Choosing the right Christmas gifts for your friends and family members can be very challenging. Usually, if you can’t find the perfect gift that jumps out at you, or if you have that one friend or family member that has everything, you will end up choosing something basic, such as a picture, calendar or mug.
But sometimes, picking a great gift means taking some time and truly thinking about the person and their likes and dislikes, and then think outside the box.
Think of what they like.
Think really hard about the person you’re shopping for, and think about everything that interests them. Do they like animals? Do they like to cook? Do they like amusement parks, or do they love their job? It’s very important to think about these things and try and choose a gift from what you come up with. For example, if they love animals, you could always buy them an animal-themed gift. If they like to cook, get them cooking lessons. There are plenty of great ideas that can stem from thinking about what someone likes.
Think about who they are.
It’s a very good idea to also think about the person you’re shopping for and their traits and personality. For example, is the person always complaining about being cold? If so, make the gift humorous and get them a personal space heater or a heated blanket. Is the person always cracking jokes? Then sign them up for improv or an amateur comedy night at a local club. Both of these gifts show that you care and that you pay attention.
Peruse the Internet.
There are tons of retailers online, and by typing in a few basic keywords that resemble the interests or personality of your friend or family member, you may just find the perfect gift. Make sure to also peruse the Shopping section of Google, and always look on more than the first page of the search engine. If you find a great idea, you can also then use the Internet to try and find the best deals for the present.
Think of what they’ve always wanted.
Listen to the dreams, goals and desires that your friends and family members share when you’re with them. If there is something that they’ve always wanted to do or somewhere that they’ve always wanted to visit, center your gift around this. For example, if your friend or family member has always wanted to visit Italy, you may not be able to afford sending them there, but you can create an Italy-themed gift. Take them out to a nice Italian restaurant, have them serenaded by an Italian musician, and take a quaint boat ride. Though it may not be Italy, it’s the thought that counts.
You can also try to give them a gift by helping them do something they’ve always wanted to do. For example, if your friend or family member has always wanted to go skydiving, then get a group together and give skydiving as the gift. This is a great way to fulfill a dream of your friend or family member and give them a gift they’ll always truly remember.
Julie Myers works as a freelance writer. As a devoted mother of four, she is always looking for new and exciting gift giving ideas for Christmas.