My Top Gifting Strategies for Smoother Holiday Shopping
Maria Vaught
Maria is a wife, a new (stay-at-home) mom, and a psychologist. When she isn't performing daily work, you'll find her enjoying all the baby snuggles, spending quality time with her family and friends, reading, or writing. She believes in the power of words and therefore, writes with the desire to inspire.
Fall is here and whether that means you are sipping Pumpkin Spiced Latte as much as you can or staying loyal to your year-round drink (Iced Caramel Macchiato for me!), the holidays and gift-giving season are upon us. If you’ve been out to the stores lately, you’ve probably noticed the pops of green and red, and Christmas lights (perhaps a giant snowman?) creeping behind all the Halloween and Fall décor, as if whispering, guess what, holiday shopping begins now too. And maybe that’s scarier to you than a towering skeleton or any realistic spider! If it is, you are not alone.
It’s no secret that I adore gift-giving. It is my primary way of showing love towards others. However, I also truly enjoy shopping for others. When one of my friends confessed to me that she would be a much bigger fan of Christmas if it wasn’t for the “stress of finding gifts” for others, I was initially shocked. How could finding gifts for others be stressful?! Then I realized it absolutely can be. If you are in agreement with my dear friend, then look no further. Below I am sharing my top gifting strategies (in no specific order) to make holiday shopping (and gift-giving) a much smoother and fun experience for you!
Keep two lists.
When holiday shopping season hits, I pull out a piece of printer paper, fold it in half and start two lists. One is a list of people I intend to give a gift to that year and the other is a list of things that I think would make great gifts. This process shouldn’t be something you overthink. In fact, the lists don’t even have to coincide. It’s just a way to get everything out of your head and on paper. I will say though that more often than not, you’ll notice that some of the things you already believe will make good gifts are also perfect for some of the people you want to get something for. This is especially true for individuals that you do not have a deeper personal relationship with such as the co-worker whose name you drew for Secret Santa, the friendly front-desk lady at your dentist’s office, or your hair stylist whom you think deserves a little something nice for the holidays. The main thing is that this strategy allows you to see just exactly those you are or will be shopping for, and what specific things you can be on the lookout for when the sales hit or when you just happen to be out and about.
Make a running “gifts” list.
As a self-proclaimed “listographer,” it’s no surprise that the next strategy involves a list too. Compared to the previous strategy, this one is slightly more specific. I use the notes app on my phone and keep a running list of gift ideas for specific people. I just purge all the potential gifts I can give someone on this list. Again, not a list to overthink. Some of the individuals in this list have over a dozen ideas next to their names, some only have one to three. It’s just a good way to jot down that random (but perhaps brilliant) gift idea that might’ve popped into your brain while you were busy doing another task. This way when you do intentionally think of what to get someone, you don’t have to rely on memory recall and get frustrated when you can’t remember it (kind of like walking in a grocery store without a list and then forgetting what you needed to buy – we’ve all been there). Bonus: your gift list is easily accessible if you happen to go on an impromptu shopping trip.
Profile people.
Now for the BEST and most fun strategy I’ve been using for years now – profiling the gift recipients! I am not kidding when I say I have what I call a “profiler’s notebook” that I update all year round, specifically used for gifting purposes. Each person I cherish and always end up giving a gift to for any occasion (birthday, housewarming, anniversary, new job, Christmas, “just because”, etc.) have their own page(s) in this notebook. Under their names, they all have their profiles, from their most basic information to a collection of more personal things about them such as their favorite food/restaurants, favorite stores or brands, personal style, current obsessions, fandoms they belong to, favorite hobbies, anything I’ve noticed they’ve been wanting to buy but keep holding back on, something they’ve mentioned in the past that they would like to have, anything I own that they’ve expressed really liking, and so on. This strategy can be time-consuming, but it is very intentional, making it the most effective. Remember, meaningful gifts are ones that are most thought about; the ones that say: I see you, know you, and love you for you. If you have the time, I highly recommend giving this strategy a try, even if it’s just for the individuals in your innermost circle. At the end of the day, the best gift-shopping and gift-giving strategy is paying attention.
Everyone is different. We are all living through different life circumstances with varying priorities and beliefs. It’s understandable that not everyone has the capacity nor means to get really involved with gift-giving. Perhaps, some just don’t really care for it. Both are totally ok too. Amidst the preparations, the busy schedules, and the stress that this time of year can bring, the holidays are truly more than just about gifts. But if you are like me and it is something that is important to you, by all means, enjoy the experience of holiday shopping and gifting!