Thisiswhyiambroke.com
Would you like to turn your stairs into a slide? You can, with the amazing slide conversion kit to be found on this site. Apparently it works on most conventional staircases and sets up easily. The bones that will inevitably break will probably set easily too. There's also a toilet seat pedal, and a colour-changing shower head that uses LEDs to bring colour to your morning routines. This is not actually an online retailer but it points to some deadly stuff. Literally, deadly.
Thepresentfinder.co.uk
This site does exactly what it says in the URL. You tell it who you're buying for, how much you want to spend and what kind of gift you have in mind and it goes and finds stuff for you. It's based in the UK and if delivery is a problem – or prohibitively expensive – you can sign up for parcelmotel, which will allow you to circumvent the rules and cost of international shipping.
Odditymall.com
A 4.5kg Toblerone? Check. Twister bed sheets? Check. A telescopic coffee mug that turns into a bong? Sure. This site points you in the way of some of the weirdest, and funniest, presents selling on the internet. Not every site it directs you to will ship to this part of the world, but many do. Shop here and you certainly won't be accused of buying boring presents.
Totally-funky.co.uk
"Here at Totally Funky we sell gifts to make you smile. Our aim is to make the world a happier, funkier, more fun-loving place." What's not to love about that mission statement. This site's best-selling gifts include a smartphone projector, an underwater light show, a blow monkey and arm warmers, of course.
Theshopfloorproject.com
This is far away from the fun but tacky stuff selling on some of the other sites listed. Instead, it is crammed with gorgeous things from small-scale designers. The site says it sells the kind of stuff you will want to pass down through the generations and it is not wrong. It's not cheap, mind you. There are modernist Tuareg baskets, hand beaten aged steel and polished brass coffee scoops made by Mitsuhiro Konishi in Japan and brass wall sconces from Sweden which are a snip at just over €600. And if that last sentence has left you feeling inadequate intellectually, stylistically and financially, then join the club.
Etsy.com
If you have not heard of this website yet, you really need to get on it. "Discover items you can't find anywhere else," is its bold promise. To be honest, it's impossible to know where to start – there are tens of thousands of presents on the site and most of them will make you go awww! If you wanted to narrow it down – and keep it local - you could look out for Etsy Team Ireland – a group of Irish-based sellers and makers.
Howkapow.com
Looking for super-tasteful homewares? Then look no further. There's some very expensive stuff, but a lot of stocking fillers too with jewellery and prints ranging in price from €15 to €50.
Firebox.com
If you think your nearest and dearest is secretly pining for a stress sausage, a USB hub shaped like a skull, chocolate tools, immersive virtual reality headsets or a Game of Thrones Monopoly set, then this is where you should look. But obviously, you want to know what gift is the site selling at a price of €1,132,777, right? Well, it's a vacuum cleaner. But not any old vacuum cleaner, it's the world's most expensive vacuum cleaner made with 24k gold. You will also be able to relax safe in the knowledge that you are part of an exclusive – and monumentally stupid – club as only 100 were produced.
Knockknock.biz
This is the ultimate stocking filler website. Silly books? Yep. Weird mugs? Of course. Ridiculous stationery? Well obviously.
Mimitoys.ie
Gorgeous wooden and educational toys from an Irish company. It is a wonderful antidote to the plastic tat that will take over in the weeks ahead. Age range from baby to 12 years covered. The prices are reasonable and the guarantees offered are long.
