How to Give the Perfect Gift + 25 Awesome Gift Ideas

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The pressure to find the perfect gift can make the gift-giving process seem daunting. With the holiday season rolling around, shopping for gifts is at the top of everyone’s to-do list. In this blog post, I am sharing with you my favorite tips on how to find and give the perfect gift.

First, consider how well you know the person you are buying a gift for. If you two have a close relationship, a special gift is always better than a generic one. By choosing an intentional gift, your giftee will appreciate how personal and thoughtful you were. If you are only acquaintances with the recipient, I would consider giving a useful or practical gift instead.

Click here to browse my categorized shopping guides to help you to choose the perfect gift.

Finding the perfect gift comes down to a few basic things you know about the recipient. Before shopping, ask yourself:

what do they like to do?
where do they like to go?
do they have any particular interests?
what makes them unique?

While shopping, also keep in mind the recipient’s:

age
temperament
lifestyle
relationship to you

When choosing the perfect gift, your goal is to find a present that reflects what you know about the person you are buying for. However, don’t be afraid to add a little bit of your personality to help make the gift-exchange memorable. Is there a special moment that has happened between you two? Do you share an inside joke? Use these things to your advantage when choosing a gift for the giftee.

Next, consider the occasion you are giving the gift for. Are you shopping for a birthday, anniversary, special event, or an annual holiday? The type of occasion helps determine the context of your gift, so shop according to the event and celebration. You may give your sister a different gift on her birthday than you would give to her on mother’s day, so shop thoughtfully.

Every person is different, and you may not always be able to find your gift in a store. Keep in mind that gifts are not always tangible. The perfect gift can also be:

a thoughtful reunion
a sentimental photograph
a homemade treat
a handcrafted art piece
a memorable experience (i.e., a vacation, a walk on the beach)
a subscription service
an act of service (i.e., washing the car, sweeping the floor, a back massage)

There are many reasons to give a gift, but what makes the gift special is the heart of the person giving the gift. As long as you give with love, your gift will be perfect every time.