So you want to give gifts for Christmas: A guide
So, you’re trying to come up with the perfect gift. Here’s the guide for you as to what to get that one specific person in your life. Well, it’s less of a guide and maybe more of inspiration for your brainstorming on the thing that they’re going to treasure, take pleasure in, and use all the time.
Guidance
There’s no one size fits all for what to get. Lists of items is helpful in knowing what’s out there. There are a literal infinite supply of them on Buzzfeed since the world is still going and capitalism is still functioning. The latest tech, the coziest fad blanket and bread maker are great and all, and that may be the item for someone on your list, but none of those lists are really going to help you find a gift unless you know what you kind of gift you want to get someone anyway. You know them best, and you know the relationship you have with them. The annual book or movie might be perfect.
Spending lots of money (is not needed)
Before you try looking around with any of the other tips, figure out your budget. Gifts can be pricey when you put more thought into them. Once you settle on that one special thing that you’re getting personalized with their face on it, engraved, and shipped from Japan or Norway where it was handmade, ask yourself how important is it to put yourself in debt for this person. Would they approve? Avoid making them mad when they realize that you spent your next month’s rent on them and you’re eating saltines for the entirety of spring for them too and before you become so enamored with that one really special gift. It’s easier to say no before you get too deep into it.
Wants and needs
This also sort of is a pre-req, but getting them a gift that they don’t care about at the end of the day isn’t going to cut it. So, what do they want? If there is something that they really want but can’t get for themselves for whatever reason and you can get it for them, then that’s going to be a great gift. Also, if there is something that they need, that’s going to be great, but do they want it? With the need, it gets trickier, because socks make a bad gift unless they’re really special.
Uniquity
This is when things get real. You’re looking for something really special. Well, ask yourself first, what is it that they like? Easier said than done for some people. Some people have it all. Getting them something that stands out isn’t going to be right for some people either. That something special for some people is going to be the thing that blends right into their life and home or room.
Alas, you want something that is memorable and sharp, art is a good option. It also can come in all shapes and sizes. I recommend against the personalized finds on Facebook when you tell them the color and name and they give you a mug or bumper sticker, unless they really seem to like that.
Thankfully there are other options. Our interests and passions define us. For me that is movies, and posters and other movie art can be incredibly unique and perfect as a gift, just make sure to frame it if it is paper. It classes it up from the dorm room item thrown out at the end of the year to something that goes into a memorabilia room.
PSA: Have you looked outside your door recently? There is probably a starving artist looking for work right there on your corner. Please consider giving them work and business.
Local artists often have work they’ve already made you can buy or would be happy to do a commission. For commissions, do note that it will take time and good art is not to be rushed, but it is worth it, and worth the money.
Presentation
Much as I mentioned about framing posters, any and all gifts exist in presentation; much like food and much like yourself in a job interview, presentation matters. How you present gifts is part of the gift itself. There are a number of ways you can do it, and who it’s going to matters as well. It’s part of the experience.
Are you wrapping it? What’s the wrapping paper? Is it fancy shiny holiday paper? Is it an elegant fukusa? Is it more informal?
What about misdirection? Shape and size can be equally important. We all can use some intuition and guess the silhouette is going to be the silhouette, but what if it’s not? A wrapped bottle of wine is great, but what if the bottle has something else in it?
As an anecdote, I was wanting a Gameboy Color for Christmas. They were sold out everywhere. Christmas morning came. I open my gifts and get to the one shaped like the system’s box only I open the box up and find an IOU saying all they could get was the box. I was so disappointed. A bit later I open another gift. It was a box of shoes, only inside it was the Gameboy Color. You can imagine I was very happy, and I still remember it.
What all goes into the gift? This can get down to the idea again, but also is really presentation. Some great gifts require a bit more work or multiple parts. Cozy socks, a bottle of fancy cocoa powder and a journal and nice pen might be the perfect gift for someone, but how are you going to give it to them? It might be a gift bag item. But what about tying the pen to the journal with a ribbon? Maybe the cocoa can be wrapped in a fabric separately and the pen and journal can be wrapped in wrapping paper.
There’s also nothing wrong with living on a budget and getting things on the cheap. Used items make the world go round and are vital to sustainability. It can just take some creativity to make them special sometimes. They can also be great for multi-part gifts. “Good, bad, and ugly” or “old, new, borrowed, blue” could be examples, albeit examples also up to interpretation or hyper-aware of a situation.
DIY
Back on that point of uniquity, you can’t get much more unique than something that you make. Now, this does require some time, effort, and maybe creativity yourself, but it’s also an option. Can you draw or paint? Can you cook? Bake? Follow instructions enough to bake? Can you crochet, knit, or sew?
Handmade gifts aren’t just for kids. It’s also a great idea when you want to gift to a lot of people and don’t want to spend a lot on it. Just maybe avoid baking cookies unless that’s a rarity for some reason, or they are da’ bomb cookies. After all, you want them to stand out.
What do they value?
Do they value music? What about time? The best gift for parents might be a date night. More widely, consider what their values are, which I would imagine you know by now, and stop thinking about the materialistic. Gifts can take multiple forms. Permission, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, or just a nice dinner can be better than anything they keep over a period of time.
Conclusion
It’s old hat, but the thought really counts and there is a lot to think about and no one easy way to end on what to get them. I hope this helps.
