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Giving someone you care about a great present for any important occasion can be a wonderful experience. Acts of kindness (like giving gifts), can make us feel wonderful, and they give us a glow that can really last quite a while. However, there’s some anxiety involved in choosing the best gift too, and many people can find picking presents a little daunting.
These days, there are tons of amazing reasons to consider giving someone a gift, from birthdays and anniversaries, to festive celebrations, or someone just passing their driving test. However, many of us still struggle to deliver the best gift every time. With that in mind, here are some scientific insights into the top tips for giving better gifts.
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Stop Obsessing Over Price
A gift doesn’t automatically get more impressive the more you choose to spend. Although you do have more options available to you if you have a pretty big budget, it’s always going to be the thought that counts more than anything else.
One scientific study actually found that spending more doesn’t mean that you’re definitely going to get the amazing response you deserve. In fact, the more you spend on something, the more likely you are to expect a higher level of appreciation. However, people generally judge presents by their thoughtfulness and the meaning attached to them, rather than concentrating too heavily on price.
When you’re looking for a great gift, spend more time choosing, and less money overall.
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Think About the Long-Term
It’s nice to give someone a gift that they can enjoy right now, but if you want to give someone something that they’re going to love forever, think about the long-term. For instance, you can’t see your friends and family members enjoying the movie or streaming subscription service membership that you bought for them, but you can hear about the fun they’ve had with it month after month.
Thinking long-term is crucial to making your gift stand the test of time, as you’re going to be able to buy something that your friend or loved one can enjoy time and time again. Forget things like flowers and chocolates!
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You Can Buy the Same Gift for Multiple People
Studies show that when we give gifts, we often assume that we need to get something unique for everyone we buy for. While that could be a good idea if your friends and family members have a lot of different tastes, there’s nothing to stop you from buying the same gift for multiple people if you know that they’re all going to enjoy it.
Remember, there’s a good chance that the people in your social circle will have celebrations at different times of the year, which means that they’re not going to go around comparing gifts with each other. Even if your friends and family members do talk about getting the same gift, they might be able to share how much they love it with each other.
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Look for Shared Interests
Do you ever go to buy a gift for someone and realise that you’re probably shopping for yourself rather than focusing on the needs of the other person? To shop better, it’s generally a good idea to choose a topic or idea that you both have in common. We’re all better at choosing presents that we would love ourselves, after all.
If you know that your closest friend loves reading, and you do too, then you’re going to have tons of ideas for what to get a fellow bookworm, because you have the same passion. You could even consider looking at an experiential gift that allows you and your friend or family member to share some meaningful time together.
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Ask What they Want
Not sure what to get that difficult person in your social circle? Ask them what they want. We have this sense in the gift-giving world that we have to be mind-readers and guess what the people in our lives are going to love. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to just come up with a new idea for someone, particularly if you don’t know them that well yet.
People can be creative, and it’s always great to surprise someone you care about, but don’t be afraid to simply ask them what they want instead. You might find that they’re even more appreciative if they’ve asked for the item that you decide to give them – plus, you know you’re not going to make a mistake.