It seems like all the rage this season for Christmas gifts are high tech gizmos. Everybody wants the new iPod, the 5 megapixel digital camera, razor thin mobile phones, etc. But what about the person on your list who already has it all? Take my Dad for example. He has possesses virtually every gadget known to man. He's not the type to wait for Christmas to get his goodies--if he wants it, he gets it. This makes buying Christmas gifts for him a little tricky.

Everybody has a person on their list like my Dad. So what do you do? Buy them a lottery ticket? Seems like a reasonable idea, and certainly something that he already doesn't have. If you want to increase your odds at getting him-or her-something worth more than a piece of lotto cardstock, though, consider these ideas.

1. Peruse your local bookstore. You will find that they are meccas of inspiration for those of us searching for gifts for the hard-to-buy-for's. Find a book about his/her latest interest, hobby, or find something that will look great on the coffee table.

2. Your hard-to-buy-for doesn't have time for reading? Buy books on CD. Encourage him/her to listen while driving. They will certainly enjoy their time in the car

3. Give the gift of learning. If there is a skill that he/she has been wanting to learn but hasn't found the time, find him a tutorial on CD. That way he/she can listen in the car, while working out, etc. The internet has everything under the sun by way of how-to audios, programs, and books.

4. Does your hard-to-buy-for enjoy traveling? Give him/her a learn-Spanish, French, German or Italian program. There are a ton of different ways to deliver a learn-language program. Just check out the internet or your bookstore.

So maybe shopping for your hard-to-buy-for isn't going to be so hard this year after all. Worried about not being part of the gadget craze? Breathe a sigh of relief-you're finally not reinventing the wheel.