Gifting
101

If you’ve spent most of your budget and/or you’ve found a good solid gift idea – resist the temptation to give them ‘just a little something extra’. This is the first thing my Mum taught me about gifting (when I was growing up her gift cupboard was like Aladdin’s Cave – she is the original pro), she said that you should never add to an already good or generous gift. It cheapens it. That extra add-on gift says “This main gift wasn’t enough on its own”…”I got the main gift for a cheap price so I could afford something else”…Not good. I try to make Christmas stocking fillers my only exception to this rule.

Download a gift list app – right now.

How many times have you forgotten what you’ve bought someone for their last birthday, Christmas…? If the answer’s not a million times then you’re Derren Brown and you’re using your ‘memory palace’ to keep a track on everything you’ve given people before.

My gift list app is my right arm at Christmas – it tells me what I’ve bought everyone for the last 5 years, how much I spent, how much I’m spending now, what’s wrapped – it’s organisational heaven and your Great Aunt Maureen won’t get socks for the 2nd year running.

If you’re gifting clothes, always give a receipt (gift or normal). Ask for one at the till since they’re rarely offered these days, put it in a sealed envelope and put it on top of the item before you wrap it. That way the recipient only opens the receipt if they need/want to exchange or return what you’ve given them and they don’t have to face the awkward task of asking you.

If you really have no idea what they might like, buy them something you would like to receive – it’s so easy to get caught up in guessing what a recipient wants.

Chances are that if they’re a friend or family member of yours their taste won’t be a million miles from yours and at the very least they will appreciate that you got something you think has value even if it’s not quite their cup of tea.

If it’s a ‘big’ birthday (18/21/30/40… you get the jist) or an extra special occasion like a wedding, baby shower etc. then always shop well in advance and choose a personalised gift. The most simple gifts become sentimental and treasured when personalised with initials, photos, a map of a a memorable place – there are so many great personalisation options online or in specialist shops.