Christmas and birthdays are two of the most wonderful time of the year in a person’s life. But sometimes, these days approaching can be horrible for you. You want to make a person happy on those special days, but gift shopping, and finding the right wrapping paper every year if you don’t have very good gift wrap storage, can be a pain.
Giving a gift to others can make you happier than spending the same amount of money on yourself, and the feedback you receive from the gift you give tells that this can be true. But before you can cause that kind of happiness, there can be a whole lot of stress. Finding the perfect birthday or Christmas present for someone can be hard, especially for that friend who wants you to be there at his birthday party and for the mother-in-law who wants to see you and your kids at Christmas. In general, women can be better at giving gifts than men, but that shouldn’t be the case. You can be as thoughtful as your wife or your sister – you only need guidance!
Here are some of the ways to find the perfect gift for a special person in your life:
1. Know what the person is interested in
If you want to buy the perfect gift for your recipient, take some time to learn about his or her interests even if it’s something you don’t particularly enjoy. Know what they do in their free time. Know their hobbies and activities. Know what they want to watch, read, or play. Make a list of all the things the person can be possibly interested in, and determine what defines them. After making a list, think of an item/s that go with them, whether small or big.
You don’t have to give them all of those gifts, but you can discover some fresh ideas you wouldn’t have thought otherwise. Identifying their interests can help you shop smarter and make a better chance of getting the perfect gift with the thought that says, “I picked this one especially for you.”
If you’re shopping for a gift for your wife or partner, apply the same rule. Since you’ve known her for a while, you know better what to give. It’s not what you want; it’s not what you want her to want; it’s what your partner wants that must matter.
2. Look for something that can be useful for the recipient
Oftentimes, the worst gifts are those that have no practical value (unless your recipient loves collecting those kinds of stuff). You don’t want your gift to sit in the corner of his or her closet or cabinet – you want it to be used by the recipient. Avoid giving them gifts that have the potential to be re-gifted. If you know the person, it would be easy for you to understand what they need. Scout their home, and you can find a need.
3. Make the present an event
Make the event of receiving a gift from you a blast. Rather than just handing the person a gift in a regular gift bag or a regular wrapping paper, think of the gifting experience as an event they will enjoy. If you’re giving a gift for your child or a niece or nephew, send the kid on a scavenger hunt to find it. You can hide a secret message that sends him to the gift card code in a book he or she is reading. Also, don’t underestimate the fun of unwrapping presents. Sometimes, you can give multiple small gifts and wrap them individually than putting them in one basket. This will be so much fun for your recipient.
4. Make it a surprise
Nothing is more exciting for a person than not knowing that someone buys a gift for you, or at least not knowing what is to be expected from you. There are a lot of dads that say “I have a surprise gift for you on your birthday,” which takes away the surprise of receiving a gift. One way to surprise a person is to give them a gift days or even weeks before their birthday. It says that you know their special day was coming and you were keen about surprising them.
5. Buy something of good quality
Yes, you want to buy them something functional, but make sure it’s of high quality to be presentable. Purchase something that the person would probably not buy for themselves because it’s a bit luxurious, but not overly pricey. Having the ability to give quality gifts to people who mean much to you makes a long way. You want to provide them with something they can use and will last.
6. Make use of nostalgia
Look to the exciting and beautiful past of the person, and you can make them revel in nostalgia. Maybe the birthday celebrant just got married, so you can give him or her a picture frame or a mug that memorializes that particular moment. Or you can let them relive their childhood. If you and your pal grew up listening to music in a vinyl turntable, buy him a new one that works. You can also give him or her a fun Pokemon, Hello Kitty or Sailor Moon-inspired gift.
7. Do a little bit stalking
Sometimes, you don’t know the person that well, but you are invited to his or her party and you feel obliged to give a gift. Sometimes, it’s a friend or family member that doesn’t express a liking to something. If you are clueless about what to give them, do some stalking. A lot of people have an Amazon wishlist, so go check it out. They will be surprised and delighted if you give them something they wanted without even asking. Also, check their Facebook history for some clues, and check if he or she shared a product or commented on something that says something like “I need this in my life.”
8. Make it personal
Make the gift personalized from you rather than for them. If you’re creative, add a calligraphy or doodle of their name instead of the usual gift tag. Or you can write them a song or a poem on their birthday. You can create a handmade gift. You can craft a coffee table for a family member, or paint a portrait of your loved one’s pet. You get the idea.
9. Try to give an experience
If your recipient is not much into material things but experiences, give them a free experience. Does she badly want to watch a theater show, a movie or a concert? Buy her the tickets. Does he love dining at a particular restaurant, or do you want to give him a free pass at a hotel to spend with his wife? Give him a gift certificate to a restaurant or a hotel. Is your son planning to spend his birthday at an arcade with his girlfriend? Offer to pay for it. Experiences are priceless, and footing the bill for your loved ones for them to enjoy it can bring you great joy.
10. Give a gift that keeps on giving
You can also give them a paid subscription to coffee, streaming service, item delivery, or magazine subscription. Go back to the list of interests you made for the person and figure out which of those can be turned into a subscription. This way, your recipient can enjoy your gift all year long, even after Christmas or his or her birthday has already passed.