Men on Women

Men's blood often runs cold at the prospect of buying something personal for the woman/women in their life in case they get it in the wrong size, wrong colour, wrong fabric or wrong shape. So, here are some sneaky tips:

• If buying for your partner, choose colours that bring her skin to life (so avoid pale pink on brunettes and royal blue on blondes). Then rifle through her drawers to find out what size she is. Look at the labels in the clothes that you know fit her.
• If buying for your mother or sister, talk to their partners or best friends to glean the same information.
• Women never say directly what they want. However they do comment on clothes, accessories, and house things they admire belonging to friends and family. TAKE NOTE: that is your hint as to what would be an appropriate gift.

Women on Men

When women buy for men, they're often all out of ideas. Pants, socks and the latest Top Gear DVD might come in handy but they don't exactly encourage womankind to go browsing. However, there are some tried and tested solutions:

• Gadgets - men cannot get enough of them, so find one that fits your budget, looks sharp and he'll be a happy boy - rule of thumb is, the shinier the better!
• Sport - every man has at least one sport or another they either play or watch, even if it's just golf or motor racing on the telly. If he participates, buy him some kit. If he watches, get him some match tickets or something related to the sport like a book of factoids or some merchandise. It shows you've taken an interest in his interests and he will appreciate it.
• Blue - Whatever it is, if in doubt, choose the blue one. (Unless you're dealing with a Liverpool/Arsenal/Man Utd fan). Most men would have a blue sofa in a blue house and drive a blue car while wearing a blue jumper over blue jeans if you let them.

One thing everyone should do when choosing a gift is to buy from somewhere with a great returns/exchange policy, keep the proof of purchase, ask for a gift receipt and never be embarrassed to suggest that your recipient take it back if they don't like it.

The 2009 Overall Christmas Hotlist

Technology rules the broadband waves this year as online shoppers get spoiled for choice. It helps that all the big players: Nintendo, Apple and Sony are all launching products with the Christmas market in mind.

As for Nintendo, the Japanese giant deserves its place at the forefront of the modern family games market. Already, the Wii range is diverse and growing. So far there is the Wii, WiiFit, WiiMote Motion Plus and Wii Sports Resort. This year it is the Wii Fit Plus - which will be on the shelves in time for the seasonal spending spree.

Sony has the new Playstation 3 - it's thinner, faster and cheaper than the original. It also launched the new PSP Go this autumn, it's little bigger than the iPhone and allows you to download games and music from the web with its wi-fi connection - nicely timed for the Christmas spending rush.

Other sure-fire winners will include designer handbag sized netbooks, ideal for browsing and social networking on the move, like the Samsung N310 and the latest in digital cameras like the popular water and shock-resistant Olympus Mju TOUGH.

It looks almost certain this year will be an electronic Christmas but many of these items are big ticket buys. So, make sure you compare prices, return policies, delivery charges and use Kelkoo to ensure you are buying from a safe website. On average Kelkoo.co.uk can save you 15% on high street prices.

Top Luxury Gift List (£150 and upwards)

Luxury is all about aspiration, about coveting what is faster, shinier, slimmer and just plain better than what we've got already, with more functionality that will still look and feel as good by Christmas 2010 as it does this year.

Nowhere is this more apparent than with technology so it comes as no surprise that the most coveted items this year are also those that can pack the most technology into their punch.

The latest Blu-Ray disk cinema systems, like Samsung's, will not just help you get the most out of your TV with its up-scaling Blu-Ray player, but will replace your home hi-fi with a dedicated iPod dock and a wi-fi connection which will stream your music and video files direct from your home PC or laptop.

To create your own High Definition content, invest in an HD camcorder such as the latest JVC. The newest camcorders are fun and easy to use, perfect for capturing people's reactions when you tell them how much you saved this Christmas!

Technology being technology, it impacts everywhere. So, if He already has an iPhone, a Blu-Ray disc player and a hot LCD TV, then turn your attention to the kitchen and get him a seriously slinky espresso machine. After all, espresso is a real man's coffee.

There is nothing better than travelling in style, so consider picking up some Samsonite luggageSamsonite luggage for the frequent flier in your family. Having the right suitcase or trolley can go a long way - especially if its first use will be transporting a bumper haul of Christmas presents!

If music be the food of love, stream on! The latest PURE Sensia DAB Internet Radio will let you access any music you like, from DAB, web streaming or your own collection. The chic touch-screen pod will grace any living room and you can even use it to update your Facebook account!

Luxury is about appreciating the finer things in life. When would be better time to indulge in luxury than at Christmas?

Top Gifts on a Budget (£60 or less)

Finding the perfect present doesn't have to mean breaking the bank in the process. Often the best presents are not those that cost the earth but those that have been well thought through and really reflect the recipient.

There are, as ever, many new DVD titles just being released that could provide ideal gifts. The great thing with DVDs is that you can match the title to the personality of the recipient. They know the film has been chosen with them in mind.

This is also true of books. Being heavy, they're a perfect thing to buy online and with major book stores as well as online only retailers all coming up with seasonal offers, it shouldn't be hard to find a bargain. Music is another top budget choice and is possibly more personal than either books or DVDs, because it can be less driven by bestseller lists.

Being on a tight budget does not mean checking your imagination in at the till. There is probably more scope to be creative and the internet is the perfect place to go hunting with its raft of specialist gift e-retailers.

A good starting point for budget buying is a favourite website choc full of “stuff� to get inspired (plump for something like www.iwantoneofthose.com). Then, once you have the germ of an idea, shop around and compare prices and availability.

Top Gifts for Kids

The last 18 months have seen brain training and memory games leap to the fore for adults and children alike, meaning more choice than ever on brain-boosting games. For younger children choose games with recognisable characters such as Peppa Pig for instant impact upon opening.

There are some familiar names gracing toy shop shelves this year, proving once again that those much loved classics have stood the test of time and provide as much fun for children today as they did for their parents (and, dare we say it, Grandparents!).

It's Danish, it's as quirky and cool as Apple and kids still can't get enough of it. It is Lego, of course. Only now, Lego isn't just about brightly coloured bricks. Today, it comes in all shapes and sizes and can build anything from princess's palaces to robotic cars and even the Death Star itself. Lego is sold pretty much everywhere and range in price from less than a tenner to around £250 so it's definitely worth taking time to compare prices before you buy.

If these ideas are too boy-focused for you, then why not opt for a game that can get the whole family involved? The Wii has done just that. In your house, the matriarch could be champion boxer, your daughter could be bowling wizard, your son could be a tennis champ, while the man of the house could hold the baseball record. With a whole new collection of Wii games available you really can justify splashing out on the kids because you know you'll have as much fun as they do.