How to Give the Perfect Gift Every time
As the holiday season kicks into high gear the stress to get the perfect present for everyone on your list heightens until it’s practically haunting you.
There’s always those people who seem impossible to shop for no matter how well, nor how long, you’ve known them. But I’ll let you in on a little secret, gift giving isn’t supposed to be stressful!
Gifts are supposed to be a way to remind someone that you were thinking of them, that they mean something to you. They shouldn’t be some all consuming obligation where the end goal is perfection.
That being said, here are my top tips for getting gifts people will love, even those who are eternally impossible to shop for:
Figure out your budget ahead of time. No one can do that for you and that’ll tell you exactly how far and wide you’ll be looking.
You don’t need to limit yourself to only shopping during the holidays. I’ll be out and about and see something that reminds me of a friend in June and simply pack it away until the holidays. Gifts are things people wouldn’t buy themselves so odds are good they won’t go out and get what you’ve picked for them in the mean time.
Be conscious of their space, if your friend is in an adorable little loft she’s not going to appreciate a giant statue she doesn’t have room for. Alternate example: my mother is on a downsizing mission so I get her things like tickets to shows we can see together, not something she has to find space for.
One size generally doesn’t fit all. I’ve given Mickey Mouse Waffle Makers and cross stitched flasks and everything in between but those aren’t all things everyone would appreciate, know your audience, their favorite colors, hobbies, and sense of whimsy are crucial if you’re picking up something to have in their home
If all else fails, it helps to keep a list of everyone’s wine or spirit of choice as an easy gift that’s still thoughtful