5 Secrets To Giving The Perfect Gift

The Five Secrets to Giving Perfect Gifts.

Paying Attention.

(And please, don’t say you’re too poor to pay attention. That’s an old one. 😂) 

When we’re with our people, most of our visiting time is actual visiting. It’s spoken words, tasks shared, and often the visit is too quick.

But you can be more adept at noticing things if you want to. Someone wearing the same old raincoat, or using a shabby tablecloth, or looking for a flashlight they can’t find.

True thing: A gift that meets a need is a delight.  

I’m told social media often has wonderful hints about a person’s likes. Is that true? (Hel-lo, Pinterest!)

Wandering through a store together is so much fun, and you’re bound to get some strong hints. 

So, if you’re shopping or having lunch together, make a mental note if they just seem to love something so much.  Maybe that’s an idea for a gift!  Paying attention will really help us.

Remembering Things.

This is really a part of the first secret. All those things that just happened in “paying attention” can be easily forgotten when we have so much going on. Make a note, send a reminder to yourself, or take a secret picture of an item to jog your memory. 

And one more thing: make that a long-term habit. Which means when you see that perfect gift in August, you’ll get it and put it away for December (which will be here before you know it).

We tend to let “busy” or “stress” be our excuse for not remembering, but if we make it a priority, we can do it.

Universal Gifts.

There are some common gifts that can be your lifesaver. Here’s a quick rundown: Flashlight. Change-head magnetic screwdriver. Furry blanket. Coffee mug. Cell phone charger. Tickets to an event. Book. Subscription.

That’s a start. Sometimes you can get ideas for this just by thinking of what you reach for often. Maybe a product or device that makes your life easier.

And I didn’t forget gift cards, just left them till last, ’cause those are dynamite gifts. It’s a meal out, a new dress, an online order, or whatever the dream is. You’d be pretty universal on this one.

In some cases, even giving money (yes, green, crisp money) is a complete delight. Some find this offensive. Not sure who those “some” are.  Usually not young people. (And usually not me if you were wondering — even wrinkled money is just fine.)

But it’s true: actual money isn’t always received well. And we wouldn’t want to make things awkward if we’re not sure. 

So you’ll use your judgement. After all, “universal” may be a word that over promises.

Just keep these univeral items in mind, especially if you’re assembling a basket of gifts.

Gift baskets are the best.

You know why? Multiple items can mean multiple chances to nail it.

But of course you don’t just hand the gift to them, right?

Because what’s important? The…

Presentation.  

A creative presentation can be soooo pleasing.  Kraft paper with your personal design or embellishments, a “bow” that’s really something useful, pretty layered paper, a container that has a function beyond being a gift package (like a lunch cooler, a flower pot, or a cute box or basket). You can even use one of those “reusable” shopping bags with a pretty design. Heavy canvas bags are so functional, even with no picture on them. A creative container is that extra touch that shows you took some time to make it special. Presentation is a big part of the moment you give your gift. Use it to show someone you gave it a lot of thought.

The Tag.

It’s a small thing, but can contain important sentiment. 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m guilty of those affordable and efficient “to/from” tags that come 100 to a pack. They work just fine.

But this is true:  if you use some kind of card with room to write a note, your recipient will be touched. It’s an opportunity we miss so frequently. Saying “I love you” or “Best co-worker ever” or “Thanks for always being there for me.” Takes ten seconds more to write, but gives ten times the affection.

Crazy, right?  You thought it was just a tag.