10. Go for the Limited Edition
It doesn’t matter what your friends and family are into, there’s usually
a limited edition version that you can get hold of that will make their
eyes light up. Think about their favorite perfumes, books or films.
Getting a signed poster of their favorite film or a bottle of the
champagne they love that only comes out once a year will show them that
you pay attention to the things that they enjoy. They might be a little
harder to get hold of, but the effort will be rewarded when you see how
happy they are to receive it.
Auction sites like eBay are brilliant for scouting out first editions
of books, phones, exclusive handbags or make up. A quick search under
“limited edition” should offer you a wealth of options to choose from,
just pick the one you think they’ll like best. Maybe a cinnamon scented
moisturizer is their favorite but the store only releases it at
Christmas time you can present it to them as a Christmas gift that they
can use all year.
9. Buy an Experience they’ll Never Forget
Sometimes it’s difficult to think of a tangible gift that the receiver
doesn’t already own. Maybe they’re the type to buy themselves gifts all
the time, or they just seem to own everything. Maybe your other friends
and family have already bought them the gift you intended to get and now
you’re stuck wondering what to buy. Purchasing an experience day is a
great way of giving them something fun and exciting that they’ll
remember for a life time.
There are so many experiences you can buy now – from racing days at
your local track to hot air balloon rides and scuba diving sessions. If
they’re not an adrenalin junkie then get them tickets to the theatre
with dinner and a signed copy of the program, or a relaxing treating at a
spa day. Maybe a tour of a vineyard or a distillery if they like to
sample a tipple every now and again.
Maybe they’ve always wanted to direct a film or feed a giraffe.
Whatever they’re into, there’s likely to be an experience to match so
take a look around and see what you can come up with. Don’t forget to
take your camera to document the experience to share with all your other
friends and family too. If it’s something that costs a little more then
ask others if they want to share the gift, that way you can get
something amazing that you h never forget. If you can’t find the
experience that you want to buy then have a go at creating your own.
Talk to local businesses and see if they’d be willing to help you to
create something special. The limit is your imagination!
8. Make an Effort to Support Local Businesses and Friends
More and more local businesses are struggling to make ends meet,
especially in today’s financial climate. Do the local economy a favor by
buying from small vendors this year instead of large, corporate chains.
If you have friends that have written a book or who make clothes or
jewelry then buying your Christmas gifts from them is a great way of
supporting them and getting something handmade and one off in the
process.
There are usually markets and fairs in the run up to Christmas
selling handmade items, so look out for events happening in your area.
Alternatively you can shop online at places like ETSY where all the
sellers offer handmade, unique items, from jewelry to cosmetics, paper
goods and clothing. Whatever you’re looking for it’s probably there and
you’ll get the warm glow of knowing that you helped an independent
seller at the same time.
7. A Photo Book
Making a photo book for someone is a great way of creating a unique,
inexpensive gift that can be treasured for a lifetime. If you’ve known
them for a while you could create a look back over your friendship –
include photos from all the activities you’ve done together or trips
you’ve enjoyed. Make a book for your friends and family to share all the
special memories you’ve created together over the years. You could even
make a book of all the things you hope to do with them in the future,
like plans for traveling – photos of your favorite destinations or
sightseeing opportunities would make a great gift. Include a tick sheet
for all the places you put in, and then you could even make a book of
your own photos once you’ve visited them all.
Photo books are versatile – you don’t have to stick to a pre
conceived format or style. Put your own stamp on it by writing a story
and using photos of your friends and family to illustrate it. There are
hundreds of ideas that you could choose so take a look around for some
inspiration and then get snapping.
6. Treat Them to a Little Luxury
If they’re the type of person to feel guilty for spending money on
themselves then consider buying them something extra special. Pick up
some exclusive chocolates, a bottle of champagne or a voucher for a foot
massage – anything that you think they would enjoy but wouldn’t buy for
themselves. Everybody loves to be indulged and pampered a little, so go
all out and make them feel special.
Put together a hamper of little luxury items that they can enjoy
throughout the festive season and beyond. Luxury doesn’t have to mean
expensive, a bag of their favorite sweets is just as likely to be
welcome as a fancy jar of caviar so do some research into the things
they like the most and pile it high with them.
5. Subscriptions
If your father really enjoys culture or your little sister is always
bang on trend then a subscription to something they love is a great idea
for a gift. Subscriptions are brilliant because they last an entire
year, giving you extra brownie points, so take a look at the magazines
they read religiously or the museums they always like to visit. Most
places will offer a year or mores subscription to their events and
buildings and most of the time offer added extras as a thank you –
making the gift extra special.
If they’ve always wanted to learn a new skill like cooking,
photography or ice skating you could always buy them lessons or a
course. There are thousands of courses available, perfect for someone
who has everything or if your parents are now retired and have time to
finally learn the things they’ve always wanted.
4. Holidays
A trip away is always a wonderful gift to receive, and doesn’t
necessarily have to be expensive. Book a weekend in a city you’ve never
been too and include a choice of restaurants and sight seeing
opportunities. If your mother has always wanted to visit Rome or your
best friend has family in New York then surprising them with a trip away
to fulfill their dreams is a fantastic gift. If you want to go all out
then have a friend pack their bags for them and don’t reveal the
destination until you get to the train station or airport.
3. Nostalgia
Everybody loves a bit of nostalgia so think about buying something retro
rather than shiny and new. If your friends were children of the 1980’s
then get them a Super Nintendo to game on or the Back To The Future DVD
box set. Anything that allows people to relive their childhood will be a
hit – go all out by making some food from the past to go with the gifts
or by dressing in your favorite seventies ensemble. Stocking fillers
like dominos, microcars, Tamigotchis and an Etch A Sketch are guaranteed
to make people smile. Pez dispensers, trivial pursuit, Sonic the
hedgehog – there’s a huge wealth of opportunities to explore so be
creative and create a festive trip down memory lane.
2. Food Hampers
If you’re a dab hand in the kitchen (or even if you’re not), making a
friend or family member a food hamper for Christmas is a great way to
celebrate the festive season. Biscuits, chocolates and fudge are easy
and cheap to make, and look great all packaged together in a basket or
box. Items like jam, preserves, chutneys or even your own alcohol like
blackberry wine can be made ahead of time, meaning you get to enjoy a
relaxing run up to Christmas. Take a look at some food magazines and
websites for inspiration, whip up some goodies and dress them up with
some ribbons and cellophane to make them look extra fancy.
People often appreciate the homemade touch, especially if what you
make is delicious so don’t be surprised if people ask for it again next
year! Homemade food gifts are also great if you want to buy for someone
but you haven’t known them for long or you want to get something for a
local group you’re involved in like a book group or your Church.
Experiment with some ideas and see what you can come up with, whatever
your skill level in the kitchen they’ll be something that you can
manage!
And finally:
1. Make Something Original
It doesn’t matter what it is – if you have a craft skill like knitting
or crochet, or you’re handy with a camera – whatever it is that you’re
good at (and everybody is good at something) use it to your advantage
and create something unique. There’s an age old saying “it’s the thought
that counts” and whilst that’s not an excuse to be lazy, it is an
opportunity to really put some thought and consideration into your gifts
this year.
People love to receive something that shows the person giving has
spent time thinking about what they’d want. Even if you’re not very good
at crafts you can still make store bought presents more special by
creating an experience for people when they open them. Buy them a DVD
they missed at the cinema and then give them some popcorn and a cozy
blanket, or pick up some candles, a nice shower gel and a fluffy bath
robe.
Whatever you decide to buy or create for your friends and family this
year, take a look outside all the usual holiday adverts and try and
think of something that they would really enjoy receiving. Next time
you’re stuck for an idea of what to buy something for Christmas just
remember: try and be unique, put some thought into it and don’t be
afraid to look further than the shopping mall. Christmas doesn’t have to
be an expensive, stressful time. Start planning earlier in the year,
make a list of what you’d like to achieve and ask your friends and
family for some help and you’ll soon be done in time to put your feet up
with a mince pie and a festive movie on TV.
