The holiday season is fast approaching. With Christmas right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about the gifts you’re going to purchase for the people on your list! It’s smart to start shopping early to take advantage of deals and discounts as they arise throughout the season, and to save yourself the stress of scrambling to finish buying for everyone on your list on Christmas Eve.
If you find it hard to figure out the right gift for everyone on your list, you're not alone. Buying gifts for others can be tough, and if you don’t have a great concept of what the other person wants, it can be a little nerve-wracking, too. While you can always take the easy route and ask for a list of potential presents, it can be both fun and rewarding to pick the perfect gift with no guidance whatsoever from the recipient.
When you’re ready to start the holiday gift-buying process, here are some tips that will help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday list:
Pay attention!
People constantly share valuable bits of information about themselves in conversation and through their actions. The next time you’re having a conversation with a friend or family member and they mention something they really like, or start talking about something they legitimately need, make a mental note of that - or write it down with the note-taking app of your choice, if you don’t trust your memory. When the time comes to purchase a Christmas gift, you’ll have a good idea of what they might appreciate.
Consider the practical options
If you don’t quite know what the recipient of your gift would like, think about the things they might need. Are you shopping for a busy mom? An organized accountant? A world traveler? Someone who prioritizes fitness and loves to work out? Someone who owns three dogs? Once you have this in mind, you can consider the types of gifts that may make their life easier, from a helpful book to a high-tech gadget.
Think about the things they like
While some friends and family members will certainly appreciate gifts with an element of practicality, gifts don’t always have to serve a purpose. Instead, you can give a gift based purely upon what you think the recipient will appreciate and enjoy. Pull out a pen and paper and make a list of all the things you know about the person you’re shopping for. Consider the foods they like, the movies they love, their favorite music, and the hobbies they pursue in their spare time, and use that as inspiration to find the perfect present.
Gift an experience
Some people on your shopping list don’t want a lot of stuff. Alternately, some people might own so many things that you can’t actually come up with a decent gift to give that they don’t already have. When you run into this challenge, a great option is to gift an experience. Depending on your budget, there are a wide variety of options to consider here. You can give tickets to an upcoming concert or play, an hour-long lesson in something they’ve wanted to try, a massage, or a gift card to go out for dinner at a decent restaurant.
See what’s trending
When in doubt, you can always see what the most popular gifts of the season are. While it isn’t the most creative way to shop for the people on your list, things are usually popular for a reason, so odds are, you’ll find the inspiration you need to please the person you’re shopping for. Everyone from news outlets to retail stores post lists of hot items and trending gifts, so spend some time online and see what you find!
If you find yourself stumped when trying to come up with a great gift idea, try some of these techniques and see if you find some inspiration! How do you find the perfect presents for your friends and family? Leave a comment and let me know!
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