3 Ways to Up Your Gifting Game
Who doesn’t love a good gift? Gifts have always been a fantastic way to uplift someone’s day or even their week. But, sometimes it can be kind of tough to find the right one, can’t it? We can ask ourselves countless questions when selecting something. Will they use this? Is this a color they like? Will they even like it at all?
If you’re going to pick out a gift for a family member, a friend, or that special someone, it’s important to get it right. The more thought that goes into the gift, the better! If you want to give better gifts, here are three ways to elevate your gifting game.
1. Give the Gift of Travel
We’re starting with the big guns here. You’d be hard-pressed to find a living soul who doesn’t love a good vacation. However, you may want to avoid something as spontaneous as buying plane tickets for that week. Give them some time to prepare for a memorable trip.
It doesn’t have to be plane tickets, though — those can be pricey, after all. There are a slew of ways you can gift a nice trip. Book an Airbnb well in advance or even a decent hotel. Or, reach out to friends and family they may have in the area to help set something up. The point is to make it as stress-free as possible, where all they need to do is pack their things.
Now that you’ve lifted the stress of trip planning off their shoulders, take it a step further and make the experience as smooth as possible! If they’re flying, you could buy them a jet lag supplement so they don’t need to spend valuable vacation time recovering. If they’re driving, why not pack them some snacks or get them a coffee gift card?
You can even do a little planning for them. Don’t dictate their every action and meal; rather, build a list of options. Search for things they may want to do, foods they may want to try, and spots they could visit. Travel is a huge gift to give someone–why not pull out all the stops?
2. Score Some Event Tickets
Maybe they aren’t the traveling type or perhaps can’t work in a vacation for some time. Lucky for you, the wonderful world of live events offers incredible experiences that take up a fraction of a day. There’s a whole network of sites where you can search for and purchase tickets. Now the question is, what would they want to attend?
Do they listen to music? Check and see if an artist they like is performing in the area. Maybe that’s not an option — if not, what genres do they like? You can always get them tickets to a smaller live show and expose them to a new artist they may love.
Maybe they’re a sports fan. See if their favorite team is in town. Or second favorite. Really, all you need to do is make sure the game isn’t between two teams that they don’t care for. As long as there’s someone they’d want to root for, a sports fan’s always up for a good game.
If they aren’t big into music or sports, check and see what other kinds of events and festivals are going on near you. Give them the gift of laughter at a comedy show. Satisfy the Shakespeare in them and buy them seats for a play. Satiate that foodie and send them to a food festival. There’s an event for just about every kind of person out there.
3. Be a Good Listener
There’s a way to become a better gift-giver that just isn’t discussed enough — learning to listen. Maybe a vacation is a bit too pricey, or event tickets a bit too bombastic. You can always figure out something more thoughtful and understated to give them. All you have to do is listen.
It’s like a game of detective. Tune those ears to pick up on the little things they mention in conversation. It could be literally anything. Maybe there’s a book they want to read or a plushie they thought was cute. Oh, they mentioned their toaster stopped working? For the person who values practicality over frivolity, that might be just what they’d like to receive.
The most mundane of small talk can have the hints you’re looking for to find that perfect gift. Something they say about the weather might prod you to get them some season-appropriate clothing. A remark about a country or landmark they love might tell you to get them a postcard or a simple knick-knack. With these little gifts, it really is the thought that counts. Especially when they realize you got it because you listened.
Additionally, make use of the notes app on your phone. Keep a little list of the things they mention that might make good gifts. Is something popping up more than once? That may be just the thing that’ll make their week.
Don’t stress yourself too hard — it’s tough to give really good gifts. But you can certainly try your best for that friend, family member, or special someone. Send them off on that nice vacation, or gift them those event tickets. Often, the best gifts are the ones you listened for and thought about. Follow these tips and you’re sure to up your gifting game.
