Not everyone has a natural instinct for gift-giving. While some people are almost psychic in their ability to surprise loved ones with the perfect present, others have to plan and prepare weeks in advance for any special occasion in order to come up with anything even remotely appealing to the recipient. On the one hand, you want to give something they’ll cherish and appreciate, while on the other, you don’t want to drain your bank account. Here are a few simple ways you can become an expert gift-giver on any type of special occasion.
Listen Most people would agree that, even if you aren’t the best at buying presents, it’s much easier to find something for
someone you’re close with compared to someone you barely know. Either way, the key to narrowing down your search options and homing in on that perfect gift is to listen. Whenever you interact with someone you’ll probably need to get a gift for in the future, truly digest what they’re saying and get to know them, even if just for a moment. Be genuinely interested in their life, and you’ll soon discover how easy it is to find presents for someone when you know even just a single piece of information about their passions and lifestyle. A happy by-product of this is that you’ll grow closer to more people and become a more enjoyable person to be around.
Be Selective Just because you work in the same building as someone doesn’t mean you are obliged to bring them a gift every time a special occasion rolls around. Do you expect near-strangers to spend their money and time thinking of presents to give you? Of
course not. Be selective of how wide your circle of potential gift recipients is and create a personal policy of not buying something for that one guy you bumped into at a party or the children of a co-worker’s cousin. Everyone’s time and money is valuable, including yours. Come up with a list of important people you want to treat and spare yourself the pressure.
Get Personal
If you’re looking to give someone you truly care about something special, use your knowledge of their hobbies, interests, and memories to make your gift more personal. You could frame a photo of a fond memory the two of you shared or use The Book of Everyone Promo Code to give them a meaningful present unique to their life and tastes.
Choose Experiences
Not everyone appreciates the unnecessary clutter a special occasion invites into their home. The popularity of minimalism has shown that people are becoming less materialistic and more experience-focused, so consider researching activities or trips you could treat them to instead of adding to their junk drawer with something you don’t know if they’ll like anyway.
Use Your Hands
Making gifts with your own two hands isn’t just for children on their parents’ birthdays. Something crafted using your own time, abilities, and love will be so much more valuable than a gift card or novelty toy. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t particularly arty or handy; it truly is the thought that counts.
