Have you done all of your Christmas shopping? The holidays are upon us, and with it comes a tradition that many of us look forward to and dread: gift giving. On one hand, it’s fun to receive gifts from your loved ones, especially if they got you exactly what you wanted. On the other hand, it’s harder to be the gift giver, especially when you’re not sure what to get. How can you get gifts that you’re sure your loved ones will like? Here are four tips on how to get the best Christmas gifts this holiday season.
Think about what they need.
Getting something your loved one needs as a gift is a great gesture of love and care. This is especially if your loved one didn’t tell you they needed it beforehand. It shows that you pay attention to what’s going on in their life, and that their problems are important to you. For example, if a friend of yours has been talking about needing an umbrella, you can get a high-quality one in their favorite color. If they’ve been complaining about their broken oven, you can pay for it to get fixed.
Don’t worry about the presentation.
A lot of gift givers worry about the moment they give the recipient their gift. It feels gratifying to watch a loved one give an overjoyed reaction to a gift that they put a lot of thought into. But many great gifts won’t elicit that sort of reaction, and that’s okay. Taking our example from our previous point, offering to get your friend’s oven fixed definitely won’t garner the same reaction you’d get if you gave them jewelry instead. But it doesn’t matter, because in the end you still gave a considerate gift that they needed. You may not get a reaction in the moment, but they’ll still be thankful for you and your thoughtfulness.
Give them your time.
One of the best things you can give someone is an experience. You can give them tickets to a show they’ve always wanted to see or sign them up for a class they’ve always wanted to take. But what makes an experience even better is if they have someone they love to experience it with them. You can go on a trip together or learn something new together at a workshop. Not only will they make new, unforgettable memories, but they’ll also be able to spend time and learn something new with someone that they love. (Just make sure, of course, that the activity you choose is something they’re interested in. For example, don’t get tickets to a basketball game if they’re not interested in sports at all.)
Ask them what they want.
If you really have no other ideas, there’s no shame in asking your loved ones what they want to receive. Even if it does ruin the ‘surprise’ factor of gift giving, it’s better than giving someone a gift they don’t like. Your loved ones may seem shy at first – after all, no one wants to come across as demanding. But you might be able to get something if you push them enough. If they really won’t budge, you can ask their loved ones for opinions.
Be a good giftee, too.
You’re not the only one stressing out over what gifts to get, after all! The best way to guarantee getting a gift you truly love is by being direct about what you want. If someone asks you what you want, it may be tempting to brush off their concern and tell them that they don’t need to get you anything. But these people are asking you this question because they love you, and they want to make you happy. The next time you get this question, answer it seriously. You can even take it a step further and prepare a wishlist, so that your loved ones will get you exactly what you want to receive. And of course, it’s important to properly show your gratitude and appreciation once you have the gift in your hands!
Keeping these tips in mind as you go gift shopping will surely result in an unforgettable gift giving exchange this holiday season. Good luck, and happy holidays!