With Christmas coming up, many people may be stressing over finding the perfect gift for the perfect person. But don’t worry, by following some simple tips, holiday gift giving can become a lot easier.
hayden crosby | rawr
Jan Neglay, employee at Cowgirl Chocolates, gift wraps boxes of chocolates to be sent out this holiday season.
Go shopping with people you buy gifts for before Christmas:
Perhaps the simplest thing to do is to shop with those you need to shop for. Often, when people are shopping they will make remarks such as “I really need one of these.” Or “Oh my God, this is so cute!”
For example, one time I was shopping with a friend whose birthday was in a month. She tried on a hat that she loved and was even going to buy it. But unfortunately, she did not have enough cash with her. I managed to distract her while she was at the store and buy the hat for her while she was still in the store. A month later on her birthday, I explained to her what had happened and we had a good laugh over the whole incident. She also loved the hat.
Give Black Friday Shopping a try:
Many people shudder in horror at the idea of being trampled by a herd of people just to get a good deal on an Xbox, but Black Friday sales often offer college students on a budget cheap gifts that are still good quality. While it may be too late to partake in the festivities this year, next year get up around 7 a.m. to get to some sales. Seven is early enough that most of the merchandise will still be available, but late enough to avoid massive crowds and sleep loss.
Don’t buy gift cards:
Unless the store is like Wal-Mart and sells everything, gift cards constrain a person to one store. Gift Cards also place the giver in the very uncomfortable situation of placing an exact monetary value on how much they truly value the friend, acquaintance, family member or loved one. Plus, if the giver does not know the receiver well enough, the potential for awkward situations is abundant. For instance, one of my friends has received a Starbucks gift card from numerous sources on numerous occasions despite hating coffee.
Pay attention:
With social media, it is very simple to find out someone’s likes and dislikes. It is a pretty safe bet that a like for Adele on Facebook means an appreciation for Adele related gifts. Additionally, pay attention to how someone dresses and what they have in their dorm room for gift ideas. Odds are if someone has bought something for himself or herself and wears it, they like it.
If possible, give a gift receipt:
Throughout the special occasions that require gift giving, no matter how much planning goes into the gift, you will eventually give someone the wrong gift. It could simply be a shirt that is the wrong size, a video game that cannot be played on their computer, or any one of a myriad of possible issues. Many stores will give you a gift receipt at checkout if you ask for one, which is a receipt that allows the holder to exchange the item at the store it was bought at.
By giving a gift receipt to someone, it allows him or her to simply exchange the gift without the hassle of Craigslist or the embarrassment of telling the gift giver that the gift was wrong. Additionally, a gift receipt allows the gift receiver many options without immediately disclosing how much you decided to spend on that particular gift.
Aleya Ericson can be reached at [email protected]
