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10 Golden Rules of Gift Giving
The following tutorial will help you find the perfect gift for friends, family and even strangers. It’s as easy as following our 10 golden rules. |
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 Before you buy anything, keep in mind your friend or family member’s tastes. |
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Would you like your friends to scream and clap when they open their birthday gifts? Would you like them to beg you to tell them where you bought your mom that incredible gift? Just follow our tutorial on how to become the perfect gift-giver and have fun shopping. Follow the 10 golden rules and you’re sure to be a hit:
1. Set a Budget
The budget depends on how money you can afford to spend, how many people are pitching in to get the gift, the type of event being celebrated, and how important the gift-recipient is to you. When you set a budget it makes it easier to define the sort of gift you need to buy.
2. Consider the Event’s Importance
Particularly its importance to the person being honored. Some people go all out to celebrate a birthday; while others place more importance on Christmas... some even celebrate certain saint’s days. But there’s no need to wait for a special event to buy a gift; it’s always nice to get unexpected, spontaneous gifts.
3. Respect Your Friend’s Taste
Before you buy anything, keep in mind your friend or family member’s tastes. Take note of the sorts of things your friend tends to buy, their favorite colors, what their house looks like, their pastimes... If it’s someone you know well, buying a gift should not be too difficult. If you don’t know them very well, do some research, ask questions and find out as much as you can about them.
4. Take Notes All Year Round
If you often surf the Internet and you find a gift idea for a friend or family member, make sure you use the bookmarks on your browser to keep track of that page so you won’t forget it. Sites such as delicious.com that manage your favorite sites and allow you to organize your bookmarkers and check them out using any computer are also quite helpful. When that birthday rolls around, all you’ll have to do is consult your favorites: it’s like a letter to Santa, only the gift-giver writes it.
5. Look for Ideas: Brainstorming + Internet
Prepare a meeting with anyone else who’ll be pitching in for the gift so you can brainstorm gift ideas. Let each person make suggestions, and make sure you take notes. Then buy whatever you like. You can also get ideas from the Internet. There are specialized gift sites such as Curiosite, where you can find gifts for everyone (girlfriend, kids, ex, grandparents, mom...) and for any occasion (Christmas, Valentine’s, Father’s Day...).
6. Nothing Too Practical
Your gift shouldn’t be something practical: they’ve probably got that sorted. Socks, photo albums, tablecloths... Save yourself the trouble. Generally, most people take care of their own needs and when your birthday comes around you expect to get a treat, the sort of thing you’d never buy for yourself or simply can’t afford.
7. No Decorative Accessories
None. Even if you think you know your friend perfectly well, home decor is very personal. A picture, some cushions, a wall calendar, a clock... don’t risk it. If they don’t like it, they’ll have to hang it one the wall every time you visit, and will end up resenting you. It could ruin the friendship.
8. Ask Them What They’d Like
This is an extreme option you should only pursue if you’re desperate and aren’t very sure of yourself. Advantages: you’ll get something they like. Disadvantages: there’s no surprise factor and your friend will quickly forget who got them that great gift.
9. Make Creative Gifts
Gifts don’t always have to be something material. You can also design them yourself, buy theater tickets, organize a surprise party, a trip, or offer to be someone’s slave for a day. The best gifts are creative.
10. All-Purpose Gifts
These gifts may not be very original, but they’re sure to be a hit:
-For gals: boxes, plants, candles and soaps.
-For guys: gadgets, robots, and their favorite TV series on DVD.
-For moms: blankets, flowers and theater tickets.
-For dads: films, books and technology.
-For people who have it all: something totally useless. It’s something they’re not likely to have already.
-For people who never buy anything: essential basics such as towels or a mug.
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