If you’re looking for a more unique present for your friend or family member this Christmas, consider getting them something they can enjoy throughout the year.
Subscription boxes are convenient and simple, landing straight on your doorstop once a month. And there are thousands of options to choose from, whether someone is a keen gardener, food buff or wine lover.
Of course, it’s up to you whether you buy a full-year subscription for your loved one – or opt for a shorter time-scale like three or six months. Some are a one-off payments, while others will bill you monthly.
We’ve put together eight of the best ones to buy, and given details on what you’ll find in each box, plus how often you can get them.
Plant Subscription, Sprout, £45 For 3 Months
For fans of foliage, Sprout’s service delivers a new houseplant each month. It’s available in three, six, nine and 12-month subscriptions, and you can support your local plant shops with each order, too. Each delivery comes with care instructions so even the clumsiest of people will keep their plants healthy (and alive) throughout the year.
Book Subscription, Reposed, From £12.80 Per Month
Lovers of literature will enjoy this monthly subscription to a new modern fiction book, with a focus on female authors. Alongside the book, you’ll also receive between three and five thoughtful gifts including stationery, tea, candles and chocolate. All the books are newly published so you won’t end up with doubles of ones you already own – it’s like your very own book club! You can pay for a one-off box, or get three, six, and 12-month subscriptions.
Crafts Subscription Box, Makerly Crafts, £45 For 3 Months
If your recipient enjoys a creative hobby, then a box from Makerly Crafts will go down well. Each box has a different craft project to work on, such as jewellery making, paper toys, sewing and DIY fairy lights. All have in-depth instructions and patterns. It’s available in a three, six, and 12-month subscriptions.
Pasta Subscription Box, Pasta Evangelists, From £34 Per Month
Is there a better gift than a box of fresh pasta arriving on your doorstep every month? If there is, we’d love to know. All you need to do is select how many portions you’d like each month (the more portions, the more expensive it gets), pick the pasta dishes, then wait for a delivery. The subscription ranges from one month to a year. Anyone suddenly hungry?
Fit Fun Box, Fab Fit Fun, From £39 Per Month
Encompassing everything under lifestyle, a quarterly box from FabFitFun (which recently announced its UK launch) features fitness gear, fashion, jewellery, skincare, haircare and homewares that are worth over £150, but cost much less. You can curate each box for a lovely surprise four times a year – or allow your recipient to pick the items in each box to suit their needs. A word of warning, delivery will set you back about £7.
Lux Flower Subscription, Bloom & Wild, From £24 Per Month
A no-brainer gift of flowers is guaranteed to brighten up someone’s day every month. Bloom & Wild bouquets are delivered in post box-friendly packaging, so no one will ever miss a delivery. Each month, there’s a different selection of seasonal blooms. You can choose to pay upfront for a fixed duration (three, six, and 12-month subscriptions), or for one bouquet at a time.
Wine Club Subscription, Nosy Wine Club, From £60 Per Month
Know someone who’s a fan of fine wine? Nosy Wine Club’s subscription means you can gift a selection of three wines, hand-picked by experts from around the world, to arrive on their doorstep every one, two or three months. There’s no limit on the subscription period, so do it for as long as you’d like (then cancel when the time’s right). Bottoms up.
Beauty Subscription, Mintd, From £70 Per Month
Arguably the most common type of subscription box is a beauty one. Mintd offers luxury beauty brands in a mix of full-size products every month. You’ll find everything from bath oils, serums, and silk sleep masks from cult and indie brands. It’s impossible not to love if you’ve a little more cash to splash. Choose a three, six, or 12-month plan.
We all work hard to earn our money – so it shouldn’t feel like hard work to spend it well. At HuffPost Finds we’ll help you find the best stuff that deserves your cash, from the ultimate lipstick to a durable iron to replace the one that broke (RIP). All our choices are completely independent but we may earn a small commission if you click a link and make a purchase.