Gifts are given for all different occasions, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, new babies, Christmas Valentine’s Day, Sweetest Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, housewarmings, even just because. The list goes on, and on, and on. It can feel like we are perpetually in a cycle of having just gotten through one gift giving occasion to have another sneak up on us a couple weeks later.
If you are anything like me, the occasion comes up, and you are scrambling last minute to find the right gift, only to end up spending too much money on a gift you hope they’ll like but aren’t sure, and the magic of gift giving is – poof – gone. Luckily, finding the perfect gift is totally achievable with the right guidance and tools!
Why Gift in the First Place?
In order to understand how to choose the perfect gift, we first need to understand why we give each other gifts in the first place.
Legend has it (see what I did there?) that gift giving that can be traced back all the way to cavemen times. And though the gifts of today are very different from the gifts cavemen exchanged, the sentiment is often the same. We use gifts to show our love and affection, to show our appreciation for something we have received or hope to receive in return, or just to show someone that we care and are thinking about them.
Gifts are a way for us to express our feelings, send a message, and establish or foster connections. When done right, the right gift appropriately expresses the feeling we want it to. A thoughtful gift has the power to make someone feel special, appreciated, and seen.
Not only does the right gift make the person receiving the gift feel good, but it makes the gift giver feel good as well! The person receiving your gift plays the role of validating your connection, your perception of your relationship. When you give a good gift, the person thankful and appreciative, you feel validated, knowing you’ve succeeded in getting a good gift.
But – that also means that when our gift falls flat, we can be sending the wrong messages. We’ve all gotten at least one in our lifetime, where you smile politely and thank them, but in your head, you’re thinking, “Do they even know me at all?!” The wrong gift can completely undermine the sentiment you are trying to portray.
This is what makes gift giving so stressful! We use gifting to foster that connection, so when our gift fails to hit the mark, it can feel devastating. The natural aversion we have toward this negative feeling puts added pressure on us to get it right, often resulting in overthinking, stressing out, and taking all the joy away from gift giving.
What Makes a Gift the Right Gift?
Gifts should be thoughtful, unique to the person, reflective of your relationship and the occasion the gift is for. Gift giving is an art, not a science. It will likely look different for each person in your life, but there are a few tested and true starting questions you can ask yourself to help get your creative juices flowing. These questions focus in on the information needed to get the right gift for that person.
What’s the occasion?
Seriously think about what the occasion is that you are getting a gift for. Some occasions establish a natural guide for the kind of gifts that may be a good fit. For example, a housewarming gift should probably have a little something to do with their house. Then there are other times where the occasion doesn’t matter as much, like a birthday or Christmas. Determine what is the occasion and if there are any natural themes to narrow in on the right gift.
What makes them unique?
A gift that aligns with a person’s likes, dislikes, hobbies and interests can show that person that you know them, pay attention to them, and support them in whatever it is that makes them happy. Think about that person’s hobbies, interests, the topics they are constantly talking about, and get a gift that aligns to them. Even basic likes and dislikes, like their favorite color, food, TV series, can be a great starting point when all else fails. I mean, who doesn’t love a goodie bag that has all your favorite treats?
What is your budget?
Yes – You have to consider your budget when you are thinking about the right gift to get someone. Gifts do not have to come at the expense of breaking the bank. Think of what your budget is for that occasion and stick to it. If something is outside of your budget, it isn’t the right gift. Period. Focus on finding the right gift within your budget.
If you can focus on these few questions, you can find the right gift for just about any occasion that leaves you and the recipient feeling more connected. I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that it is easy, but it is possible.
How Gifting Legend Will Help You Find the Perfect Gift
Maybe you don’t know what to gift to get someone, but you know it when you see it. Or maybe you struggle staying organized or planning your time and your finances accordingly for gifts. Or maybe you know the person super well and have a very close relationship, but when it comes time to get them a gift, your mind goes blank.
Regardless of the situation, we are here to tell you that you likely already have the information at your disposal to help find the perfect gift for your loved one, but maybe you need a little help – a Legend – to make sense of it all.
A Legend on a map is the explanatory list of the symbols. It is the thing that takes all the information and tools in front of you and allows you to actually know what you’re looking at. That’s what we aspire this blog to be for you.
Here at Gifting Legend, we will provide practical tools, pro-tips, idea lists, budget guides, all things gifting to help elevate your gifting abilities, and reduce some of the stress that can come along with it. By following our tips and tricks, browsing our idea guides, or using our tools to help you stay on schedule and on budget, you too can become a Gifting Legend!