MFMWhile you might be busy at work and raising a family, among other things, it’s essential to try and find some time to shop for Christmas gifts before it gets too late and the shelves are bare and your stress levels are high.
However, finding the best gifts for everyone on your Christmas list isn’t as easy as we’d often hope. To get you started, here are some helpful questions to ask to come up with top ideas for presents this festive period.
What Do They Do in Their Spare Time?
Start by asking yourself what you’ve seen the person you’re buying for do in their spare time. Do they have certain hobbies they fit in around their job or interests you hear them talk about a lot? What kinds of books do they read or TV shows or films do they read? Have you noticed their attention becomes laser focused when they see something about a particular topic crop up? Also, what do they do when they’re trying to relax after a hard day at work or a stressful week with their kids?
Understanding what people enjoy spending time on will help you determine presents to match. For example, if you need to buy men’s gifts for your father and you know he’s obsessed with golf and loves reading or watching true-crime stories, you might buy him a funny golf-related tee or apron or present him with the latest popular true-crime book.
Do They Want to Learn Something New?
You might also ask yourself if you’ve heard a gift recipient talking about something they want to learn. For instance, someone in your life might be interested in going back to school to study novel writing or attending a cooking class to hone their skills in the kitchen, or learning a particular cuisine style. Someone may have mentioned learning to surf or trying stand-up paddle boarding, or they might have expressed disappointment in their gardening abilities and wish to learn some tips from an expert.
Regardless of the topic or style of learning you’ve heard someone talk about, you may be able to help them pursue a passion or explore a new way of doing things by gifting them a voucher for a class or workshop, or some other learning opportunity. Books can come in handy in these situations, as can yearly subscriptions, such as for Masterclass or the like.
Are They Likely to Appreciate Physical Items or Experiences More?
A related question is whether your loved ones will likely appreciate physical items or experiences more. Some people have enough “stuff” and like to receive gift vouchers or tickets to events or places, while others are more likely to enjoy being given something tangible. Many people are also happy with either option.
Consider the person you plan to buy for and what stage of life they may be in when answering this question, too. For example, young people who have recently left home or plan to soon are often keen to receive items to help them have what they need to live on their own, while young couples may be looking to set up a new home and appreciate items for that purpose.
On the other hand, older people who are retired or getting close to that age may already have all the things they could need and appreciate access to experiences a lot more. Furthermore, think about whether there’s some kind of ticket you can buy a family member or friend, etc., that you could join them for. Many people love to receive a gift which means they get to spend more time with you, especially parents, siblings, partners, or close friends.
Is There Something They’ve Mentioned They’d Like?
Try to remember if you’ve heard the person you want to shop for mentioning some item they’d like to buy at some point when they have some spare cash or time to shop. Do you recall if they’ve seen something they’ve paused over in a shop window or when you’ve been perusing stores together? What about catalogs – anything they’ve circled in these documents, sighed over, or otherwise indicated they like? Paying attention to these signs can be a great way to come up with ideas of things you know people would like to receive.
Other questions worth asking yourself are:
- What kind of style do they have?
- How do they decorate their home, and what do they have on display?
- What’s their favorite indulgence?
- Is there a charity they typically support?
- Are there any allergies, phobias, or other dislikes or issues to consider when purchasing gifts for them?
- Has anything major changed in their life lately?
The more questions you ask yourself, the better you can come up with appropriate gift ideas and the less stressed you should be about purchasing goods or experience-based presents for the people you love.