A Gift Guide for the New Freelancer

Clockwise L-R: 2013 Year Planner £12.50 at NOTHS, Information is Beautiful £9 at Amazon, VW Camper Van Memory Stick £25 at NOTHS, Retro Camera Pencil Sharpener£16.49 at NOTHS, Pure Contour 100Di DAB/FM Radio and iPod Dock £94.99 at John Lewis, London Landmark Bookend £18.40 at NOTHS, Illustrated Biscuit & Drink Mug £12 at NOTHS, Pac-Man Stapler £4.95 at PrezzyBox, Doxie One Standalone A4 Scanner £112.99 at Amazon

Here I am with the third (and penultimate) of my Christmas Gift Guide series, and today it's designed with the New Freelancer in mind. These so-called "media types" have binned the alarm clock, become medically attached to their Macbook Pros and are known to occasionally expense the latest copies of Vogue and InStyle... all in the name of research, of course (what? I work in fashion, ok??). They may not have the foggiest what 7am looks like, but that doesn't mean being self-employed isn't hard work. Treat them this Christmas with something to make their working day that little bit easier.

Let's get practical. The freelancer loves a gadget. There's no doubt they're already using all the best apps, but they're gonna need the hardware to go with it. The Doxie One Scanner will help your freelancer go paperless, minimising stress and clearing space in that cramped corner of their flat they call an "office". Better yet, it syncs with some of the best productivity apps helping them keep on top of all their invoices, expenses and bills. While we're at it, a premium membership to Evernote wouldn't go a miss either.

Staying on the practical theme, a USB stick never goes amiss, and one shaped like a VW Camper Van is extra special. Wall calendars, desk planners and Filofaxes are also a great idea, they provide a quick place to scribble notes and appointments, and can prove beyond valuable if (god forbid) something jeopardises the internet connection.

Speaking from personal experience, freelancing can get a little lonely. I spend most of my days laughing along to the radio or keeping up with my favourite podcasts. Help your freelancer do the same with a DAB Radio complete with iPod dock. If money is a little tight, forget the electronics and instead opt for cute accessories like desk tidies, mugs, pencil sharpeners, photo frames etc. Try this Birch Business Card Holder from Etsy. This stuff is quirky, memorable and budget-friendly, and the perfect humble treat for a self-employed friend - they use this stuff everyday!

Lastly, my pick of the bunch is Information is Beautiful by David McCandless. Ideal for social media enthusiasts, illustrators or graphic designers, it's packed full of intricate info-graphics. The sheer volume of facts will keep them entertained for days and it's all beautifully presented too.

Come back on Saturday for the last in my Gift Guides series. Good luck with your shopping for the big day!