It will soon be that time of year again, won’t it? You know, the time of year that raises your stress level because you have to think of something original and appropriate to buy for your girlfriend or boyfriend or Mom or Dad or best friend – and you can never come up with something unique.
It’s always that best selling book for Dad or a sweater for Mom, and they say thanks for the gift but you know that it’s all a bit of a ritual. Yet some of your other friends and relatives appear to have the creativity of a genius and regularly produce sparkling new ideas that put your book or sweater gift to shame. Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, retirement gifts – it’s one long round of feeling second best because your gifts are so ordinary.
Well, here’s just a few ideas to nudge you into a different way of thinking. They won’t match everyone and in some cases they will be above your budget – but maybe they will set off some other thoughts in your mind and will convince you that you do have the ability to think of something original yourself.
- For Dad or Grandpa: is he a sports fan? If he hasn’t been to a game for a while, buy him some tickets to the local baseball or basketball game and see how that generates enthusiasm.
- For Mom: if she’s like most moms, she is always so busy looking after others that she neglects herself. Give her the chance to pamper herself by purchasing some time at the local day spa where she can go and have a massage, a facial or whatever, and just take a few hours out.
- For Grandma: are there some grandchildren that she loves dearly but doesn’t see often enough? Unless she’s very lucky, she’s like other Grandmas in that regard. Find one of the local or on-line print shops that will produce a made to order calendar with pictures (supplied by you of course) of her grandchildren on it. She will have fond memories and feelings every time she passes the place in her home that the calendar is hung.
- For the wine lover: Many wine enthusiasts are as fanatical about the vessel they drink from as they are particular about the wine. Do they need some new up-market wine glasses, champagne flutes or even pottery wine goblets?
- For the jewelry lover: buy her an open heart necklace to show her just how much she means to you. It will match other pieces in her jewelry collection and remind her of you when you’re not there.
These are obviously just a few suggestions to kick-start your thinking, but build on these to match the lucky recipient to great gift and simply watch their delight when they see what you’ve bought. Then maybe you won’t have a problem with gifts!