To be fair, I think gift cards are an excellent choice when somebody has need. We have an elderly relative with tight finances and we routinely send her gift cards. And I personally think it’s okay to send teenagers money. I have a brother who is in college and a niece in high school. I accept that I am too uncool to pick good presents for them, but I figure their cash flow is pretty tight.
But other than that, I want to avoid gift cards in general. But coming up with great presents is trickier than it seems. I really hate the idea of giving people crap they don’t really want. I really hate clutter and waste and I don’t want to add to piles of unused, unloved stuff in anybody’s house. So what’s a girl to do?
I’ve starting writing down gift ideas whenever something captures my attention. If somebody mentions an old movie they love but do not own, it goes on the list even if it’s February. I think it will help, but only time will tell. I'm not crafty (to be clear, I'm...not...crafty...at...all) so handmade is pretty much out unless it's baked goods, which I can handle. We’ve also been trying to buy experiences and not stuff. This summer my sister and I are taking my mom to the beach for a week to celebrate her 60th birthday. I think trips and tickets and that sort of thing are ideal for people who don’t really “need” anything, but I live far from my family and sometime the coordination is challenging.
So I was curious, what is the best gift you got for Christmas? What made it so good?
I personally love it when people buy me things I secretly want, but I’m too cheap to buy for myself... like fancy lotion or good chocolate. And this Christmas, I got the best present ever. My boss tends to give gifts, rather than bonuses and this year I unexpectedly received a Kindle Fire from him. I had been coveting one, but I have a hard time dropping $200 on something for myself that is more of a want than a need. If he had just given me the money, I would have put in the college funds, but since he gave me the Kindle, I get to love it guilt free – and I do LOVE it.
Obviously I can’t drop hundreds of dollars on everybody on my list, but I’d love to hear any other ideas about what makes a gift special and memorable. I’m trying my best to master the art of gift giving, but I could use a little help.
Hope you are all having a great Friday!
PS - I'd also like to thank Mommy to Mommy for this award!
7 comments:
Two of the best presents I ever got were my iPod and Bat Out Of Hell 3 by Meatloaf CD. I love music, and I loved that album, and had been begging for it since I heard about it. They lied all the way until I opened it up saying they hadn't gotten it me. The iPod was great because like I said, I love music, and an iPod really saves on batteries and they're neat little things. That is until the charging wire breaks, but I can live with that. I sleep to music so I would go through a LOT of batteries.
Interesting post... made me think of the best presents I got throughout my life... We do not celebrate Christmas in the family but my friends do and I used to make it a point to keep note to their comments throughout the year... if they mentioned a scarf, book or pottery they liked, I kept note of it and returned to buy it later when I wasn't with them. Another gift I usually buy is something I know they would use, like candles and/or their holders, incense, lotions,soap or masks.
I have a special lotion that I like I'm cheap and never buy it something like that is nice....I also love scarves...right now so much is on sale I think it's nice to stock up early. I personally like gift cards...my parents don't need anything I like to get them restaurant gift cards who doesn't love a night out for free.
I wish I had something to offer, but I am the WORST at gift giving. The gift card stand by is my go-to every time
Wow … what a great Christmas gift from your boss. I think you are on the right track: listening closely is the key to getting good presents. My husband is fantastic at listening to me and then remembering what I mentioned I liked. I, on the other hand, tend to forget. So I better start carrying a notebook and writing things down so I have a list to work from.
Hmmm...probably my Kindle I got for Christmas, and my new sewing machine. However I am intimidated by this machine, so it's still in the box!
I think experience gifts are the best. Tickets to the ballet, dinner out, mountain passes for skiers and boarders or movie passes for those types, etc. I'm definitely not one to shop in the mall and give a 'thing' unless it's for my kids or other child. And I personally love receiving gift cards. The worst is being harassed by family for my list, haha ... I'm not six years old anymore!
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