There's gifts for mum, dad, husband or wife (which usually cause the most angst), gifts for the kids which you just know you're going to be in trouble for if they're not right.



There's teachers gifts, gifts for the boss, gifts for the dog and gifts for the little old lady next door who keeps an eye on the house when you're on holiday.

There's luxury gifts, make do gifts, last minute gifts, gifts for those who are useless at making decisions and need them to come looking pretty and packaged.

As if this wasn't enough, there's advertising for gifts to yourself. Take your pick from pampering days, massages after those laborious shopping trips, that little extra bottle of perfume to make you feel special or you could just slip in the small luxurious box of chocolates and your favourite bottle of wine to unwind with after the furious packing session on Christmas Eve.

For some people this is a time of good cheer, a time to treat that special someone in your life and for some it's just a time of year to be 'got through'. For others it's a chance to really show off.

There are people in this world richer than you and I could ever dream of being. Their idea of a luxury gift consists of items like a Bombardier Global Express XRS executive jet - a mere snip at $48 million. Phuket Island was once given to someone as a gift with a price tag of $23 million and every girl's dream present - a $12 million wedding dress encrusted with diamonds was received by one lucky young lady.

It seems diamonds are the way to go when considering a luxury gift for the lady in your life with prices topping $2 million and for the special man, how about a set of gold and platinum golf clubs for $53,000 a set. Maybe that will improve his game!

Of course many people find choosing luxury gifts very difficult and even the rich and famous have been known to purchase the good old safety option of a gift card. The most expensive gift card ever given was for a $5 million jet ride.

If a jet ride is not unusual enough to impress, there is always the option of a North Pole dog sled expedition. You can freeze for a mere $37,500.

If your secretary has been especially helpful this year, why not treat her to a new computer mouse. Inset with diamonds either scattered or laid in a personally designed pattern, these come at a very reasonable $24,000. Or perhaps a 7.2 Carat diamond mobile phone. Coming in at $73,000 it makes top up credit look like peanuts.

Of course, throwing the ultimate party at Christmas time is also a make or break time for your standing in society. Buy in top wines to impress your guests, maybe a $160,000 single bottle of Chateau Lafite wouldn't go very far but you could always water it down with Bling H2o water at $40 a bottle.

For those who wish to pamper their children with luxury gifts there is a $50,000 child size Ferrari Testarossa go-cart. Of course, you could always build them a go-cart, buy yourself a 2008 Lincoln MkZ and still have 20,000 pounds left over.

In the past, pampered children have received gifts like a $30,000 motion simulator, a $30,000 King Kong clubhouse or a $15,000 levitating hover scooter. Hamleys are, this year, selling a handmade leather monopoly at $5,840 for the business minded children and for the slightly younger how about a gem-encrusted Mr and Mrs Potato Head for $8,000?

Not to be forgotten is the luxury gifts for your pet. Choose from a cashmere pet bed at $399 or any range of pet jewellery from pearls to diamonds, diamond encrusted collars and clothing.

If luxury gifts on these scales are not within your price range, you could always pop down the market like the rest of us.