How to Give the Perfect Christmas Present
/Are you a good gift giver? I mean, when do you think people think of you as someone who always manages to find the perfect gift?
Well, I don’t mean to brag, but I’m generally a pretty good gift giver. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my fair share of epic fails, but as a whole I do a good job. I know, because I’ve been told often over the years.
And here’s the thing. The perfect gift doesn’t have to be expensive. It doesn’t have to be rare or hard to find. What it needs to be is right for the person you are gifting.
I’m bringing this up now because tomorrow is Black Friday and since a couple of weeks ago in my blog 5 Ways to Avoid Stress this Holiday Season one of the things I talked about was planning ahead, this is a great time to get your Christmas shopping done (or at least started!) Bonus! Many stores run their sales online, so you can do this in the comfort of your home in your PJs. Bliss.
So, where to start? Here are my general thoughts on gifting:
Remember who you are gifting
If you are getting someone a gift it should be for that person. That’s obvious, right? You know you shouldn’t give someone a gift because you want to use or borrow it. But it’s more than that.
I will never forget the look of gratitude I received several years ago from an extended family member because I got a gift for her instead of the her first baby which was going to be arriving a few months later. If there’s a first time mom in your life (or mom in general), remember if you’re giving her a gift, the gift is for her. Not that baby, but her. Granted, it could be that some of these gifts look similar, but it’s important to consider why you are purchasing the gift in the long run.
Quality is better than quantity
You aren’t Dudley Dursley, and neither are the people you are gifting. At least I hope not! (Yes I am a grown adult making Harry Potter references. This won’t be the last time.)
Perhaps some children do count their presents. I really don’t know. What I do know is that even when I was a kid I’d rather have one or two really great things that I actually wanted and would use than a bunch of odds and ends that I had to muster up a face of gratitude but wouldn’t look at again once they were put away. And yet, there are people who continue giving quantity over quality. Don’t be that person.
Granted, there are exceptions to every rule. But I stand by the fact that receiving something of quality is much better than getting a handful of knick-knacks.
It’s the thought that counts (but you have to actually think)
True, it’s the thought that counts. I would never argue with that. However, the key word in that sentence is thought. After all, it’s not very thoughtful if you give a bottle of wine to someone who doesn’t drink wine or even the fanciest chocolates to someone who doesn’t like chocolate (these people do exist. I know, it baffles me too).
So when they say it’s the thought that counts… don’t forget to actually think. Yes, this is a variation of “Remember who you are gifting,” but it’s so important it bears repeating. Over and over. In fact, when it comes to giving great gifts, it’s probably the most important piece of advice I can give you.
But I digress. It really is the thought that counts. Gifts don’t have to be fancy or expensive. In fact, some of the most thoughtful gifts don’t cost much at all.
A handmade gift or homemade pie (or quiche!) can be perfect for the right person. I just wouldn’t frame a picture of the Eifel Tower for someone who hasn’t expressed any desire to see it, let alone visit Paris. No matter how amazing the picture is. On the other hand, if you know the person love France, Paris, or architecture, it may be the right gift.
You know the person you are gifting. It’s the thought that counts.
If you don’t Know, Ask! (or snoop!)
Yup, you read that right. There is nothing wrong with asking. I mean, we ask kids what they want all the time (or sneak a peek at their list to Santa!).
A couple of years ago my family started asking people to share wish lists for Christmas. And guess what?!? We “suddenly” started getting more things that were much more useful or that we actually wanted instead of random “stuff”. Not that the random gift isn’t a good gift (especially if you get the right one), but with everyone “Marie Kondo-ing” their lives right now knowing what someone wants is better than a wild guess.
Speaking of snooping Santa’s list, in case you didn’t know, the adult version of Santa is Amazon. And Amazon wish lists are amazing. Once you share your wish lists you’ll have access to them in your “Friends lists” and be able to purchase off them at any time. So, even if you don’t use them this year- sharing your lists can help for future gifting needs!
Gift Presence
That’s right. Presence, not presents. I am a huge fan of giving experiences.
Since the second year we were together, my birthday present from my husband has been a full day together doing whatever I want (which has been everything from starting our wedding registry to shopping for furniture for the house) and a nice dinner. This past year, we went to the symphony as well as dinner. My love language is quality time, so by the end of the day, my cup was overflowing.
Even if the person you are gifting has a different love language, giving the gift of time together is always appreciated. Need some ideas? You could get tickets to the theatre or symphony. Or how about a sports game (baseball and hockey is big here in St. Louis)? You could even do something like my husband does for me and plan an extra special night out. Or, offer your services to babysit for the evening or pet-sit for a weekend so your friends or family members can get away for a bit.
I hope these tips and ideas help as we come up to the gift-giving season. However, it’s important to remember you don’t have to give gifts. I personally love gifting. Receiving is fun too, don’t get me wrong, but there is something about picking out the perfect gift for someone and watching them unwrap it that lights a spark inside of me. If it’s not your thing, that’s okay too. However, especially if you’ve exchanged gifts before consider setting the expectation that you’d prefer not to exchange gifts this year. While this doesn’t mean that you may not still receive a gift (especially if the person enjoys gifting), but you’ve set the expectation that you will not be gifting.
Last year, my husband and I decided we wouldn’t be exchanging gifts over Christmas. We were on our delayed honeymoon, and we decided we’d rather go on extra adventures or have a nice dinner out while abroad then exchange gifts. And it was perfect! However, we set the expectations in advance so neither of us was surprised.
Next week, I’ll give you some more specific ideas for the health and fitness lovers in your life. But until then, if you have any great gift giving tips, feel free to share them below. And if you’re looking for something for me… well, I’d be happy to give you a list ;)
