@demoncat Not always. There are people, usually staff, to whom I want to give something, when cash just is not appropriate, and I don’t know them well enough as to what they would like.
@demoncat Can your niece tell you his fandoms? Then any of those would be good. My daughters' BFs are Marvel/One Piece/Ted Lasso and Succession/Tolkien/Rudolph (for Christmas).
@demoncat chocolates/candies are safest choices according to me, although if they are diabetic or on a diet or avoiding certain food due to allergies etc, then I would get them a basket of fresh fruits or a veggie tray maybe 😄
@demoncat Candy when it’s someone I don’t know very well (coworkers, social acquaintances). Scarf for good friends or family. Funny socks for that one friend (everybody has one).