Christmas gifts are on people’s minds. It IS next week, after all.
Time to get cracking (I’m speaking to myself, of course) and finish up those last few items on your list.
Holiday gifting can be stressful. Take it from me. I know. But it absolutely doesn’t have to be.
Here are my Top 12 Gift Tips to help you (and me) make what could be a stressful time – joyful.
- Give Christmas steaks! It’s an easy gift that will impress your recipient and pretty much make you look like a hero. No one returns these babies.
- Don’t agonize so much over each selection. Choose something for each person and move on. The more you waffle, the more time you waste.
- In the same vein as #2, go with your gut. If you see something and it screams, “Uncle Joe!” – get it. Boom. Done.
- Wrapping matters. Sometimes a beautifully packaged gift supersedes even what’s inside. And for those gifts you’re unsure about it could be the saving grace. So do it up right.
- Purchase back ups/extras. There’s always someone we forgot.
- Consider giving consumables – gourmet food, wine, etc. Who says your gift has to be something they can put on a shelf? Consumables are experiences to me – and that’s all the rage now.
- Try to personalize your gifts a little. If Dorothy eats like a bird, don’t gift her a huge Porterhouse.
- Don’t expect anything in return. You may not get anything in return. And that will be okay.
- Remember why you’re getting together with these people to exchange gifts. It’s supposed to be peaceful and lovely. Not jerky, jealous and judgmental. (I’m not speaking from experience or anything.)
- Don’t try to outdo everyone else. Make a gift budget and stick to it.
- Be gracious when you receive a gift. Let the other person experience the joy of giving YOU something.
- Focus on others. Share their joy and spread your own. ‘Tis the season!
