There are people in my life who are the most amazing gift givers – always thoughtful, always unique, always on point. I’ve learned some lessons from these friends and family members on how to be a truly excellent gift giver, and I’m sharing those lessons with you today. These gift-giving ideas apply to any occasion — from holidays to birthdays and every little celebration in between. Here’s to sharing meaningful gifts with the people we love.
5 ways to be a good gift giver
1. Listen all year long – or start now!
People tell you what they love, and giving thoughtful gifts starts with listening in those moments. With every person in my life, I listened to what they had to say and listened to what interested them. I’m always on the lookout for gift ideas all year round, so I don’t rush when the holidays (or birthdays) come around.
Have they started a new hobby? Ask how things are going and draw inspiration from there. Are they making a big transition into retirement or moving across the country? Hear for ways to help, celebrate or honor an important event. The best gifts are the ones that show someone that you notice the little things they love or strive for.
2. Collect gift ideas in one place.
Don’t rely on yourself to remember the ideas you pick up while listening. Figure out a way to collect and organize information. I mainly use the iPhone Notes app. Joe and I have a joint note that lists the birthdays of the people in our lives. Under each name, I’ll write down initial gift ideas and things I know she enjoys. I also save some ideas verbally in the Voice Memos app, which is an easy way to get ideas out of my head in the moment so I can come back to them later.
3. Ask for the menu.
If you’re stuck, don’t be afraid to ask the person for a short list of exactly what they want. Some people are shy about being direct in this way or think it takes away the magic of gifting. I think it’s a perfectly reasonable way to make sure you’re giving a gift that will be used and enjoyed. When I order a list, I find the gifting experience just as enjoyable as when I think of gift ideas myself. This brings me to my next point…
4. The gift does not have to be a surprise.
Don’t worry about coming up with the “perfect” gift idea. You don’t have to surprise them with something unexpected either! Choosing a gift from their wish list is a great way to make them happy and give them something they really want. I bought Joe a specific pair of shoes he asked for for his birthday, and he reacted like I was in complete surprise. He was so excited!! It reminded me that real surprises are sometimes overrated.
5. Don’t overcompensate.
Beware of the temptation to overcompensate, especially when you’re not sure what the giftee wants. When it comes to giving gifts, we often end up spending too much, which makes everyone uncomfortable. I’m thinking of the episode “The Office” where Michael gave away a video iPod at a group exchange when the spending limit was $20.
Often times, sentimental gifts mean just as much (if not more) than expensive items. For Joe’s birthday this year, I recorded a video about why I love him and the kids love him too. It was a unique way to capture this moment in time and it cost nothing. If overcompensation is your pattern, we hope the ideas in this post will help you avoid it!
For more gift-giving inspiration, I’ll be sharing my holiday gift guide on Wit & Delight this month! Until then, browse through last year’s gift guide to get your gift ideas started.
Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and will continue to do so forever Testing the limits of her creative muscles. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
