Hello all!
Welcome to the beautiful sunny
summery August! Ok, so August hasn't started out too good weather wise but let’s
stay hopeful! Us Brits rarely get to bask in the sun’s glorious presence, but
what we lack in sunshine we more than make up for in optimism………. Ok so summer
might be over.
Moving swiftly on now and today I’ve been struggling with a bit of
writer’s block. I know I’m no J.K Rowling writing for the masses but I like to
give you guys something interesting to read, not just the same old crap. So, in
the spirit of this I have decided to put together something that might help
those of you who are struggling to find inspiration for gift ideas. Whether it
be for a friend or a family member, this is a list of my top 10 gift giving
tips that could help you get a little closer to that light bulb moment.
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| credit: HuffPost |
1. Money isn’t everything
Some of the best gifts come from the smallest of budgets. It’s the
thought that counts, besides it’s not the done thing to tell someone how much
their gift was so if you manage to get the gift at a lower price, who’s to
know?
2. Who are you buying for?
If you have the time available, do your research! Generic gifts are
ten a penny but what does your person really like? Wat are their hobbies? There
are so many places that can add the personal touch to your gift (like the
website Not on the High Street) so why not research and find out if
there is a personalised alternative? Yes, it may take longer to get but it’ll
be worth it to give a gift that has that personal touch to it. Do you have a
running personal joke between you? Keeping it unique and personal guarantees a
great present every time.
3. Get creative!
From the wrapping paper to the gift itself, consider DIY’ing for a
cheaper and more personal alternative. The DIY trend is sweeping the internet
right now with apps like Pinterest offering you a world of DIY discovery
and ideas so why not give it a go for the ultimate personalised gift. Ok, so
you may not be a dab hand at making things, but be brave, give it a go and you
never know, you may just surprise yourself and make the best version of that
gift ever made and it shows you put the time and effort into making something
just for them. If you do however end up making cocking it up then hey, you’ve
invented something new! You’re an inventor, it’s a brave new world for you. One
small step for you, one giant leap for your gift giving possibilities!
4. A big occasion? Think
unique.
We’ve all been there, getting asked to a birthday party with dozens
of guests, only to find out to everyone’s horror that you’ve all bought the
same thing! It doesn’t have to be this way, thinking unique can get you out of
this present nightmare. This kind of links with the second tip, but do something
different. Don’t be afraid to think outside the realms of possibility. If you
know they like one thing but there’s something similar they haven’t tried yet
and you think they might like it, go for it! You never know it may be just what
they were thinking of trying next. Offering something new to a friend and
saying ‘have you tried this yet? As you already like X, I thought you might
like this as well’ says that you’ve really thought about your gift and not just
that, but that you’ve thought about them too and that’ll get you extra brownie
points!
5. A little goes a long way.
Don’t get your knickers in a twist about how many presents to buy
or how big they are (unless you’re buying for Dudley Dursley in which case you’ve
got to have a word with yourself) Contrary to what most say, size isn’t everything
(c’mon guys, out of the gutter!) and something which may seem small and
insignificant could get the biggest and best reaction. Keeping it personal and sentimental
is key here, you want to make them smile after all! So many people say that
socks are a rubbish gift, but if you see a silly pair of socks with their
favourite animated character all over them, get the socks! They may end up
wearing them every day and never taking them off ever! In which case, you’ve done
your gift giving job well.
6. Look out for offers
This links a little with my first tip, but keep your eyes peeled
for deals! Whether it’s a spa weekend on wowcher or a special limited
offer on a website, it’s still a gift they’ll love, just at a more convenient
price for you! Sites like Wowcher and Groupon will also have
loads of bundle offers and extra perks thrown in, giving the gift more of the
wow factor so don’t be afraid to shop around for that perfect gift.
7. Forward thinking.
Now this can be used for many aspects of the gift buying process
such as budgeting and time keeping, but it can also be handy to think about
what the future holds for this person and your relationship with them. Are you
planning to go on holiday with them in a few weeks? Are they hoping to make
that big career move? Think about the long term as well as the short term. Try
to get one step ahead of them and get them something they may not have even
known they needed or even something they never knew existed! (trust me, I’ve
done this so many times. The amount of times someone has said “where did you
even get this?!”) This really affirms your relationship with that person and it
implies that you support that person in their future endeavours.
8. Don’t panic buy!
Give yourself time to really think about your gift and allow for
some last-minute changes. Trust me, your gift plans can change so suddenly;
they could change their mind on something or you may even change your mind
after seeing another gift idea that’s a million times better than the one you
just bought. Either way, give yourself time to allow for this. Regret is tough
and present regret is even worse, especially if someone else gets that person
the better gift you were thinking of! You’ll kick yourself and even worse still
you’ll secretly hold a deep-rooted hatred for that person for beating you to
the better gift.
9. Share the gift giving.
If there is a group of you then sharing the gift searching and
buying could be the best thing for you, especially if you’re all struggling for
ideas and money. They say a problem shared is a problem halved and the more of
you there are, the more scope you have for your present. If you all chip in,
then that big show-stopping present is more within reach. Set up a group chat
on Facebook or WhatsApp so you can all share links of ideas and keep each other
in the loop.
10. Write yourself a list!
Lists are everything. Lists are life. Whether it’s on paper or on
your phone, having a list or a brainstorm of ideas can really help you clarify
your search and allow you to focus on what’s more important. It can also be a
life saver if you have lots of gifts to buy for many different people as you
can tick them off as you go so you know what you still need to get and where to
get it from. From a person who’s constantly forgetting things and trying to do
a million things at once, letting it all go onto a piece of paper gives me some
clarity.
So, there you have it! My top 10 gift giving tips. With August already
upon us, it won’t be too long before we see the first signs of Christmas in our
shops. So, if you’re that person who admittedly leaves it until the last minute,
it may be worth drafting a Christmas gift ideas lift no before the pandemonium
really begins! That’s all from me today, I will see you again on Monday, have a
lovely weekend.
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