I don't have many to buy gifts for anymore. I'm not good at wrapping boxes so I always find a bag and tissue paper, or if it's a money gift (which happens more often these days) it's just enclosed in the birthday or Christmas card I give them. I've never experienced anyone being disappointed in a gift of cash.
It's nice to make the presentation of a gift attractive, but I'm much more concerned that what I give is something they will like, want and use. Over the years, I've received shirts that weren't my size, books I will never read, candles, and decorative "what-nots" that don't fit in with anything in my house. So I try to make a mental note at random times in conversations with friends of some things I see them using, or they've specifically said they like, so I'm comfortable that what I give is okay.
Some things I give may seem odd but I don't care. For example, I know one person who is always mailing cards and letters - so I've given her books of postage stamps. Walnuts, Kit-Kat candy bars, and and black gel writing pens are favorites of another person, so I put those in a gift sack along with cash inside a greeting card.