There are a lot of things that I am good at in this world, and there are more that I am just semi-good at—and giving gifts is definitely not included in either one of those. For those of you who are just like me, here is the "art of gift-giving" laid out for you in a series of do's and don'ts that I have learned throughout my many years of failed attempts.
DON'T: For the good of you and your reputation, please do not wait until the last minute. As I know from personal experience, the humiliation of having to go to the store 15 minutes before you are supposed to be at your friend's birthday dinner is never fun.
DO: Take little mental notes or hints your family and friends give you throughout the year. Listen to them when they talk about what they have been needing or watch what they look at when you shop with them. Compile a list of the things they have talked about, and then you are all set for birthdays and Christmas.
DON'T: Don't forget the card. A lot of the time, the card is the most important part of the gift because it is the most personalized. Whether you buy it at the store or make it at home, words are the best expressions of love and appreciation. Some of my favorite keepsakes are the cards that my friends have handmade for my birthday. Use your words to show how much you love your friends and family.
DO: Always pick more personalized gifts over generic ones. Anyone can get their mom a $100 gift card to Homegoods (which she would definitely love), but only you can give your mom a framed picture of you and her from your first day of preschool. It's not the quantity of the gift, but the quality.
DON'T: Even though gift cards are the go-to for a quick and easy present, when you can choose between a gift card and something else, think about who you are giving the gift to. Gift cards require no thought, so if the person who is on the receiving end is very special to you, then stay away from those little squares of plastic.
DO: Always use cute wrapping! Presentation is half of the task, and you want your friend or family member to be excited just by the exterior of the gift. Helpful hint: always save your bags/tissue paper, so that you can reuse them—you will save so much time and money.
DON'T: There is no reason to worry about what your loved one is going to think of your gift. Your friends and family love you, and will appreciate everything and anything thing you do for them! So don't stress, because even after you spend a month on that drawing of you and your best friend and it ends up looking like a bunch of sticks on top of each other, she will know that you spent a whole month trying.
Giving gifts is always going to be hard for people like me who just don't understand this complicated art. But with these helpful hints, you will be able to impress anyone with your thoughtful and personal ideas. Just remember, it really is the thought that counts!
