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How to Find the Perfect Gift for Family Members

How to Find the Perfect Gift for Family Members

Everyone loves holidays and birthdays. They’re special occasions to spend quality time with those you care about the most.

But, sometimes the holidays can be a real pain in the butt. Anyone who has ever struggled with buying gifts for someone knows the feeling.

What could you possibly buy for someone who appears to have everything? There are only so many times you can get away with the “best dad ever” mugs.

If you’re stuck and struggling to come up with ideas, below is a short guide on how to find the perfect gift for family members.

  1. Make a List of Interests

This is a simple concept that for some reason almost no one actually does.

Set a timer for 5 minutes and physically write down all the things you can think of that your family member is interested in. The more you write down the better.

For example, say your brother is a 20-something year old hipster who likes concerts and music. Your list might look something like this:

  • Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • Dave Matthews Band
  • Concerts
  • Vaping
  • Shoes

Obviously, yours will be much longer, but now, take a look at your list and think of something that you could buy for each item on the list.

For concerts, you could buy tickets. For Dave Matthews Band, perhaps tickets or a t-shirt. For vaping, maybe different e-juice flavors you know he likes.

By doing this exercise you’re going to come up with a bunch of things you likely wouldn’t have otherwise.

  1. Ask Yourself What They Need

Regardless of what someone says, there is always something they could use, it just might take a little more effort to think about.

What could someone who runs their own business need? If you always see them on the phone, perhaps a Bluetooth headset?

Or someone who goes kayaking a lot but usually just rents their boat. You could buy them their own kayak.

Refer back to your list of interests and then start viewing things as “what could this person really use?”

  1. Think about His or Her Past

Often times, the best gifts come from the heart. A memorable past experience that you and your family member shared together could prove to be a very powerful gift if done in the right light.

Or, even if it’s not an experience you shared together, perhaps there is a big milestone recently achieved that could spawn a few gift-giving ideas, such as a diploma frame, stethoscope for a doctor, or scrubs for a new nurse.

  1. If All Else Fails, Give Them What They Want

It’s typically viewed as taboo in the gift-giving world to ask someone what they want. Many people consider it “cheating”.

But, if you’re really stumped on what to get someone, who better than the person himself to give you a couple of good ideas.

Closing Thoughts

Family birthdays and holidays are meant to be special occasions full of fun, laughter, and community. Use the guide above to help alleviate some of the hassle that comes with the gift-giving piece of the holidays.

One Comment

  • Jo-Ann Brightman

    This is a great list of suggestions and tips on what to buy for someone and how to find the right gift for a person.