IF like many men this Christmas, you have come to the sudden realisation that the big day is fast-approaching and you are yet to think about, let alone purchase, a present for your other half — John Lewis at the Trafford Centre has come up with a last minute checklist to suit every budget.


Personal shoppers at the store have identified four key products — iPods, compact cameras, travel bags and watches — one of which is sure to appeal to even the most picky of recipients, at three different price points — Good, Better and Best.
 

IPods were chosen as they suit those who are often on the go and are very safe choice for those who are unsure.
 

Good: iPod Shuffle (£40), Better: iPod Nano (£100) and Best: iPod Touch (£329).


Personally, I think the iPod Shuffle is the pick of the bunch in this category — at £40 it is extremely affordable, can hold 30 hours of song time and now includes a voiceover feature which tells listeners which song is playing, which is a great update as it does not have a screen.
 

The next category, compact cameras, was chosen as the store’s shopping experts thought it was a practical present, that has a personal dimension as couples can capture and record memories together.
 

Good: Nikon Coolpix S3300 (£78), Better: Panasonic FT20 (£139.95), Best: Samsung Galaxy (£399.95).
 

Although for some it may slightly break the bank, the Samsung Galaxy truly is an amazing product for those who can afford to spend a little extra this Christmas.
 

Although a compact camera, the Galaxy takes pictures to an outstanding quality, yet has the functionality of a tablet, including Wifi, email and social media apps.
 

The third category, travel or business bags, were deemed to be a good choice for those in professional jobs or who often make trips away.
 

Good: Cath Kidston (£65), Better: John Lewis (£150), Best: Barbour (£279).
 

Although a designer brand such as Barbour is patently desirable, at less than half the price and little to separate it in terms of style and quality, the John Lewis bag wins this round for me.
 

The bag is 100 per cent brown leather and has a stylish finish which makes it a great investment piece, and could be accompanied with a weekend break for those who really want to score festive brownie points.


The final category, watches in rose gold, was chosen because while watches are a classic sentimental gift, the unsual and very on-trend material makes this a far from ordinary choice.


Good: Fossil (£105), Better: DKNY (£180), Best: Michael Kors (£200).
 

As there is little in terms of price between the better and best options, but quite a lot in terms of style, I think the Michael Kors offering is the best buy in this category.


The large face and dials have a big fashion appeal and the professional finsih gives this watch a timeless quality.
 

Time is running out however, so don’t put off your Christmas shopping any longer!