Whether it’s during the holidays, for a birthday, or to honor a special occasion, gift giving can be a meaningful way to show your loved ones just how much you care about them.
Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find something your recipient will love. You can make the process more enjoyable, however, by following a few simple gifting guidelines.
Think ahead
You know the drill—you postpone shopping until the last minute and end up grabbing an only so-so gift, like an impersonal gift card or a budget-friendly scented candle. Instead, try to plan ahead so you can give yourself enough time to find more meaningful items. One way to do this is by noting important dates on your calendar; you can even set reminders on your smartphone. This will give you plenty of time to brainstorm and shop for the best gift.
If you do lose track of time, though, and find that an important occasion is swiftly approaching, you can still increase your efficiency by composing a list of gift ideas before you hit the stores. Do the same when shopping online; just check that your gifts will arrive in time. If they won’t, consider printing a photo of what you ordered and just wrapping that for now. That way, your recipient will know you didn’t forget them and will have something to look forward to.
Investigate
Think about your recipient’s hobbies and what they enjoy to identify something they’d find useful, such as a loose-leaf tea infuser for a friend who drinks specialty teas or quality paintbrushes for a relative who likes paint-by-number kits. You could also look for items that can fill a need: a winter scarf for a friend who lost theirs or a lighted magnifying glass for a crossword puzzle devotee. It’s all about keeping your mind and your eyes open for gifts that have the potential to create a big impact.
Embrace opportunity
You don’t have to confine your shopping to the weeks before the occasion. Rather, try to always be on the lookout for suitable gifts. To help with this, keep a list on your phone of the people you generally give gifts to so you can take advantage of unplanned gift-buying opportunities. Then if you happen to wander into a shop filled with handcrafted items or come across handy kitchen gadgets in your grocery store, you can quickly figure out who you could gift some dazzling wine glasses or a beautiful wooden cutting board to.
Give something practical
Everyday items like socks or a kitchen appliance might not seem like exciting gifts, but they can be greatly appreciated if they match the personality and needs of the individual in mind. For example, a runner who clocks mileage in every type of weather might jump for joy over a set of moisture-wicking socks,
