I don’t know about you, but I’m one of those people who likes to put some degree of thought into buying Christmas presents. Not because of what some may consider shallow or consumerist, but because I’d hope that the gifts trigger some sort of eye-widening, smile-inducing reaction and aren’t just hastily stashed in the back of a storage closet ready to be rewrapped for their next victims. And, I’m not going to lie, when the roles are reversed, I actually like unwrapping the odd gift and letting loose a little whoop of joy.
If you’re after some advice on picking out the perfect gift, look no further. Here are some tips on what to look for – and what to steer well clear of – this Christmas.
Don’t:
Fall into the perennial trap of bath sets. Sure, they’re arranged in pretty pink boxes and embellished with ribbons and tassels and goodness knows what else, but what value do they hold, really? I can safely say that I have received at least one every Christmas as far back as I can remember and am all bath-bombed out. Never mind the fact that, with a mother as adept as mine at grocery shopping, my bathroom is pretty much stocked up on toiletries year-round. Besides, nothing says “I’d rather spend $20 on this pre-wrapped gift rather than actually think about you” more.
Resort to cheap chocolate or fruitcake. In the flurry of the present-hunting process, there never fails to be a family member or friend who turns up on your doorstep every year bearing gifts, but whom you almost always forget about. Do yourself a favour and refrain from taking the cheap chocolate and/or fruitcake footpath. Nobody, not even those who fail to make the cut on your Christmas list, is deserving of such. As a matter of fact, anybody with fully functioning taste buds will discard said chocolate and/or fruitcake with other unwanted Christmas leftovers, thus rendering your inclination to revert to them futile.
Buy knock-off perfume in the hope that it passes as a semi-impressive offering. Even in all of their jewel-studded, tissue-wrapped glory, cheap perfume is never the way to go. Nine times out of ten they look tacky – even to the untrained eye – and they smell a little like desperation.
Go for the impulsive buy and bestow upon your mates things they’ll laugh at once but never look at again. Practicality is key. Soon, those nose hair clippers or that electric ice shaver you bought for them last Christmas will be hoarded with the mountain of other things they no longer have use for.
Do:
Keep in mind what people actually need as opposed to what you think they want. Something you see on the shelf may make you jump up and down in excitement, but elicit a less than satisfactory response from the receiver. It pays to be a little objective every now and then.
Make sure you know what age group you are buying for. Most demographics will be infatuated with some phenomenon or another, whether it be a new breed of battery-operated talking dog or the latest game console on the market. However, this seems to be a bit of a grey area, especially in cases where you haven’t been in contact with family for some time. When I was fourteen, I had some family friends fly down from Sydney whom I hadn’t seen since I had tottered about in diapers. We went through all the usual acknowledgements – ‘My, have you grown!’ – but it wasn’t until I discovered they had given me a Barbie for Christmas that I realised they weren’t kidding. My face fell faster than you can say ‘Jingle Bells’.
Give money or gift cards when in doubt. If you’ve racked your brains and still can’t think of anything, you can’t go wrong with these gems. Find out what your recipient’s interests are or where they like to shop, and go from there. You probably won’t win a prize for creativity, but hey, at least you can rest assured it won’t be gathering dust along with the rest of the world’s unwanted artefacts. If you want to pull out bigger guns, perhaps consider buying a gift certificate to treat your loved ones to a day spa pampering, a cooking class or bungy jumping session for the more adventurous.
Remember quality over quantity. Unless it’s an all expenses paid trip around Europe, splurging on the most high-tech of gadgets or avant-garde of designer finds won’t necessarily earn you brownie points with everyone. Frame a special photograph or whip up a batch of cupcakes for your loved ones. Even if you’re like me and have the propensity to burn water, the sky’s the limit when it comes to personalising gifts. Novelty is fleeting, but a gift from the heart is forever.
I believe in utility. I also believe there isn’t a better time to show our appreciation for our loved ones then this Yuletide season. So the next time you set out to adorn your Christmas tree with pre-packaged parcels of uselessness, think again and give the gift of time and thoughtfulness instead.
