You can eke out the gift giving way into 2023 (Picture: Credited below/Shutterstock)

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For many, the build-up to Christmas is the best part.

After the wrapping paper’s been recycled and the family have officially got bored of turkey curry, it can be deflating. After all the excitement and planning, the festivities were done in a flash.

There is, however, a way to stretch Christmas out past December: subscription gifts.

Subscriptions for everything from flowers to food exploded in popularity during coronavirus lockdowns and have continued to grow, giving people that hit of present-opening dopamine on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis.

Many services offer gift options that make them perfect for Christmas, and you can have deliveries sent directly to your gift recipient, so distance need not be a barrier.

We’ve rounded up our favourite subscription presents to shop this year, whether you’re buying for a green-fingered giftee or a festive foodie.

Bloom and Wild

Each month, they’ll get a letterbox bouquet (Picture: Bloom and Wild)

Florist Bloom and Wild offer a range of flower subscriptions that can be tailored to your needs, with classic bouquets starting at £20 each.

Letterbox packaging means your gift recipient won’t need to wait at home for their monthly deliveries, and you can choose a pre-paid plan (of 3, 6 or 12 months) or opt to pay as you go.

Shop flower gift subscriptions at Bloom and Wild.

Glossybox

Help them build up their cosmetics collection with a monthly box of treats (Picture: Glossybox)

For beauty fans, a Glossybox subscription makes for a beautiful gift indeed.

Every month, they’ll receive a curated box of hair, skin, and cosmetics products, with cult brands and exclusive items to get experimenting with.

A one-month subscription costs £16.95, three months is £38.25, six months is £69, and a whole year of deliveries is £132.

Shop beauty gift subscription boxes at Glossybox.

Leaf Envy

Unfortunately we can’t guarantee your gift recipient will remember to water their new babies (Picture: Leaf Envy)

If you’re shopping for a self-confessed plant parent, this subscription lets them grow their family as the months go by.

For £38 per month, they’ll receive a trending houseplant in a stylish pot, along with a care guide to help it flourish. A plant-only subscription is also available for £28 monthly and you can get up to 15% off when you gift a yearly plan.

Shop plant gift subscriptions at Leaf Envy.

The Cocktail Man

A sample box and its contents (Picture: The Cocktail Man)

The Cocktail Man provides (almost) everything they need to expertly blend four delicious cocktails, with curated monthly boxes featuring quality spirits, mixers, and garnishes.

All they’ll need to add from their own stash is glassware, a shaker, fresh citrus, and ice.

A three-month subscription is priced at £85.95, while a full year costs £269.95.

Shop cocktail kit gift subscriptions at The Cocktail Man.

Rare Birds Book Club

The books are all chosen by women and written by women (Picture: Rare Birds)

Give your literary-loving loved one the gift of gripping reads this Christmas, with 3, 6, and 12 month subscriptions to Rare Birds.

Beautifully wrapped books will arrive through their letterbox every 30 days, with secret blurbs to add an element of mystery and access to a virtual book club to share thoughts with likeminded readers.

Plans start from £45, and can be delivered as a gift card through the post or via email.

Shop Rare Birds book subscriptions.

Tambia Coffee

Keep them in quality cuppas throughout winter and beyond (Picture: Tambia)

Shopping for somebody who can’t function until they’ve had their morning caffeine hit?

Tambia coffee subscriptions are ideal for coffee connoisseurs, sending parcels of single origin, family-run farmed Colombian coffee that’s roasted here in the UK for freshness right to their door.

Bi-weekly and monthly deliveries are available in a number of strength varieties, with prices starting at £9.75 per package.

Shop coffee subscriptions at Tambia.

Mon Dessert

They’ll be worthy of a Hollywood Handshake in no time (Picture: Mon Dessert)

Given this season of GBBO has reached fever pitch, we imagine there will be plenty of people out there who’ve caught the baking bug.

Mon Dessert’s subscriptions are suitable for beginners and star bakers alike, with everything they need to make classics like macarons, madeleines and cinnamon rolls. Essential bakeware such as moulds, nozzles, blow torches are also included, so they can build up their kit while they build their skills.

A three-month option is priced at £66, six months is £120, and a year is £216.

Shop baking kit gift subscriptions at Mon Dessert.

Craftiosity

Who knows what they’ll create (Picture: Craftiosity)

For getting creative at Christmas and beyond, a Craftiosity subscription allows them to try their hand at new hobbies and flourish creatively.

At £24.95 per box (delivered monthly and for a duration of your choice) your gift recipient will get a limited edition craft kit to make a complete project, complete with instructions and the tools and materials required.

Past boxes have included everything from the Japanese art of Furoshiki to macrame and bookbinding.

Shop craft gift subscription boxes at Craftiosity.

Whitecalm

Buy for those who need to switch off – or to switch on with a community of likeminded health-conscious individuals online (Picture: Buyagift)

To give the gift of calm, Buyagift sells three-month subscriptions to virtual wellbeing platform Whitecalm for £52.50.

They’ll receive access to 120 expert-led online health and wellbeing classes that can be streamed across devices, in topics like essential oils, yoga, meditation, fitness, and nutrition.

Shop Whitecalm subscriptions at Buyagift.

Baswick Candles

Who doesn’t love scented candles creating ambience and fragrancing their home? (Picture: Baswick)

Baswick lets you subscribe with three, six, and twelve month packages, which you can tailor to your giftee’s favourite aromas and add gift messages with deliveries.

The candles are sustainable, non-toxic, and delicious smelling, and the company is UK based too.

A three-month package starts at £54.95, six months costs from £109.95, and a yearly subscription is priced from £219.95.

Shop candle subscriptions at Baswick.

Hotel Chocolat

Satisfy a sweet tooth long after the Christmas chocolate tins have been eaten (Picture: Hotel Chocolat)

Delight the chocoholic in your life with recurring deliveries of their favourite treat from Hotel Chocolat.

There’s a huge variety of options available, including sachets for use with the brand’s Velvetiser machine, curated collections of trending sweets, and letterbox chocs.

Prices start at £14.50 per month for drinking chocolate, or £24.50 for those made for eating.

Shop chocolate gift subscriptions at Hotel Chocolat.

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