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Many of us have turned Christmas gift shopping into a nightmare rather than a series of pleasurable visits to local malls and shopping places. Gone are the days of visiting stores for pretty-packaged soaps and bath salts, the newest bestsellers, or the next year’s calendar or diary.
So, how do you shop for those who seem to already have everything they need? Here are some of the best Christmas gifts, after squandering far too much money on Christmas gifts that were not appreciated in the past.
1. Donate money.
Giving everyone $50 in a lovely Christmas letter may appear irritating, but it solves a few problems. The recipient can spend the money on whatever they like, and you’ve relieved them of the burden of gift-giving. Everyone is victorious. We employed this method in our house when our children were teenagers.
2. Each person receives only one gift.
Everyone in the family creates a five-option list (within a budget) and places it in a bowl. Following that, each family member selects a list from which to purchase one thing. For Christmas, everyone gets something they want, and the cost is kept to a minimum.
3. Give a gift voucher.
Consider buying a gift voucher for someone you know who likes a specific store. They can purchase everything they want.
Unless you know their tastes extremely well, don’t be tempted to produce any other type of handcrafted gift that they’ll feel obligated to retain since you spent so much time on it.
4. Assemble a gift basket.
Fill a low-cost basket with a dozen or so tiny trinkets, wrap it in cellophane and tie it with a ribbon. The best selections are bathroom products (first look in the person’s bathroom for favourite brands) and food items (first look in their cupboards and fridge!).
5. Carefully select your clothing and accessories.
It isn’t easy to buy clothes for someone unless you have a good understanding of their preferences. Bathrobes and fine underwear are exceptions, but keep the receipt so they can exchange the gift if they like.
6. Purchase a membership or subscribe to a service.
No, unless you know the person sincerely desires it, we’re not talking about a gym membership or anything else that requires active engagement. Depending on their tastes, you can join clubs such as wine of the month, coffee of the month, the flower of the month, and so on. You can also get them a subscription to a magazine or newspaper.
You can purchase a series of swimming lessons, martial arts classes, or other activities that children have requested or sponsor an event or field trip for them.
7. Get your tickets.
Purchasing tickets to an upcoming event for someone you know who is a fan of a particular singer or sports team can be a thoughtful gift. Also, don’t forget to finish what you started! Create a voucher on your computer that specifies your discount if the tickets aren’t yet on sale.
8. Give a travel gift voucher.
This is something you’d do with your spouse or romantic partner. Make preparations for a surprise weekend break, but double-check the dates. If it’s too early to choose dates, create a voucher on your computer and honour it.
9. Hand out a coupon for a free service.
Create a service voucher for a spouse or partner for an annual spring cleaning or monthly gardening service, a series of massages, romantic dinners, and so on for an ageing relative. This may be done for any task, and you can do it yourself or hire someone to help you.
10. Give them exactly what they’re looking for.
If you’ve checked with other friends or family members and are certain that someone has been desiring a specific item, buy secret santa gifts online if it’s within your budget. You don’t get the chance to make someone happy every day.
Rather than scouring the internet for a one-size-fits-all list of the top 10 Christmas gifts this year, take a step back and consider what your loved ones already have and desire. Then choose something that meets their wants and needs as well as your budgetary limits.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
