It gets harder every year, doesn’t it? Finding fun gifts, we mean. No matter how wealthy you may be, it can be a real struggle to think of a gift that’s truly meaningful. Whether you’re buying for a friend, a partner, or member of your family, it’s easy to end up scratching your head and asking yourself: ‘so what can I buy them this year?’ After all, even if the person you’re buying for seems to have everything, you can’t really just skip a gift altogether. The problem gets especially difficult when you’ve left it late, and there’s only a few days left.
Well, we won’t pretend that we’ve got a magic bullet. But we do have some ideas that might help to guide your thinking. They’re just suggestions based on the recognition that the perfect present is often something the recipient would enjoy, but which they wouldn’t purchase on their own.
An experience
If someone already has enough stuff, try and think beyond material objects and buy them an experience instead. A prepaid experience or event gives your friend or family member an adventure they’ll remember, and may even help them gain new skills – which are more valuable than a new pair of shoes or sweater. Fun experiences can range from a hot-air balloon ride or cooking class, to whitewater rafting or wine tasting.
Gift cards or certificates
It’s tempting to think that these are a bit of a cop-out, but they’re not, really. After all, people who have it all probably know what they want – so a gift card for a favourite store, or activity, shows that you understand their preferences while acknowledging that they may want to make their own buying decision. Far from being a cop-out, gift cards can actually show a lot of love and thought.
Membership
This is like a gift that keeps on giving. Gifted memberships usually last for a year, and could be for anything from a local museum to Netflix. If you’re not sure where to start, try choosing a club or association that has meaning for the recipient, and then ask if gift memberships are available. The great thing about this kind of gift is that every time the recipient uses their membership, they’ll think of you.
Prepaid service
By anticipating someone’s needs and paying them, you’re showing that thinking beyond a physical item, and trying to make their life easier. You could, for example, pay for a few hours of housecleaning or a car valet service. If you really want to personalise things, you could provide the service yourself – sometimes, the best gifts aren’t items, but a readiness to give your time and attention.
Something personalised
Talking of the personal touch – a bit of personalisation can mean the difference between just another gift and something really meaningful. By buying something (for example) engraved or embroidered, or otherwise personalised to your recipient, you’re showing that you’ve put a little extra thought into things. And it doesn’t even need to be very big. In fact, that’s one of the charms of a personalised gift – even something small and inexpensive can mean the world to the recipient.
Daily luxury
There’s nothing like a gift that simply makes the giftee’s day a little easier or more comfortable. Think about the recipient and what small luxuries can make their days more enjoyable. This could be anything from a scarf for the perpetually chilly person, to a fragrance sample box for a luxury brand-loving friend. This kind of gift can mean more than the item itself – it shows that you’re paying attention and want the person concerned