What to buy for the most difficult people on your holiday list

You really don’t understand how you’re related to this guy, but for whatever reason he’s always at grandma’s house on Christmas. Since you can’t figure out the family tree it’s unlikely you’ll find a sweater he’ll like, so make him happy with a Merry Millionaire instant ticket—and maybe one of those ancestry kits to try to figure out if you're actually related. At the very least, he’ll learn your name for next Christmas.

Steve can’t eat nuts, doesn’t do dairy, has a gluten intolerance and has also chosen to be a vegetarian…obviously fruitcake isn’t an option anymore, so give him something he’ll love, a pack of allergy meds and the Holiday Bonus instant ticket. If he wins, he can treat himself to all the gluten-free vegan delights he wants.

Stash a few of the Holiday Cash instant tickets in your purse, along with some gift cards for coffee this holiday season and spread the love next time you’re ride sharing. It should lift your driver’s mood—and energy—so they follow your directions and it will definitely guarantee you a five-star rating.

Your leaky pipes haven’t been fixed in ages and that radiator is making more noise than you can handle, get on your landlord’s good side with a batch of homemade cookies and a Merry Money scratch-off from Illinois Lottery. Who knows? If they win they might just hire a handyman to fix all those problems in your apartment.

Give the perfect gift that brings a little extra joy to everyone’s life this holiday season, visit illinoislottery.com to find the available in all sizes and prices.