Have you ever given a gift to a friend or family member and immediately wished you’d bought something better? If you said yes, you’re one of 72% of Brits who admit to feeling anxious about getting gift-giving right. It’s not just birthdays we have to think about – there are anniversaries, holidays, corporate gifts and those inevitable last-minute celebrations that call for rushed gift buying, which is always the worst kind. But what if gift giving could be made simple? With these simple tricks, you could take buying gifts to a whole new level, and never be confused about what to buy ever again. Here are the secrets to giving gifts people actually want.
Secretly Investigate
The quickest and easiest way to find out what your family and friends would appreciate receiving is to trick them into telling you exactly what it is they want. This mischievous but reliable tactic can work for anyone of any age. All you need to do – as naturally as possible – is to prompt a conversation about a product or experience you think they might like. Your job is to figure out what they think about the gift that you have in your mind – without letting on that you’re thinking of buying it for them.
For example, you could start off by saying you’ve seen people talking about how good a new pair of running trainers are, and how they’re meant to make you 10 times lighter! See what they think about the trainers and if they agree or disagree. It’s not just single items and products you can use this on. If you think your friends or family would enjoy a spa day, for example, you could start off by stating your opinion, subtly prompting them to share theirs afterwards. Try saying ‘I’m not sure if I’d enjoy going to a spa for the weekend, do you think there’s enough to actually do?’ Hopefully, they immediately disagree, but if they don’t, you’ll know to stay well clear of buying spa day gifts.
Stick To What You Know
Surprise gifts, when done right, are some of the best gifts that anyone can receive – but they’re also the hardest to come up with. You don’t have to think of something that they could never guess in order to buy something that’s thoughtful and appreciated. In fact, choosing to buy gifts that you know they will use is a great way to show family and friends that you care about and understand the things that they love. If you’re buying a gift for someone you’re close to, try topping up the favourite products in their everyday routines. These sorts of gifts are great for saving them money further down the line when they run out and have to replace them themselves. The reality is, the things that you know they love, they love for a reason. These types of gifts also make great hamper additions or smaller gifts alongside something they haven’t received before.
Give More Than Just A Physical Gift
Tangible gifts are a safe gift option, and are especially good for people you aren’t as familiar with. But for people you are particularly close to, mixing tangible gifts with experiences and vouchers is a great way to give yourself as many gift options as possible. Experiences and vouchers also create lasting memories for whoever you’re buying a gift for, especially if you’re joining them on the experience too. There is a huge variety of different experience gifts you can browse for your family and friends. For the thrill seekers, you can purchase tickets for a trip to a theme park or a crazy outdoor activity like skydiving. If you’re buying for someone who’s a bit more risk-averse, consider booking activities like a theatre show.
Make Your Gifts Personal
Personal gifts are a guaranteed hit for people receiving gifts. They feel considered, thoughtful and entirely unique to them. They also often look and feel more expensive – even when they’re not. Personal gifts aren’t just limited to people you know very well. Take a work colleague, for instance, you could include an inside joke or a subtle reference to something you regularly talk about at work. Personalised gifts are often cherished and cared for long after the gift is given and can transform a basic item into something they won’t ever want to throw away.
Explore Trending Choices
Browsing popular choices within any category of gifts is a great way to find a gift that’s reliable and cool. This type of gift giving is adaptable to any type of occasion and can provide you with a huge variety of different options to choose from. You could be as specific as looking into viral beauty products like lip kits and cream bronzers, or as broad as the latest tech gadgets. Even if you choose a trending gift you’re not completely sure they’ll love, its popularity often works in your favour – people are naturally drawn to what’s going viral and want to be part of the trend, which makes them more likely to try and enjoy it.
