Know Your Gift Recipients

In order to give an appropriate, thoughtful, and considerate gift, you have to know your gift recipient(s). Be realistic about who they are, what they enjoy, and what they need, not what you think they need or should have. In spite of how unavailable things seem to be, we live in a world of astounding choices. It can be overwhelming, at times. To refine the infinite selection to relevant choices is simple.

Consider designating a journal for gift matters. An inexpensive one from the Dollar Tree store will be adequate. I like alphabetizing the pages and adding my friends to the list. Before I even start considering what to get them, I take notes of who they are and what their interests are. For example, Jessica is/likes:

A fashion designer
Athletic
Parties
Mochas
the color purple
Her family
Snowboarding
Martial arts
Smallville

Of course, this list can be endless depending on how close you are the recipient. So the list should as much as possible be limited to relevant information. With that said, determining which facts are useful and which ones aren't can be hard to tell in the beginning. If your mind runs wild, embrace it. But after about ten things, review it to see if any gift ideas come to mind. I like doing this because it's a lot less overwhelming to tackle ten things than two pages worth. You don't want to develop a chronic habit of list making just for the hell of it. Keep in mind that there's a goal behind your actions. And remember this is supposed to be an inspiring experience, not add to your burden and confusion. Then I categorize two sections: gifts I'd like to give and then a second category that narrows down affordable choices. For example:

Jessica is/likes:

A fashion designer
Athletic
Parties
Mochas
the color purple
Her family
Snowboarding
Martial arts
Smallville

Gift Ideas:

Coffee maker
Membership to a ski resort
Gift certificate for a family portrait
A selection of luxurious fabrics in purple
Tickets to a fashion show
Box DVD set of Smallville

Based on the list I made above, I narrow down which choices are affordable. There's no point in having a generous list if everything on it is out of your price range. Try to have more than one choice available at the end because there's always a possibility that someone else buys the same thing or the item is out of stock. Hopefully, you can cross check with other friends to make sure no duplicates exist.

I also like creating a general guideline of what gifts to follow depending on your association to the recipient: new friend, coworker, neighbor, professor, etc. I'll dedicate another entry for those in the future.

Introductory Guide to Great Gift Giving

Gift giving can be a complicated and overwhelming task. But with a little guidance and abundant resources, it can be a fun experience. At the very least, you'll complete your shopping list without hesitation and concern. The effort may seem unnecessary and time-consuming, but a little brainstorming and consideration can go a long way. It's so helpful for me that I'm able to create a shopping list years in advance, although as I get older, sustaining that has become more difficult. It's still worth it, though.