The Joy of Giving

I know that for some people gift giving can be a little stressful.  Trying to find that special gift for that special someone is not always an easy thing.  Sometimes you don’t know what to get that person, you don’t know if the person already has the thing you are thinking of, you may have time constraints, and there is always a budget.  Gift giving is something I personally really enjoy doing. I like brainstorming gift ideas, I like browsing for gifts (online 95% of the time), and I like the act of giving the gift. It brings me joy!  I thought I would share a few of my gift giving strategies that may help some of you out.

I try to think ahead when it comes to gifts.  I keep notes in my phone for people in my life.  When they talk about something they really like I write it down, if I see something or hear about something that might interest them I write it down, or if I personally get something I love and think someone else I know might like it I write it down.  I make sure I schedule time to buy gifts (usually a week or 2 before a birthday, shower, event, etc) for the person to give myself enough time to shop around (usually online) so I can wrap the gift, return it if needed, or if I am sending it directly the person will get it before the event.

For kid birthdays I schedule a time to buy gifts as soon as I get the invitation to the party (usually a week before the event).  I also keep notes on what my kids like and what new toys and books are popular so I have a quick reference for their friends’ birthdays if I run out of ideas.  If I don’t know the parents or child well I will ask the parent sometimes what the child likes at the moment or what is on the child’s wish list. I have been having the kids make birthday cards with art supplies and stickers or sometimes I will look up a free online printable kids birthday card and print that out and I have the kids sign it.  Kids don’t need fancy birthday cards and it’s a fun activity for your own kids to do to prepare for a friend’s birthday party.

I do keep a stash of cards on hand for all major events (birthdays for adults, birthdays for kids, baby showers, bridal showers, thank you, get well soon, sympathy, etc) that I get at Target, Michaels, Walmart, The Dollar Tree, and the 99 Cent Store.  I also have an hanging gift bag organizer that I store gift bags in (yes, I do recycle my gift bags and buy a variety at the above-mentioned stores) along with gift wrap, tissue paper, ribbon, scissors, and tape so I have a “gift wrapping station”.

For Christmas I start a running list of gift ideas for my loved ones that I make a few months before.  I copy the list of people from the year before and add the ones I need to. Then whenever a gift idea pops in to my head I jot it down.  It makes it easier so that when there are sales during the holidays I can do all my shopping at once over a day or two and I already have the gifts outlined.

We all have moments when we just don’t know what to get someone.  For those people I will get the trusty gift card (to a favorite store or coffee shop), food gifts (everyone likes to eat), a subscription service, an experience (movie or event tickets), a pampering gift (a manicure, spa service, etc), flowers, or a fun coffee table book are some examples.  I try not to stress too much about getting “the perfect gift” because we all know that when we receive a gift from someone it’s not about the actual thing. It’s about the thought and care of the person who has given us the gift. So know that just your act of intentionally choosing a gift (whatever that gift may be, big or small) and giving that gift to someone shows that you thought of them and wanted to show you care.  That will most certainly brighten someone’s day.