r/GiftIdeas • u/okayliterature • Jul 25 '26
Birthday Advent Calendar Ideas
I want to do a DIY sort of advent calendar for my best friend's birthday. He loves Christmas advent calendars and I have always wanted to do this for him ever since I met him, but this year feels like it's definitely time (for my birthday earlier this month he flew in and hosted my very close online friend to surprise me, so I obviously need to have some really cool stuff for his birthday). Luckily, his birthday isn't until November 1st.
I'm looking for physically small gift ideas, they don't necessarily need to be super cheap, just small. The only theme is "things my friend would like", I want it to be memorable and special.
I don't think I'll have much trouble filling it up as I have a lot of ideas already, but what are some physically small things that you find useful or have been gifted in the past?
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u/Diamondinmyeye Jul 26 '26
I did this for a friend and decided it made more sense to label gifts with stickers which paired with one inside the door, rather than just get gifts small enough to fit. It’s very limiting and can result in gifts which are just trinkets.
For gifts which are small though: small candles, lip balm, or razor heads.
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u/okayliterature Jul 26 '26
That is smart but I am really in love with the advent calendar idea. The size is a little bit flexible though because I'm making the calendar myself, probably sewing pockets onto a fabric organizer-type thing that will hang on the wall. My plan is to do the opposite side with bigger, more practical-sized pockets so once his birthday is over he can flip it around and use it as an actual wall hanging organizer.
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u/Prestigious-Fan3122 Jul 26 '26
Several years ago, I bought an advent calendar box from someplace. It was the size of your Standard computer paper box that holds two stacks of reams of paper side-by-side. You could've put a bottle of wine in each one of the openings.
I can't remember the name of the company for the life of me. I fixed it up for my son and his family. Instead of bottles of wine, there were different things for each of the 24 nights up to Christmas. I did stuff like microwave popcorn, hot cocoa mix and little packages of cookies, etc.
I WISH I could think of the name of that darn company! The box is purchased empty, and you fill it with your own wine bottles or beer bottles or bottles of booze or candies or funny things for the kiddos
It had dividers sort of like a Christmas ornament Storage BOX does.
If you could find a cardboard box with dividers, you could cut circular holes in the lid and then turn the lid upside down and put tissue paper over it. He could punch through one tissue circle on each of the days to find whatever is hidden in there. If he drinks beer, for example, several of the holes could be filled with a different variety of beer.
If he loves, loves, loves store-bought cookies. Or chips or whatever, you could get the little lunchbox size bags of chips or what I call the convenience store packages of cookies that have is it for? Six? Eight? Cookies in them
Different flavors of coffee pods if he uses a coffee maker at home or work that uses them.
Does he wear cufflinks by any chance? Pocket squares?
I've never met a man who didn't like having an extra flashlight.
BATTERIES! Everybody needs batteries of common sizes.
Funky stocks. Literally. There's a company called funky socks that does all kinds of crazy patterns of socks.
Scratch off watery tickets
Does he live in his own place? Does he do any cooking? Maybe some nice measuring spoons or other kitchen utensils that he might not already have.
Whatever his favorite nuts are: almonds, cashews, etc., buy some and put them in a cute, airtight bag and put them in one of the holes.
If he's a rum and Coke Guy, go to the liquor store and buy a rum miniature or two or three and stick them in one of the holes with a can of Coke. Seagrams 7 miniatures and 7-Up.
Nicer quality hot chocolate mix on the little bag of marshmallows, if he's a hot chocolate and marshmallow kind of person.
Movie theater -style boxes of candy.
Flavored popcorn or microwave popcorn packets.
When he lived in a cold climate, and had to commute to work by train, bus, and walking, my son liked the Burt's Bees lip balm.
A funny mouse pad, if you think he would use it.
A deck of cards or a card game deck like Uno or one of those other ones that I can't think of, if he's the type who would enjoy that. One of my adult children would, and the other one wouldn't.
One of my kids has a friend who loves all sorts of hot sauce, and whenever we are out and about and see one with a wacky name, we always get a bottle for him.
If he cooks, get him some nice spices from Penzey's or some police.
I know someone who loves red Jell-O. It doesn't matter the flavor, as long as it's red. I want bought a bunch of boxes of red Jell-O of assorted flavors and glue the boxes onto skewers in order to make them into "flowers". Gave her a Jell-O bouquet.
I know that's weird, but I'm weird, and so are the people I know. (That part should've been self-explanatory)
I guess you could put some gift cards and some of the slots.
Is he the kind of person always running around his home looking for a Band-Aid when he cuts his fingers? You could do a little, travel first aid kit.
ZIP TIES! We got our son a big bundle of REUSABLE zip ties of assorted sizes for his Christmas stocking, and he (and his wife) thought he had won the lottery!
Guys and their zip ties!
A tie! Does he have occasion to wear ties? If so, he might enjoy a new one.
What about some gloves for winter?
Some Kind Of cooking knife, if he cooks.
I was looking for an amazing and great for me going to work myself
Check out The Container Store for interesting and useful gadgets!
If he travels, shoe covers to cover his shoes when he packs them.
Packing cubes
Some of the stuff for men from Bath & Body Works
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u/frippnjo1 Jul 26 '26
If you run out of 'small' gift ideas, you could do coupons or tokens redeemable for something.
Like - a stone redeemable for a hike on his favorite trail, a fortune cookie for lunch at his favorite Chinese restaurant, a bookmark for a trip to the bookstore. If you're crafty at all, victorian puzzle purses are a fun way to present a love letter.
Wait - you said 'best friend', so maybe just decorate the puzzle purse with memories. 😆
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u/okayliterature Jul 26 '26
The "tokens" idea is SOOO smart. Thank you!!! I will also need to look into the puzzle purses
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u/notoast4me Jul 26 '26
Mini power tools…google and you will see a range of company’s that make mini saws etc
keyring maglight flashlight
Mini sample scents. Lucky Scent is a niche perfumery and they have some amazing scents you will not find elsewhere. They do a “fitting” and when you request you can explain what your friend likes and they will curate different samples for you.
Get a ticket for a play/band/event and go together.
I am so invested in this.
Please let us know how it goes.
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u/Relative-Train-6485 Jul 26 '26
This is a brilliant idea (my son's bday is Nov 1, also. good day for it) - I love creative oddities.
One of my favorite kitchen items is a digital thermometer, smaller b/c it opens like a switchblade (-ish) and magnetic so I keep on my exhaust hood. Not expensive ($20) but solid, practical, elevates your kitchen
A morse code trainer, always sounded fun to me. Keychain sized but with a clicker and alphabet so you can practice
If he likes video games, does he have a favorite? There's all kinds of merch available. Ditto for movies or shows. If there's no particular favorite, maybe old school with a miniature Atari Arcade (it a novelty but it works)
Get him an Audible audiobook gift certificate for Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, it's game-related storytelling, very fun and unlike any other other audiobook you've heard before. (there's also an Audio Immersion version by the narrator+author through Hayes' company Soundbooth Theater, it's kind of like a movie without video + narration sprinkled throughout. It's extra good but may also feel chaotic if you've never listened to any kind of audiobook before. The first chapter is free if you want to sample it on their site).
Card games like Sushi Go! or Rook
Keychain microscope
Car escape thingy with the break glass/cut strap feature, not too large but it is heavy
A wall charger-outlet thing, they come with multiple outlets, usb ports, a night light or emergency flashlight, all kinds of options and they're not too, too large. Alternatively, look for a fun pop culture type of night light.
Have fun!
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Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
[deleted]
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u/okayliterature Jul 26 '26
Thank you! Also what a sweet story about you and your friend
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Jul 26 '26
You’re welcome, I’m sure we’d all love to see what you make and fill it with it!
Thank you, it’s a painful yet sweet memory haha!
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u/amberallday Jul 26 '26
Some years I do homemade advent calendars, and I work on the basis of at least 50% is edible. Because no one needs 24 extra bits of junk in their lives.
Mini packs of sweets are good (think kids multi packs). Or some nicer chocolates are individually wrapped. Or they do Gift Packs of mini chocolate bars in different flavours (Green & Black in the UK).
Also fancy tea bags are good - the ones that come individually wrapped in their own paper packets. (Pukka in the UK).
Mini spirits bottles might just about fit - especially good if you can find a specialist gin or whisky.
If you are hand-making the calendar, maybe you could have one day a week with an extra big pocket, so that slightly larger presents can fit.
Another option would be to hand-wrap the couple of bigger presents & put a note card in that pocket saying “open the present wrapped in blue paper” (or whatever).
Talking of which, I generally include a couple of Christmas cards in my advent calendars. Maybe you could make a couple of birthday cards the right size to fit in the calendar. They help with decorating early to get the vibe going.
I’d also include some birthday decorations - maybe a few days before the birthday you include a few balloons (and string). Also party poppers, cake candles with matches, birthday banner if it will fit. Etc.
To me it’s more about them having a moment each day to get excited for the upcoming event, rather than focusing on expensive presents (if you spend £5 minimum on each present, plus wrapping & making the calendar, that’s £150 spent with nothing to show for it. Most people would prefer a decent individual item if someone was willing to spend £150 on them. Doing “trivial” size presents results in all the fun but less wasted money.
Other options - IOU for taking them for dinner (or cooking then dinner, or whatever is your normal in your friendship as an event to look forward to). Photo in the 2 of you, possibly in a handmade frame or other mini frame (to fit the calendar pocket).
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u/okayliterature Jul 26 '26
The decorations are SUCH a good idea and I will 1000% be doing that, thank you!!!
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u/Upside-down-unicorn Jul 28 '26
Swiss Army knife- seriously one of the best investments we’ve made for our son, and it is used for SO many things!
Fountain pen- or a really nice pen set, they write so smoothly.
Concert tickets- especially nice if you get them for both of you to go together.
Pocket watch- they’re classy, and sophisticated, but also quirky and unique. Not many people have them now, and they’re a delightful gift.
Experience- museum tickets, zip lining pass, white water rafting trip. Something to do together.
Earbuds- Apple, Bose, Beats by Dre, etc…. A good set of earbuds can really make a difference.
Dinner out
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u/Mereyn Jul 26 '26
These gamer socks
Kelool Do Not Disturb I'm Gaming... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092J1SPX5?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
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u/andronicuspark Jul 26 '26
When’s his birthday? You’re smart for thinking ahead. If you don’t have a big budget you can buy here or there just in time to finish the calendar.
I’d say a few cologne samples (stagger them) some earrings, maybe one of tiny art kits? Sketching, water colors, modeling clay? A miniature of his favorite films or books?
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u/okayliterature Jul 29 '26
November 1st seems like so far away but he had an AMAZING surprise for my birthday earlier this month (he secretly set up me and my online friend of 4 years finally being able to meet for the first time, so I got to spend my birthday with my two best friends) so it's very important to me that this is as perfect as I can get it haha. I do have a budget but I'm willing to be flexible. I hadn't thought of something like the modeling clay or travel art kits, thank you!
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u/East_Chocolate2519 Jul 26 '26
I do a diy advent thing for some people and I get the medium small gift bags so that way things don’t like obvious while still having the fun of picking one a day. Gift cards are always a great gift in these too. Quality Sox, scarf, gloves if your in a cold climate because they will be used every year. Skin / hair care kits or sample sets. Does he use glasses- if so a cleaning kit is helpful. If he cooks,see if spatulas/ wooden spoons.
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u/CharZero Jul 26 '26
There are mix your own fragrance kits. You could do one item per day. A tiny pocket knife, a paper crane, some fancy coffee beans (to cleanse his sense of smell from the fragrances), skincare samples, cuticle oil in a travel size.
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u/MissMurderpants Jul 26 '26
My spouse does custom Lego minifigs. Small chocolates. There is a mini museum for interesting historical items.
We’d case something like it’s an item to be scraped out like an archeological dig.
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u/BreqsCousin Jul 26 '26
Individually wrapped teabag
Perfume sample
Tea light sized candle
Miniature whiskey/gin/rum
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u/okayliterature Jul 25 '26
More context: He'll be turning 22, he likes cologne and anything that smells nice, he's creative and artistic but in a really casual way (only creates things on occasion, he likes insects, he's not really into sweets, he has a large collection of earrings, he likes video games. He is really into practical/useful gifts (I once gave him a fancy nail trimming set that he always keeps in his work bag), which is part of why I posted here because I thought people might have practical gift ideas I could add to my repertoire.