I hate giving gifts. It makes me sound like a horrible person, I know. I love giving gifts when I know exactly what to get them, and I love when people enjoy and use what I give them, but overall the entire situation stresses me out. So, what are the basic things that almost anyone would like that I’ve learned over the years in a multitude of gifting scenarios?
First of all, when getting someone a gift, don’t be afraid to ask them what they want. Years ago, my friends and I decided to stop coming up with small gifts for each other, where each person got them in the same arrangement of things and got things that were useful to them and that they wanted. One year for Christmas, we simply sent each other links to buy each other. Sometimes I fear it seems as if I don’t know the person or that I don’t think about it enough, but in reality, it is just informing yourself so the recipient will get the most use out of what you are getting them.
In similar terms to asking the person themselves, you can always reach out to a parent or other close friend for help. For my friends’ birthdays, one of us is always texting their mom to guarantee they aren’t already receiving the gift or that it is useful. By doing this, it can ease the tension of actually asking the person directly but getting relatively the same effect out of it.
One of the hardest things to track when getting someone a gift is how much money to spend. Different situations relate to different budgets. Let’s say it’s a friend’s birthday; depending on the friends, the general price range may be from twenty to fifty dollars. Fifty, there is a wide range of things to get, but for twenty the options become more limited. Another thing my friends do is that we do group gifts. We find a budget we each want to equally spend and buy a larger gift for the person. It benefits in having more options for gifts without burning a hole in your pocket and more people to brainstorm what to get with.
If you are sticking to a solo gift, I always have the hardest time brainstorming what to get, and stress about it. Sometimes you can look up inspiration on TikTok or Pinterest, but sometimes that leads you to a dead end of the same ten objects.
First of all, I think gift cards are always a great option. Some people stay away from them because they assume they seem inconsiderate and lazy, but I think it is a perfect gift. It is a way to guarantee that they end up with something they are truly going to use and appreciate. My favorite gifts are always Starbucks gift cards because I go so much and it helps to fuel my addiction. I get use out of it and it is an easy purchase that can range anywhere from five to fifty dollars on the budget scale. If you’re worried about the personal factor of the gift, I always write a card and pair it with maybe the person’s favorite candy or something small and cute so that the gift isn’t only the card.
I think one of the best gift ideas is a basket. You can do a basket of anything, from miscellaneous items to a color theme, to even a self-care theme. These gifts usually consist of a cute basket or bin filled with a multitude of items. You can opt for a more extravagant basket of larger, more expensive items, or a simpler, more practical one with the same amount of importance. A basket is a cute way of giving a gift that can be done on a budget but still shows the thought put into it and the person will most likely enjoy it. My basic basket guideline is pretty simple, but anything can be placed in one. It’s always ideal to start with a larger item to fill the basket, like a blanket, pillow, water bottle, etc. Then, add a food or drink option, maybe a candy or favorite salty snack. From there, you could add any other items that could match the theme or are of importance to the person: jewelry, hair supplies, candles, car accessories, socks, room decor, and much more. My favorite technique for a gift basket is to get a pricier, key item and then fill the rest with cheaper items. Don’t think that it has to be physically huge either, it can be a small basket especially if you have more tightly-packed items.
But what are some of those basic gift item inspirations, either just to give or to fill a basket? I think one of the most personal yet effective gifts is to print a picture of you and the person and give it to them in the frame. It is a simple room decor item that then gives the person a free choice of what to put in it if they decide to change the image, and is a cute item they can place around their room. You could also give an item that is trending or that you really enjoy. Although it may be an item of fast fashion in a way, Octo buddies are currency trending, and many people either want one or use it frequently. You can find them on Amazon for only a few dollars, so it can be a nice thing to add to a gift as a finishing touch. Other things like that where they are a trending item, or you may have one are usually a safe bet to give to someone else. In a broader view, looking at popular brands such as Sol De Janeiro, Jellycats, Lululemon, and more can also be good ideas for items that are more popular but have a large audience so it is likely the person will enjoy them. Finally, a few more original ideas may be a camera, either digital, disposable, or even underwater, a cute tote bag, slippers, makeup bags, an athletic item like pickleball rackets, a key chain, and so much more.
My last gift tip is to give them something personalized. Many places or websites have options to add your own touch to something like a name, date, quote, location, or anything that may mean something to you or the receiver. This is usually a simple thing that can be done to make a simple item more original and unique to the person. You could personalize a blanket or pillow, a phone case, a bag of some sort, a piece of jewelry, an item of clothing, and literally so much more. You can even personalize things yourself depending on the items and resources you have available.
The Biggest thing about gifts is to understand that it is always the thought that counts. Even if you get the wrong candy, or they already have that hair brush, which is normal and I have done, all that matters is that you considered them, and simply that is the entire point of a gift.
