I don’t know about you, but one of the most stressful parts of Christmas is trying to figure out what gifts to buy. While Christmas isn’t all about gifts, it’s still nice to get our loved ones things we know they will appreciate. It’s easy to become a great gift-giver!
Sometimes it’s hard to determine what they want, especially if they don’t tell you. I’ve learned a few tips over the years that have really helped me worry less about shopping for gifts.
5 Tips For Becoming A Great Gift-Giver
1. Plan! Plan! Plan!
I know some people don’t like starting Christmas early. However, by buying your gifts early, you free yourself from the stress of last minute shopping. You’ll be able to truly enjoy the Christmas season. Think of how many more movies you could watch, cookies you could bake, etc. with all the free time you’ll have now that you can escape the packed stores and traffic.
One way to plan is by knowing what you want to get each person on your list. By prepping early you’ll be giving more thoughtful gifts. Another perk is that you will be able to compare prices to get the best deals. By going to the store with a game plan you’ll be less likely to get those “Christmas presents to me” items. Is anyone else guilty of getting out of hand with this like I am?
2. Take The Pressure Off
It can be easy to get sucked in the mindset of needing to get the best, most expensive gifts. Don’t go there! It will only stress you out, empty your wallet, and lead you to forget the true meaning of Christmas.
You don’t need to spend a ton of money to be a great gift-giver. By taking the pressure off of yourself to buy the best present, you’ll be able to fully enjoy the gift shopping process.
3. Look At Gift Guides With Caution
Do a simple search for gift ideas and you’ll soon be going down a never-ending trail of everyone telling you what the best gifts are for your mom, sibling, friend, etc.. Don’t get me wrong, these lists are helpful, except for when they are not.
The problem with gift guides is that they are more generalized, to help as many people as possible. Each person is unique. Just because a product is on a gift guide for women, doesn’t mean that it’s something your mother, sister friend, whoever you are buying it for, will like.
Gift guides are a great place to start to get ideas when you have no idea what to get. I like to look at them and jot down the items I want to look into more. Before buying anything the guide suggests, ask yourself two questions.
- Is this something they will like/can use?
- Is this something I can afford?
If you answer yes to both of those questions I’d say go for it. Another bonus to gift guides is that it can give you ideas that you didn’t think to put on your list. As long as you go into looking at a gift guide with mindfulness, they can be a great resource.
4. Think Back (or Listen)
One of my favorite activities to do is shop with other people. I make sure to pay attention to what they point out, or maybe the items they stare at a little longer than the others. I make a mental note of these things and revisit them when it comes time for Christmas or even their birthday.
You don’t even have to be shopping with people to find ideas. It just takes some active listening on your part. It may be cutting it close to get ideas this way for 2020 though. I would recommend thinking back if you can’t see them before Christmas. Try to remember if there are certain stores or products your loved ones have pointed out to you throughout the year. Look back on your messages to see if anything came up in a conversation that can give you an idea of what to get.
5. Just Ask
Are you still stuck on what to get your loved ones? Don’t worry, it happens. My last piece of advice is to just ask them. “What do you want for Christmas?” Sometimes to be a great gift-giver you just need to communicate. Ask them to give you a few options, so that you can still surprise them somewhat. I would suggest not putting this off until the last minute.
My family is always surprised by the list that I give them. I do this on purpose though. The more items I put on my list, the more likely I will still be surprised at what they decide to go with. What can I say? I like surprises.
What do you think of these five tips for becoming a great gift-giver? Were they helpful? No matter what you get your loved ones I’m sure they will appreciate it, so don’t stress. This time of year should be fun and full of love. Don’t let shopping stress ruin that magical feeling that Christmas brings.
About the Author
Kelly graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Journalism. Even though it took her a little while to find her career path, she was always meant to be in Communications. She remembers writing poems and songs when she was a little girl and pitching to my parents the reasons why I should have a cell phone when I was a teenager. She currently has a blog (budding-joy.com) where she talks about her weight-loss journey, mental health and personal development. Her hope is to encourage and inspire readers and let them know they are not alone. Reading blog posts like that are what helped her in tough times and she wants to pay it forward. She loves dance fitness, listening to music, and creating layouts in her bullet journal. She's a big fan of planning, especially when cute notebooks and pens are involved. Her dream job has changed so much over the years; right now she'd love to co-own a dance studio.
Website: budding-joy.com