Shopping for a Christmas present isn’t always straightforward. If you’re picking out a present for a really close loved one, then it might feel that the stakes are a little bit higher. There’s an art to choosing a great gift, however. If you’re starved of inspiration, then why not take a look at some of the tips we’ll run through here?
Make it personal
There’s always a temptation to fall back on tried, trusted and safe gifts. Chocolate, flowers, perhaps a bottle of quality booze and a card might seem obvious choices. You can make any gift that little bit more special by adding a personal touch. Get a bespoke engraving made on a piece of glassware, or opt for a personalised Christmas card over an off-the-shelf one.
There are scores of companies on the internet which offer an engraving service. You can buy the gift and suggest a message, and get it done in a few minutes. Slightly more time-consuming might be to track down a company that will engrave a particular item. This option tends to work for items of particular sentimental value.
Be practical
While it might be tempting to go for something that’s going to generate a big reaction at the moment of the present being opened, there’s almost always greater value in a present that will be used for months and years to come. Find out about their interests, and see where there’s an opportunity for a long-lasting, practical gift.
Try an experience
On the other hand, you might go for something that’s going to be used just once, and remembered for a lifetime. Experience days, whether at your local spa, race track, or sports stadium, are proving increasingly popular gifts. You’ll never run the risk of the recipient already having one (since you can never really have too many free days at the spa), and you won’t have to worry about your gift sitting in the back of a cupboard for years to come.
Focus on presentation
It’s important to remember that your present is going to actually be presented. Think about how it’s going to look when it’s wrapped, and exactly how you’re going to do the wrapping. We all tend to value items more highly when they come gift-wrapped: there’s a prestige to it that’s difficult to deny.
Your wrapping paper should ideally convey a little of your personality. If you’re looking to limit the environmental impact of your gift, then you might look at recyclable wrapping paper or a gift bag. While it might seem like a small thing, if you’re going to be wrapping dozens of presents, it’s the kind of tweak that might help to make your Christmas a little bit greener.