Personally I give gifts that people never knew they wanted. That the value from the gift itself is worth more than the shelf price. My favorite gift is a small, but capable, screwdriver set.

Everyone always tells me it's lame like "it's just a tool, it's so boring". But every single person I've given it to contacts me again in a couple months like clockwork telling me how it saved their butts. Telling me they use it to replace a light switch, repair or tighten up some furniture, replace a part on their bike, take apart their PC and the list goes on.

NO ONE'S first thought after getting 15$ would be a screw driver kit, which is why I give them.

Another one is a luxury nail clipper. One that's like 20$. Something you'd never spend that kind of money on, but every moment you use it is GLORIOUS.