Finding the perfect gift is difficult. It doesn't matter who you are shopping for—whether it is a family member, friend, co-worker, or acquaintance, it is tricky buying Christmas gifts. How much money should you spend? Do you get a personal gift or something they need? What do you buy if you do not know the person well, such as a coworker in another department? Instead of walking in circles around the mall looking through premade Christmas gift baskets and kids' toys, here are the top four tips for buying the perfect Christmas for everyone on your shopping list.
1. Identify the Relationship
Are you shopping for your new boyfriend or girlfriend? Did you draw the name of a coworker you do not know well for your Secret Santa? Are you shopping for a teenager? Before you buy a gift, you must identify the relationship between you and the person you are giving the gift to. It would be inappropriate to buy a coworker a bouquet of roses, as that would symbolize romance. It would also be inappropriate to buy your teenage nephew an adult-rated video game without first asking his parents. You must also consider the cost of the gift.
2. Follow the Gift Exchange Rules
At work, management may have asked you to keep the cost of your Secret Santa gift to under 20 dollars. Management decided the dollar amount to make the gift exchange fair and affordable for all employees. It could be embarrassing for a coworker to receive a 1,000 dollar gift when they bought someone else a ten dollar gift. Other gift exchanges, such as Yankee Swaps, may also have a cost limitation. It is okay and welcomed for employees and attendees to ask those in charge of organizing the event what the suggested dollar amount is for the gift exchange.
3. Personalize Generic Gifts
Generic gifts do not have to be generic. You can customize Christmas gift baskets, gift cards, and dishware. Gift baskets are wonderful, easy gifts that are perfect for coworkers, friends, and family members. Typically, gift baskets are predesigned with different themes, such as Christmas morning, movie night, or family game night. You can preorder a custom gift basket rather than grabbing the last one available on the way to your Christmas party. Like gift baskets, gift cards are wonderful purchases that allow the recipient to use them for something they like. You can customize a gift card by changing the card layout with a photograph or Christmas emblem.
Coffee mugs, water bottles, and coasters make great office gifts. Your coworker may love to drink coffee or complain about their coffee mug staining their desk. These gifts are inexpensive and customizable; you can upload a design and order the product online. Personalization adds an extra touch but requires little work.
4. Think Accessories
Electronics are expensive. New phones, computers, and gaming systems can cost thousands of dollars. It would be ridiculous to buy an expensive piece of electronics for a coworker you barely know and even a close friend that may feel you overstepped. Instead, you should consider accessories. Nearly everyone has a phone. They might have an android or iPhone, but they do have a phone that they use every day to scroll social media and answer work calls. Phone accessories are a fun and practical gift.
Everyone can use a portable wireless phone charging station. They can mount it on their desk at work or carry it in their purse for when their phone dies. If your friend loves to game, consider investing in accessories to enhance their gaming experiences, such as headphones, gaming glasses, or a one-handed gaming keyboard. Accessories are affordable gifts that your friends, coworkers, and family members will enjoy.
