Holiday Gift Buying

Holiday Gift Buying Tips

Just picking something off the shelf and wrapping it in pretty paper does not make it an appropriate or thoughtful gift. These tips can help you find just the right items for everyone on your list this holiday season.

Recipient List

The first thing shoppers should do is decide for whom they need to purchase holiday gifts. For distant relatives and very casual acquaintances, a simple heartfelt card may be sufficient instead of a more elaborate gift. If the budget is really tight, it may be prudent to trim a recipient list even further – true friends will understand that your thoughts and good wishes during the holiday season are more important than a wrapped package.

Setting a Budget

Once you know how many gifts you need to buy, you can set a budget for each individual on your list. Some people will likely receive more expensive gifts because you have a closer relationship with them, but do not let the budget spiral out of control in order to impress or astonish people with expensive gifts. Instead, choose a wise figure that is suitable to your budget without creating massive holiday debt, and stick to that figure.

Choosing Gifts

Choosing just the right gift for someone special is the most enjoyable part of holiday gift buying. There are many ways to find the perfect gift, such as:

Find the perfect gifts for everyone!

• Wish lists: If someone on your gift list has a wish list that can make buying a gift quick and easy, and you know it is an item they will appreciate.
• Hobbies: Choosing a gift for someone because it relates to his or her favorite hobby is a great way to show how much you know about them. The more unique the item, the more treasured it will be.
• Profession: Some people appreciate gifts related to their profession the most. A new briefcase, power tie, office equipment or other professional item can be useful and appreciated all year long.
• Life circumstances: Anyone on your list who is going through a major life transition during the holidays – pregnancy, buying a house, planning a wedding – will be delighted to receive a gift to help them with that momentous time.
• Personal interests: A new CD for a music buff, an antique for a history whiz, or a bestselling book for a prolific reader are all great gift choices based on an individual’s personal interests.

When to Shop

You may know the perfect gifts to get, but deciding when to do your holiday gift buying can be a challenge. Retailers traditionally offer generous sales and promotions immediately after Thanksgiving, though more and more retailers are discounting items even before the official start of the Christmas shopping season. Better sales may come along later in December, but shoppers need to be wary of limited quantities. Furthermore, if you will need to ship your gift to the recipient, it can take a week or longer during the peak holiday season.

Savvy shoppers may purchase holiday gifts throughout the year as they spot the perfect items for everyone on their list. This can help them avoid last minute rushes or choosing less than perfect gifts because time is running out.

Online or In Stores?

Shopping online has grown by leaps and bounds in the last decade, and many holiday shoppers choose to do most, if not all, of their holiday gift buying from popular retail outlets online. Online stores may offer a better selection of unique items as well as hard-to-find gifts, though buyers will have to contend with shipping charges and other online fees. Online auctions are another potential source of unique gifts, but be sure to investigate sellers carefully to ensure a fair and equitable transaction.

Shopping in the actual stores, on the other hand, has traditional appeal that is alluring to many holiday shoppers. The carols playing in the background, the thrill of finding just the right item, and the ability to browse for unexpected gifts can make shopping at the mall, boutiques, or other retailers rewarding. Stores may also offer better bargains than their online counterparts, particularly closer to the holiday.

The Great Gift Card Debate

Gift cards are a fabulous standby gift for last minute shoppers or for people on your list who are more difficult to shop for. Today, gift cards are available movies, restaurants and nearly every store imaginable, making them easy to customize to each individual on your list. Be careful, however – some people feel gift cards are a poor substitute even for a less than perfect gift.

When Good Gifts Go Bad

When your shopping is complete, keep all receipts just in case someone receives duplicate gifts or doesn’t like their gift as much as you’d hoped they would. While everyone ought to be gracious when they receive a gift that isn’t appealing to them, the gift giver should be just as gracious in allowing them to exchange it. If the gifts are to be shipped, you can enclose a gift receipt – a printed receipt that does not have the actual price on it – just in case the recipient needs to exchange the item.

It Really is the Thought That Counts

Exchanging gifts is a long standing holiday tradition, and finding just the right gifts to give to someone special can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience with a bit of forethought and planning. When doing your holiday gift buying, however, always remember that the size of the gift, its price, or how it is wrapped is not nearly as important as the respect, friendship, and love it conveys as it is given.