The average Brit will spend almost £1,000 during the festive period in 2024. For most people, buying gifts makes up the bulk of personal spending. Shopping for presents, no matter whether it’s to celebrate Christmas, birthdays or weddings, can be enjoyable, but it can also be a stressful, frustrating experience. To help solve shopping dilemmas for every occasion, here’s the ultimate gifting guide.
Set a budget
The first step to successful, stress-free gifting lies in setting an appropriate budget. The cost of living has risen and the number and range of occasions has increased. Today, it’s common to purchase presents to celebrate a raft of events and milestones, from birthdays, new babies, weddings and seasonal occasions to anniversaries, Christmas, Halloween and religious festivals. The gift-buying cycle can be exhausting, not to mention, expensive. There are also additional costs to consider, including gatherings, meals and nights out, trips away and cards and wrapping. A study by Thortful showed that over 70% of Brits have made excuses to miss loved ones’ birthday celebrations because they can’t afford them.
Setting spending limits is critical to manage money effectively and avoid getting into financial difficulties. At the start of the year, think about which occasions you’ll buy presents for and allocate funds accordingly. If you have a tight budget, prioritise the people and events that matter most to you and look for ways to get more for your money. Buying vintage items, shopping in the sales, making use of flash discounts and offers and comparing prices online can help you lower expenses.
Communicate openly with recipients
One of the main reasons why people fret about occasions such as Christmas is a fear of disappointing people by not spending a huge amount on gifts. A 2023 YouGov poll showed that 45% of people were anxious about purchasing presents due to rising costs, high expectations and pressure to buy from brands via channels like social media. Communication is key for those facing financial worries. It’s beneficial to set boundaries and be honest and open about how much you can afford to spend. Strategies such as setting a cap for birthdays or doing a Secret Santa instead of buying every member of the family a present can help to make buying gifts more affordable, fun and easy. Talking to loved ones can also lift a weight off your shoulders and help you enjoy special occasions more.
Focus on hobbies, interests and passions
Finding the perfect gift for another person is often a lot more challenging than finding things you like. If you’re stuck, the best thing to do is focus on the recipient’s passions, hobbies and interests. Are they a green-fingered guru who would love the latest electric lawn mower or a plant subscription? Do they enjoy fine food and wines that would make a tour of a vineyard or restaurant vouchers an incredible gift? Do you have a sports or fitness fan in your family who would adore some memorabilia, new kit or personalised trainers? Is the recipient mad about fashion? From new clothes and vintage accessories to a styling session and chic coffee table books, there are gifts to suit every fashionista.
Narrowing down the focus to your loved one’s interests is a surefire way to choose a gift they will appreciate, use and enjoy.
Put yourself in the recipient’s shoes
Buying presents can be a subjective experience. It’s not always easy to find the right item because you may be going against your natural instincts, tastes and style. It’s important to put yourself in the recipient’s shoes when browsing stores and websites or exploring gift options. Put your preferences aside and look for items or experiences that scream their name to you.
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Think outside of the box
Social media and the increased diversity of gift options have increased pressure to pull something spectacular out of the hat. Conjuring up original ideas isn’t always easy and many people feel pressured to spend a lot to get the desired reaction. One way to solve these problems is to think outside of the box and steer clear of the conventional ‘must-have’ gift lists. If you’re struggling to find the perfect item, treating somebody special to an experience is an ingenious idea.
Time is arguably the most precious commodity in this day and age when schedules are packed and spare time is limited. For many, spending time with friends and family members is more special than unwrapping a diamond necklace, an expensive bottle of aftershave or a shiny pair of shoes. Simple things like planning a family day out together, treating a couple to some precious, child-free hours or gifting the opportunity to tick something off a bucket list can provoke amazing reactions. Research ideas and options online, compare prices and offers and think about what kind of experience your loved one would appreciate most. You can organise everything from theatre, concert and sports tickets, skydiving, track days and afternoon teas to cocktail making, spa experiences, museum tours, hot air balloon rides and weekends away.
Use personal experiences
Most of us have experienced the highs and lows of opening gifts. There are some that may have blown our proverbial socks off and others that have left us perplexed or bemused. Using your personal experiences, both positive and negative, can give you inspiration when buying for other people. Think about the types of presents that have made a mark on you and the items you’d rather forget. This can help you decide what you want and don’t want when choosing gifts for others.
Buying gifts can be rewarding, but it’s also a stressful experience for many people. Factors such as rising costs, high expectations, pressure to impress and finding the right gifts can contribute to anxiety. This gifting guide is here to solve shopping dilemmas. Key steps to banish stress and make finding gifts enjoyable include setting a budget, communicating openly with loved ones, being original and focusing on the recipient’s interests, passions and hobbies. Additional tips include using personal experiences to make decisions and thinking about the value of time, creating memories and experiences as well as material gifts.
