It’s that time of year again: someone you love is having a birthday and you need to find the perfect gift that will “wow” them. Panic mode is setting in. What should you buy?
Finding the perfect birthday gift for a friend or family member is a challenge. We all have so much “stuff,” so how can you find them something new and exciting? The first step is knowing what not to do.
We’re here to talk about a few common birthday gift shopping mistakes so you can avoid them. Read on to learn more.
1. Buying Something They Already Own
This is one of the top mistakes that people make when they buy birthday gifts for other people.
For those who are buying birthday gifts for spouses, children, or anyone else who lives with them, this is unlikely. You already know what these people own because they live in your home!
If you’re buying a gift for someone who doesn’t live with you, this may take some investigating.
You know the giftee so well that you’re able to pinpoint the perfect gift based on their personal interests, right? How likely is it that the perfect gift is something that they already own? Sure, that means that it really was something that the giftee was going to love, but it’s meaningless when they already have the item stashed away.
Find subtle ways to look around their home or ask questions about whether or not they own the thing that you’re interested in getting them.
2. Not Considering Their Personal Interests
Many people shop for gifts that they know they themselves would love. While this is still a thoughtful gesture (after all, you want to give the giftee something that you think is valuable, right?), it’s not useful.
If you know the giftee well enough, find something that will be perfect for them based on their interests. If your giftee is interested in traditionally “masculine” items or male grooming, they may want a subscription box full of gifts for men.
If someone is a videogame fanatic, they may love a new game or some game memorabilia.
Even if something has no value to you, it may be the perfect gift for the giftee. If you’re struggling to find something that fits the giftee’s interests, or you don’t know what those interests are, choose birthday gift cards instead of guessing.
3. Trying to Cut Corners
Everyone wants to save money, but when you’re giving someone a gift, it’s best to spare no expense (within reason). This doesn’t mean that you have to get them something extravagant or go beyond your birthday gift budget, but you shouldn’t try to cut corners by finding cheaper versions of valuable items.
Knock-off items are a great example of this. If your loved one doesn’t mind a “fake” version of an item, these are appropriate to buy. However, you can’t try to pass off a knock-off item as the real deal if you want to be a good gift-giver.
So what do you do when you don’t have enough money to get the perfect gift?
First, you could make something. Art, crafts, shadowboxes, and treats are all great gifts for a person who has everything.
You could look for certain items secondhand. Vintage items are “in” right now, so if you find something old, but in good condition, it’s a great gift (especially if your loved one is into vintage fashion or decorations).
4. Not Considering Unique Experiences
If your loved one seems to have everything that they could want or need, what can you possibly buy for them? Consider buying them an experience rather than an item.
Again, choose the experience with the person’s interests in mind. Try not to fall into the trap of only picking things that you’d want to do with them (or expecting them to want to bring you along). It’s a good idea to give them two passes to the experience so that they can bring one person with them.
So what kind of unique experiences would your friend want to try?
For some people, taking a cooking class or an art class is a great experience. Others may want to try ziplining, go to a concert, or go on a trip (if you can afford it).
Experiences can be more valuable than material items if you choose the right ones. Get creative!
5. Not Considering Their Lifestyle
When you’re looking for great birthday gift ideas, remember your loved one’s lifestyle before you make your final purchase. You don’t want to give them something that they enjoy, but that will also inconvenience them.
For example, does your friend or family member live in a studio apartment? It’s not a good idea to give them something that takes up too much space. You’ll just be adding excess clutter.
Do they travel all the time? A lush plant, while often a good gift, isn’t a good idea for them because they won’t have time to take care of it.
6. Not Reading Reviews
When you’re buying gifts online, always read reviews. You don’t have the luxury of being able to hold an item in your hands and check its quality. You’re relying on the images on the website, the product descriptions, and the reviews.
While businesses can put fake reviews on their products, there are sure to be several real ones as well. Look for reviews with photos if possible. This means that the reviewer actually owns the item.
7. Overthinking It
At the end of the day, you know your loved one. Try to avoid overthinking their gift. This could cause you to wait until the last minute to buy something or buy too many items because you keep finding something better.
Remember that a gift should come from the heart. As long as you’ve put some thought into it, there’s no need to stress.
Avoid These Birthday Gift Shopping Mistakes
These birthday gift shopping mistakes could set you back. Keep them in mind next time you’re shopping for the perfect gift for your loved one. Good luck with your shopping spree!
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