How to Select a Great Gift for Anyone and for Any Occasion

Whether it is time for the winter holidays, a friend or family member’s birthday, a wedding, or any other gift-giving occasion, selecting the right item to give to someone can feel like quite the challenge. But, although challenging, it is possible to pick a great gift every time. How can someone accomplish such a feat? By following these six easy steps:

Start with a Budget

Before you start looking for ideas, you need to set a budget. It won’t do you any good if you begin searching and find a great gift option that you simply can’t afford. Most online retailers allow you to set price parameters when you are searching for items, that way you can make sure that you are only choosing between gifts you can afford.

Give Consideration to the Occasion

A gift that would be perfect for a best friend’s birthday might not be the kind of thing that should be opened in front of family at a graduation party. Regardless of whether or not the recipient will appreciate your choice, you need to consider what is appropriate to open in front of other people who may be present.

The occasion may also dictate your goal for the gift. For major milestones, like weddings, you might want to pick an item that is going to be useful as they transition into a new way of living. However, you can often have more fun when choosing items to serve as birthday gifts.

Now, that doesn’t mean a gift can’t have some personality, just make sure its personality fits the tone and overall goal. For example, if you are attending a friend’s wedding and the couple has an affinity for the retro look, then a toaster oven or waffle maker from Nostalgia Electrics might be the perfect finds for the couple you have in mind. They can get all of the function of today’s appliance with a look that suits their style. Other practical gifts for couples can be found at places like All Modern, West Elm, Home Goods, Ikea, and even Target.

Think in Color

Everyone has their favorite colors to wear or with which they prefer to decorate. When you are choosing items that fit into categories where colors matter, like apparel and home goods, try to select an item in a color you know they already favor. If you aren’t sure what options they would prefer, then stick with something that functions as a neutral, like black, white, gray, or even navy.^[1]

Refer to Hobbies and Interests

Is the recipient an aspiring photographer? A sci-fi movie fanatic? A collector of vintage holiday ornaments?

Any hobby or interest can guide your gift-giving, so don’t be afraid to tread familiar territory for ideas. You may feel like you are being unoriginal by referring to something they are highly involved in, but giving them a new opportunity to dedicate time to something they love will always be well received.

Think Small

Gift baskets can get a bad rap sometimes, but creating one from scratch can be a lot of fun. Think of a series of small items they may appreciate, and group them together to create an interesting gift. This can be an ideal way to showcase less expensive items that would still be greatly appreciated.

You can choose to work with a theme if you want to be guided through the gift-picking process. For example, a newly married couple may appreciate a gift basket full of various kitchen basics. You can choose utensils, serving pieces, and small gadgets to help supplement the larger items they may receive as gifts. Often, people think of major items when purchasing wedding gifts, but not everyone thinks of everyday items like spatulas, measuring cups, and kitchen towels. For a graduation gift, including gift cards, planners, and a token that hints at their future career might be great things to include in your gift basket.

Don’t Be Afraid to Be Unique

The ability to shop online can open you up to a wealth of options you didn’t even know existed. Some sites specialize in unique offerings that you won’t find at your average big box store. For example, odds and ends like smartphone lenses, breakfast sandwich makers, pencils, and cool vintage wristwatches can be found by shopping online. You won’t find items like that just anywhere. So don’t be afraid to branch out your search and see what inspires you. When you find the right item, you’ll know what to do.