How To Make Gift Giving Easier
It’s great to give someone a gift. It could be a birthday, Christmas, a celebration of something, a thank you, or even just because you want to show how much you care. No matter what the reason for the gift, it always feels good to see someone’s happiness when they receive a present they love.
And you cannot go far wrong in showing your appreciation for your loved one in gifting them something of value – whether intrinsic, monetary or sentimental. Your ultimate gift-giving goal is to show them that you have spent some time thinking about them and their interests.
Yet how can you be sure they will love the gift you give them? How can you pick the right gift? Sometimes trying to find the perfect things to give someone can actually be stressful, and you might even wish you’d never started looking, which takes the fun away from what you’re doing.
Further Reading: Irish Gift Guide for Cyclists – 10 Wheely Good Gifts Under €100
Luckily, there are some things you can consider to make gift giving easier and to ensure that you don’t regret your decision. Read the article below ‘How To Make Gift Giving Easier in 3 Simple Steps’ to find out more.
Photo by Philip Smart
How To Make Gift Giving Easier in 3 Simple Steps
How To Make Gift Giving Easier Step #1
Useful Or Fun?
A way to narrow down the options when it comes to choosing a gift is to consider whether you want to give someone a useful gift or a fun gift. The difference between the two is stark, and even using this one criterion to narrow your choices down can help a lot.
By knowing the kind of gift you want to give, you can cut your potential options down to a manageable level and ensure you find something that’s just right.
For example, if the person you are buying a gift for has a passion for sartorial pursuits, you might invest in a quality timepiece from a known brand for them to treasure. Or if they are a whizz in the kitchen, you might put a little money together to them an authentic chef’s knife or quality chopping board. There are so many options for a thoughtful gift, that span all price points, and all show that same sense of affection.
Further Reading: Why Do We Celebrate Certain Occasions?
How To Make Gift Giving Easier Step #2
Know Your Budget
Perhaps you don’t think about money when you’re trying to search for a gift for a loved one or friend. Maybe you don’t think about it because you don’t want to limit your choices. Perhaps money really is no object, so it doesn’t make a difference to you.
The fact is, knowing how much you have to spend is crucial when it comes to picking a gift.
- To begin with, if you have a budget you need to stick to, you won’t have to change your mind after you find something you think is perfect and then realise it’s too costly.
- Next, even if you think that having a lot of money to spend would be useful when it comes to buying a gift, it can actually be a problem. It will give you too much choice.
- Giving yourself a budget will help because it will mean you can narrow down your selection. It’s also a very useful tool if you decide to buy a gift at an auction, like Whisky Bull Auctions, as it will help you stay focused.
Further Reading: 6 Great Gifts For Your Child Making Their Way In The World
Photo by Julia Kicova
How To Make Gift Giving Easier Step #3
Think Of The Person
Of course, when it comes to gift giving, the recipient of the gift is a crucial component of deciding what to buy. If you know them very well, you will probably already have an idea of what you want to give them. However, even if you do know them intimately, it’s not always easy to work out what they want, especially if they don’t have any particular hobbies or interests to fall back on.
Further Reading: 7 Mother’s Day Gifts Your Mum (Mammy) Might Actually Want!
In this case, you might opt for a gift voucher, but although they can be excellent gifts, they can also feel as though they’re lacking in the personal touch.
Of course, gifts do not need to be tangible to be meaningful. If the person you’re buying for ‘has everything’, you might both benefit better from the gifting of an experience to remember. As a driving enthusiast, they could be thrilled by the prospect of a track day at your local racecourse. You could enjoy other forms of thrill-seeking together too, whether hot-air ballooning, boating or even skiing.
If you want to give them something tangible, you can either ask them outright what they want or listen carefully to their conversations – some useful information might come to light. Otherwise, knowing their home and their colour or design preferences will be useful as you can buy something that ties to these things.
Feature photo by Katie Goertzen
How To Make Gift Giving Easier Step ‘Side Note’: Showing your appreciation for your loved ones does not need to involve the spending of lots of money, though. It can be easy to fall into the habit of using gifts as a crib for your feelings – and this can indeed be a useful, practicable way to show your feelings – but sometimes the best gift you can give is quite simply your time.
You might start reaching out to your family and friends slightly more often than you are used to, either to invite them for a coffee or drink, or just to have a walk. You might even just ask if they fancy a chat with you. You could even make a point of inviting them for dinner with you and your family. By making yourself available, you are implicitly demonstrating how important they are to you – and that you are more than happy to give what time you might have to them.
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