When it comes to getting presents for others, some people are especially gifted. For others, awkward moments associated with present-giving are all-too familiar. It may be that you’ve been the recipient of a poorly-judged gift, or perhaps your own present-giving skills could use a little work. Fortunately, we have a few tips on how to do just that.
Gift-giving is a skill you have to build over time, so if it’s not something that comes naturally to you, or if you’ve never learned how, it’s still possible to learn how to give thoughtful, meaningful presents that people will love, starting with a little planning and organization.
Listen Up
Generic gift guides aimed at specific demographics can be helpful in some situations, for example, if you know someone who has recently graduated college, something from the Catstudio Collegiate Collection would be the perfect way to celebrate their success.
If you want to get even more personal, this requires a little research, which means keeping an ear open to any mention of special hobbies, interests or things the recipient might like in advance, so that when it comes time to get them something, you’ll know just the thing.
Make a List
Amid the busyness of work and family life, we don’t always have the space to keep a mental list of the things that people like. You can do this by creating a Pinterest board with individual sections for each person; just don’t forget to set it to private so that you can keep your gifts a surprise.
Alternatively, you can use a spreadsheet, which allows you to sort things by category, add links to shopping sites and note down things like your gift budget ahead of time. Do one of these things, and hey presto: you’ve created your very own personalized gift guide for the people in your life.
Awkward Recipients
Some people keep their (birthday or Christmas) cards close to their chest when it comes to gifts, claiming not to want anything when they secretly do. Alternatively, this category can refer to people you might not know very well in the first place. Here are a few examples of awkward recipients and what to get them.
Acquaintances
For the office Secret Santa or a new family member, the level of personalization you use when choosing a gift depends on how well you know them. Even if you only know one fact about what they like (say, their favorite color), that can be enough. Alternatively, gift cards are always a popular choice.
People Who Seem to Have It All
It’s worth remembering that life isn’t all about how much stuff you have, so why not give someone an experience? A voucher for a spa day, or for a special meal gives them a gift to remember and something to look forward to after the main event.
People Who “Don’t Want Anything”
The key here is to determine whether this is a situation where the recipient might be pleasantly surprised, or disappointed. For the former, saying “I don’t want anything” can be another way of expressing their own awkwardness around presents, only to be disappointed when they don’t receive something. In situations like these, it can be a good idea to get one of the following:
- A subscription box
- A personalized gift
- A named star after them
- A wildlife animal adoption certificate
- A gift donation to their favorite charity
It’s important to note that some people might genuinely not want a gift. Foisting a gift on someone who has explicitly stated a “no gifts” policy (for whatever reason), isn’t fair and breaches a boundary they’ve clearly set, so if they genuinely don’t want anything, the best gift you can give is to honor their request.
Gifting No-Nos:
Here are some more things to avoid when choosing gifts for people:
- Avoid gifts with obligations: Unless it’s something they’ve expressed an interest in, giving someone a pair of rollerskates or a gym membership creates undue pressure.
- Re-gift with caution: The only time this is ever appropriate is when the gift is given to someone completely unrelated to the original person you received it from, and even then, this can be a little risky. If you’ve had it for more than a year and you really don’t want it, consider donating it instead.
- Don’t resort to joke gifts: This is especially if you don’t share the same sense of humor. Novelty presents should really only be given (if at all) to people you know will get the joke, like your siblings, or a close friend, but not your boss.
- Plan ahead: The gifting equivalent of gas station flowers shows how much consideration went into the gift, and when it’s the thought that counts, that’s not much at all.
In terms of planning, the same applies to handmade gifts, which can be lovely, but if it’s something you hastily cobbled together at the last minute, it may not be as thoughtful as you’d like. If you’re going to make your own gifts, do so well in advance, and make sure it’s something you know they’d want.
Check Your Ego
Seeing someone’s face light up is all part of the magic of gift-giving, but ultimately, giving someone a present is about them. If you were to mail the gift to them without being able to see their reaction, is it still something you’d choose?
Considering this aspect of gifting can be a little thorny if you’re sensitive about these topics, but it really does get to the heart of what presents are all about: which is giving. Another difficult aspect to contend with concerns money, which we’ll dive into now.
It’s the Thought That Counts
In groups, gifts outside of everyone else’s price range have the opposite intended effect of putting you center-stage and can appear a little showy. Similarly, discussions about how much things cost pull focus away from the person receiving the gift. Avoid being stingy, but by the same token, don’t be flashy with your cash, either.
Consumerism teaches us that if we spend more money on more things, we’ll make stronger connections with others, when in fact it really is the thought that matters. This means putting the recipient first and planning ahead, so that no matter whether it’s a piece of jewelry or a sentimental scrapbook, you’ll know it will be something that they’ll treasure.
