Christmas is more than just the most wonderful time of the year - it can also be the most annoying. Shopping for gifts for friends, family, in-laws and more can be a hassle. Sure, you could simply ask for suggestions. But that takes the fun out of it. Instead of buying a last-minute Transformers 2 DVD from the Wal-Mart bargain bin, we've got some great tips for you. Follow these suggestions to find the perfect present for everyone on your list.
1. Make the presentation an event. Instead of stale paper, try hiding the gift and make it a scavenger hunt. Or tuck the gift inside a Twilight book with a secret message that reveals a gift card code. Get creative! Or why not make it even more special - wrap a few small presents individually and give them all at the same time.
2. Give them an experience. If they already have all the books or movies related to their favorite thing, buy them tickets to an event related to it. For example, if they're into Les Mis, buy them tickets to see the show. Try and give them something unique, like a mystery adventure that takes them to a restaurant for dinner, or a trip to the arcade.
3. Make a list of everything the person loves and is passionate about, and brainstorm something unique for each item. You don't have to get them all, but you'll trigger some cool ideas. For example: a man with depression, a love for science fiction, and a penchant for fashion, received a potentially life-changing gift tailored just for them. Or, for the bacon-lover in your life, how about a year-long bacon-of-the-month subscription?
4. Look to the past. Is someone special graduating soon? Frame their hard-earned diploma. Does a loved one have fond memories of an old pet that passed away? Get them a painting of it. Or, why not take them back to their childhood! One redditgifts participant received a Nintendo 64 - the same thing his brother had sold. And you could always fulfill their lifelong dream of eating the marshmallows out of a Lucky Charms box.
5. Think of their needs. Before you write it off as impossible, think of things on a bigger scale. Perhaps the successful business person in your life is always busy - buy them something to help them be more organized. Check with other people you know for tips. Or, for the student nurse in your life, why not put together a student nurse survival kit?
6. Do some "stalking". Most people have wishlists on Amazon, and they'll be pleasantly surprised when you get them something from it! Or, if the person is a reddit user, you can search the reddit marketplace for ideas.
7. Include a bit of yourself. Get creative and make them something. Write a song, sew a quilt, create a piece of art. Better yet, combine this with one or more of the other suggestions for an extra-special, very personalized gift.
8. Make them laugh! Instead of just buying them a Kindle, get one and hide it inside Sarah Palin's autobiography. Got a potato-lover among your friends? Get them 22 pounds of potatoes! One redditgifts participant sent his friend one hundred trillion dollars, which happened to be a now-defunct Zimbabwean currency.
9. Be charitable. If there's no need for any material items, why not donate to a cause they care about? A trip to Haiti may have sparked a new interest - why not donate to the charity they went with? Or, if you know someone who loves animals, donate to an animal rescue. There are countless charities for every cause imaginable, and making a gift to one in someone else's name is a beautiful sentiment.
Gift-giving doesn't have to be a chore! With a bit of creativity and some thoughtfulness, you can find a perfect present for anyone on your list.
