If you've got too many Christmas presents to buy and are stuck for ideas, follow our guide on what to get to keep the whole family happy.

Before you begin:

• Try and take some time off work to get the bulk of your shopping done in one go on a quiet weekday, rather than joining the crowds at the weekend.
• Make a list before you begin. It will stop you feeling overwhelmed when you hit the shops!
• Leave magazines open with presents you fancy yourself circled in black ink, and hope someone gets the hint!
• Keep receipts for everything you buy. You can't please everyone, all of the time!

Kids:

Stick to just one or two bigger presents and try and include something that will keep them active – like a football kit for a boy and ice skates for a girl. Traditional games also seem to have great staying power and will occupy everyone over the holiday period – Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit are still huge favourites.

Teenagers:

Image is everything for teenage girls so why not treat her to some stylish jewellery or her first grown-up party dress? River Island's glamorous silk beaded necklace for £16.99 is sure to impress. If you don't want to spend all your money on computer games and gizmos for him, a hair clipper and groom set is perfect for anyone beginning to be obsessed by their appearance!

Older relatives:

If you want to avoid giving yet another woolly jumper for your grandfather or a tea cosy for an elderly aunt, think about what activities they enjoy. There are some really stylish gifts available for green-fingered fanatics like designer trugs to hold the pruning shears, and an aunt who belongs to a wine club might love a pair of matching champagne flutes.

Men:

Men can never seem to have enough techie toys but if you want to steer clear of gadgets try a poker chip set or membership to your local gym. And if you want to get something more traditional with a twist, check out the Rocha.JohnRocha brown suede slippers, £25, at Debenhams.

Women:

Sparkling jewellery always goes down well and Accessorize has a great selection including a diamante apple for £14. A voucher for a facial or spa treatment can be kept for a refreshing weekend treat in the early New Year and for foodie lovers some really superior olive oil and balsamic vinegar may be something they wouldn't splash out on for themselves.