We’ve all been there: You open a well-intentioned gift from someone you know and love, and all you can think is, “What in the world were they thinking?”
Unfortunately, those moments tend to linger longer than memories of “just what I always wanted!”
So if you’d rather be remembered as thoughtful as opposed to thoughtless, here are some tips on how to be a great gift-giver.
Give it some practical thought - consider the recipient
• Does he or she live in a small space or with children or pets? If yes, that may rule out large or especially fragile items.
• Will the person have to travel with your gift? Consider the recipient’s mode of transportation. Traveling with large items on a plane or in a car can be difficult.
• Does your person have any special dietary needs? Consider food allergies, addiction history and whether the person is trying to lose weight.
Consider one of these alternatives to a store-bought gift
• Give an experience. Realistically speaking, who needs more stuff? Unless you’re just starting out, few of us do. That’s why giving an experience can be such an awesome gift.
Consider a lesson in golf, tennis, pastry design or sushi-making. Spring for tuition for a painting, wine or beer making, gardening, woodworking or fitness course.
Or give a gift that’s an outing: a wine tour, concert, hot-air balloon ride or visit to the museum, zoo or amusement park. Your recipient will be left with memories that last much longer than any back-scratcher or vase of flowers.
• Give a subscription. Forget jelly of the month club. These days, you can buy a subscription for just about anything — Starbucks, cosmetics, bacon, toys, wine, magazines. These are great for people who seemingly have everything. Many subscription companies stock their deliveries with unique products.
• Short on cash? Homemade gifts always are appreciated. And so is your time. New parents love free baby-sitting, neighbors appreciate free landscaping, and sometimes just taking someone out for coffee and conversation is a perfect gift.
• Get gift-certificate creative. Gift cards to Target or Amazon rarely induce groans, but consider a gift card that’s a little more out of the ordinary. Why not buy credit for a photo developing or photo gift website, a salon or massage parlor, or a gourmet food delivery service?
Keep these things in mind when deciding what to get
• Always include a gift receipt. It can’t hurt, and recipients may appreciate the chance to swap or return an item.
• If there’s a gift registry, stick to it or give cash. No exceptions.
• If you’re buying clothes or shoes for children, always buy a size larger than you think is appropriate. Kids get bigger, not smaller.
• When buying children’s toys, ask mom or dad for suggestions. Kids typically are specific about what they like, and duplicates are a drag.
• Shop locally. Restaurants, boutiques, theaters, coffee shops and bookstores often carry cool knickknacks and trinkets, and you’ll be supporting your community.
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