So how do you choose the perfect Christmas present for someone? Well, for a start you need to think hard about the person’s personality (I know this sounds really obvious, but loads of people forget when choosing a present!). Will they like something practical, or go for something a little more extravagant? Whatever choice you make, it is always best to err on the side of caution, especially in the case of clothes as people can be easily offended if you choose the wrong size – shoes or bags may be a better bet.

Once you have established this, it’s always a good idea to look online, or in catalogues you have at home to see if you can find anything that you think will take their fancy. This is much quicker (and easier) than hitting the shops, and you could also check out sites such as Amazon or even subscribe to a newsletter for one of your favourite shops for those special deals.

When choosing a gift for males, there are three classics which you can’t really go wrong with - cuff links, gadgets and books. In the event of an emergency, it is always useful to have a stack of gifts that you can give to avoid any last minute panic.

Never be ashamed to give someone gift vouchers. Many shops will have lovely packages and the recipient will get something they will truly treasure and enjoy.

Gadgets for Girls

Handpresso Wild

This impressive gadget can make top quality coffee anywhere, without any electricity. All you have to do is simply pump up the machine, add hot water (from a kettle or flask) and add an E.S.E pod (special coffee pod). To serve, just push the button and you have a cup of espresso with the perfect crema. It’s easy to take anywhere and requires little or no maintenance, allowing you to experience great coffee wherever and whenever you want.

Sony Rolly

This gadget dances by spinning and twisting. It also has disco LEDs that play to the beat of your music and offers high quality sound. It has built-in Bluetooth®, which allows you to stream music from computers, mobiles and Hi-Fi Systems. Along with this, it’s easy to choose a music track or shuffle the songs or even change the volume. The software allows you to make your own dance sequences to which you can add up to 700 colour options thanks to the two LED lights. This is the perfect gadget for female music lovers.

iKO Connect

If you ever wanted to turn your iPod into a karaoke machine, this small gadget will do just that. Connect your iPod to the TV, plug in the microphone and start singing. This gadget works with any iPod that plays videos, as well as the iPod touch and iPhone. All the necessary equipment (along with the microphone) is included and if you order from the iko store you also get five free downloads.

Minox DCC Leica M3

This cute camera, with its’ striking looks (based on the iconic film camera from 1954), is only 7.1 x 2.8 x 1.9 cm. It gives you the best technology, with a touch of extravagance. The new edition of this camera is extremely easy to use and, as such, makes it an ideal present for people of all ages. The 5 megapixel resolution produces sharp pictures which can be stored on SD cards with memory of up to 2GB. This compact camera easily fits in your pocket or even a handbag and can capture memories of every occasion, making it perfect for women.

Skullcandy T.I. pink fur

Have you ever wanted funky pink, fluffy headphones? These headphones with 41mm titanium drivers produce a monster bass sound. The gold plated jacks give supreme conductivity and a frequency range from 100 to 18,000 Hz provides high quality sound. This is an ideal for commuters, as this cool gadget also keeps your ears warm, while you listen to your favourite tunes.

Gadgets for Boys

I-Sobot

This robot is the world’s smallest humanoid robot which can walk, talk, dance and even do kung-fu. It is able to speak many phrases, perform pre-programmed actions and produce more than 90 sound effects, as well as 5 built-in songs. All this in a robot ,that can sit in the palm of your hand and obeys your instructions. The remote control allows you to create a sequence of instructions (scripts) and comes fully assembled, so you can plug it in and play with it straight away.

Shape Up Alarm Clock

This alarm clock in the shape of a dumbbell and won’t stop ringing until you do 30 reps! The dumbbell weighs in at 660 grams and will certainly wake you up in the morning – even if it doesn’t , the continuous ringing will surely do the trick. This alarm clock helps you to start your morning workout and would be an ideal present for both fitness fanatics and couch potatoes. All this is available for just £19.95.

Archos 5

With a 4.8 inch screen, this Wi-Fi touch screen gadget is perfect for connecting to the Internet and playing most media files. Its’ high resolution screen allows you to surf the web just as you do from your computer. The Archos 5 works in conjunction with the BBC iPlayer. It downloads both movies and music which can be saved on an internal hard drive from 60-250 GB. The email application allows you to configure emails as you would with your normal computer. Prices start around £300.

Unisex Gadgets

Asus Eee PC 900

Netbooks have been rising in popularity. This netbook is perfect for writing emails and surfing the net. With a 9in screen, webcam, built-in Wi-Fi, 20GB of storage and 1GB of RAM, this would be perfect for students and travellers alike. It weighs about 1kg and is 225 x 165 x 35mm, making it highly portable and prices start from £210.

iPod touch

This gadget allows you to listen to your music, watch movies and play games whenever you like. It’s only 8.5mm thick and with built in speaker and volume control buttons on the side, along with a full colour 3.5in multi-touch display this is the perfect gadget for music lovers and gamers. With its’ inbuilt Wi-Fi you can search the web, check your email and get directions to the nearest café of restaurant, along with maps. All this is available from £165.

Nintendo Wii

The Wii can be considered to be more than a gaming console as it brings people together to play the coolest games. Games range from Mario to Wii Sports, one of which will surely be the right one for you. In Wii Sports, you use the remote as you would in the actual sport, for example as a tennis racquet. This is an amazing console for people of all ages and for fitness fanatics there is also a Wii Fit which allows you to exercise in various ways including yoga and workouts. The Wii console is available from £170 and the Wii Fit from £70.

Nikon D40X

This 10.2 megapixel camera provides on screen help for beginners and has comprehensive features. It has a 2.5in LCD monitor allowing you to easily view your pictures and with 8 Digital Vari-Programs so you can take pictures in any surroundings. There are various help menus which can help you choose which camera setting to use. This SLR camera can take up to 520 shots in single-frame shooting mode and prices start from £355.

Call Of Duty: World At War

This game is ‘one of the best shooter franchises on the market’. It’s set near the end of World War 2 where players have a range of weapons, as well as various modes. It has great graphics and soundtracks, making it feel as though the player is actually in the middle of a war as bombs explode close to them and bullets speed past their heads. Prices start from £30 and this game is available on PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, DS and 360.