient will appreciate and use this gift.

Tom Joyce is a freelance writer from the South Shore of Massachusetts. He covers sports, pop culture, and politics and has contributed to The Federalist, Newsday, ESPN, and other outlets.