Christmas is not too far around the corner so you might naturally be starting to think about gift-giving. Most of us who give gifts would like to think that they are well-received and much loved by the recipient, but unfortunately, that is not always the case!
Although few of us would admit it, many of us have received more than a few gifts that don’t really hit the mark. When you think about how much time, effort, and money has been wasted buying poor gifts, it’s enough to make you weep! The good news is, it is possible to get good at gift-giving so, at least, the people you are buying for will have a great gift experience with no effort wasted.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at what you can do to ensure that you always find the perfect gift for everyone no matter who they are or what their tastes may be…
Make a list of everything you know about them
When it comes to buying a gift for someone, the first thing you should do is sit down and write a list of everything you know about them. Do they love dogs? Are they always talking about Taylor Swift? Have you never seen them without a Montecristo No. 2 cigar in their hand? Once you have gathered the data, the kinds of things they are interested in will easily reveal themselves to you, and you will be able to extrapolate from this information some ideas for gift-giving that are more likely to hit the mark.
Take a look at their surroundings
On a similar note, if you are in a position to do so, it pays to pay attention to the things they surround themselves with in their home, or maybe on their desks if they are work colleagues. This will give you a greater insight into their style and taste than a list of their interests might do on their own. For example, one person who is into penguins may love slightly kitsch fluffy penguin pillows because it fits with their natural style, while another penguin lover may be more enamored with a minimalist penguin sculpture to match their more refined tasted – just because someone likes something doesn’t mean everything in that genre will be to their taste, so you need to find out exactly what their taste is and studying their surroundings is a great way to do that.
Give an experience
If you’re buying for someone who seems to have everything, then giving experiences is a really good way to nail it. For example, if you have a friend that loves the movie Grease, you could buy them tickets to see the musical live at the theater or if you have a family member who loves fast cars you could organize for them to have a Ferrari driving experience at a big track. Basically, think about the things they love and try to find a way of turning that into an actual physical experience because not only will they love it, but it will be a gift that they will never forget.
Give them something funny
Your friend hates Donald Trump. Give him a Trump coloring book. Your husband not a fan of your cooking? Give him a cookbook with a promise you’ll read it. Basically, think of something that will make them laugh and you will be onto a winner because, after all. There is no greater gift than the gift of laughter, and joke gifts can be some of the most memorable of all over the years if you get them right. Just be sure they have a sense of humor before you go down this route or it could backfire on you spectacularly!
Make it personal
The personal touch is always appreciated in gift-giving providing that some thought has really gone into it. Buying a cup and engraving it with a name might not be very inspiring, but if you buy them a first edition of their favorite book and write a meaningful inscription in it or turn all of their baby clothes into a beautiful blanket that they can snuggle up with for the rest of their life is likely to hit the right emotional note and show them you know them inside out. Think of who they are, the memories you share together, and come up with a personalized gift that really does say it all about your relationship, and you can’t go wrong.
Do something for a good cause
For that one person who really is tricky to buy because they really do have everything, including a bunch of exciting experiences, you could think about donating some money to a charity that is close to their heart instead. Most people are passionate about at least one cause, whether it’s rescuing dogs or providing water for people in far-flung destinations, so a charitable donation in their name is always going to go down pretty well. Just make sure you choose a cause that they really are interested in.
Just ask them
This may seem like a bit of a cop-out and many people don’t like to do it, but if you are really struggling to find the perfect gift for someone, there is absolutely nothing wrong with simply asking them what they would like because at least then you know you will not have wasted your time or money. If you want to keep it a surprise, ask them to provide you with a list of three or four things that they would like so you can pick one out. Sure, it won’t be a huge surprise., but they still won’t know which gift you picked out so the element of suspense will remain to some extent.
Finding the perfect gifts for the important people in your life is not always easy but with these tips, it should not be nearly as difficult, and you will soon get a reputation for being one od the best gift-givers in your circle!
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