When it comes to the holidays, there are two kinds of people: the ones who have had gifts picked out since Labor Day, and the ones who don’t even start thinking about December holidays until the pie comes out at Thanksgiving. I usually fall into the second group, frantically scrambling to come up with gifts as soon as the turkey leftovers are packed up.
Gift-giving this way can be stressful, and it is especially difficult to pick out a thoughtful gift on a time crunch. Here are some good ways to minimize stress and maximize recipient appreciation.
1. Think about what your recipient may need
Last year, I was in a brand-new relationship when Christmas rolled around. I doubted my ability to pick gifts that matched my boyfriend’s taste. So, instead of guessing what clothes or shoes he liked, I decided to give him a gift to show support for where he was in life.
He was about to move into his first solo apartment. I felt like furniture or cookware may have been a little too “mom” of me, so I went the décor route instead.
2. Think about what your recipient loves
I pondered what my boyfriend may like on the walls around his house. He had several movie posters from the theater he works at, and I couldn’t think of anything music-related to get him.
One thing I did know was that my boyfriend values his family more than most anything in the world. I decided to make him a Shutterfly collage with pictures of his family and the two of us. I got in touch with his mom to get some family pictures for the collage, which won me some points with her.
3. Try to make your recipient laugh
If the sentimental route isn’t giving you any ideas, comedy is always a good backup plan. I don’t mean buy them a gag gift out of the dollar aisle at Target; I mean think about what will embarrass them a little while also touching on their interests.
My sister loves Jack Harlow, so five years ago, I bought her a shelf-sized cardboard cutout of him. She was a touch embarrassed that my gift made her obsession apparent, but she loved it. It’s still in her room.
4. Draw on memories you have together
Calling back to one of your favorite moments with your recipient can make for an excellent gift. Things like a gift card to the restaurant where you and your significant other had your first date, merchandise from a musician you’ve seen in concert or a book that reminds you of an experience you’ve shared are all sure to put a smile on their face.
My sister is always looking for more records for her expensive vinyl collection. We just saw one of our favorite artists in concert, so a vinyl by that performer would make for a great gift. Every time she listens to it, she will think of how much fun we had.
5. Get them the thing they’ve been putting off getting for themselves.
If you’ve heard your gift recipient saying something like, “I need to get a new (blank)” and never get that thing, that should be their gift. We all have things that stay on our mental wish list for long periods of time. As college students and young adults, sometimes the paychecks just aren’t big enough to splurge on something like new cooking utensils, a cute necklace or a nice pair of sneakers.
For my boyfriend’s most recent birthday, I bought him a pair of Beats Studio Buds. He had a pair that he lost and kept saying, “I need to get new headphones.” He never did, so I bought them for him, and he was immensely grateful for how closely I listened to him.
Photo by Eugene Zhyvchik on Unsplash.