Gift Ideas to Get You Started

Finding great gift ideas is not rocket science.  You might just be over-thinking things as you search for that special gift item that will send the message that you care.  To get things started, I thought it might be helpful to make a list of useful ideas that will help you to come up with great gift ideas.  Sometimes all we need is a little nudge to get our creative juices flowing.  If any of these gift ideas inspire you, or you just feel like sharing your thoughts and experiences, please leave a comment.  I’d love to add even more ideas to this list and keep it growing.

1. One of the easiest ways to come up with the best present and gift ideas for someone you care about is to consider what interests them.  If they have a hobby, that’s a great place to start.  Try to get them talking about it (this shouldn’t be hard to do).  Then, as they go on for a while, pay attention to the little details they mention.  Sometimes this will lead them into talking about something related to their interest that they really wish they owned.  That is your perfect gift idea.
   

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2. If you enjoy cooking or baking, remember that some people have absolutely no skill in the kitchen.  A home cooked treat or a special meal would make great gift ideas for someone who never gets anything like that.  This is also a good gift idea for a newlywed couple who is just coming back from a honeymoon or friends who are in the midst of moving or who are bringing a new baby home.  This is actually one of my favorite, low cost gift ideas on the list.  Depending on your situation, I'd add it near the top of my list for Mother's Day gift ideas and Father's Day gift ideas.  Special meals for parents also make pretty good anniversary gifts too when you don't have a lot of money to spend!
3. Consider taking that special person out for a luxurious day or weekend at a local resort.  This may sound expensive, but if you look around, you can sometimes find very nice places that will offer special deals at certain slow times of the year.  This is great when you are searching for birthday gift ideas to commemorate some special "landmark" age such as the Big 4-0.
4. If you are buying for someone who is a senior, remember that people really do often become set in their ways.  When you are buying for these folks, being original is not always the best approach.  If Grandpa says that he really wants his favorite aftershave as a birthday present, go with that.  Giving him some new brand because YOU think wearing the same scent for twenty years is boring, will most likely backfire on you.  These are usually not the folks you want to test out "original" gift ideas on.  Likewise, unique gift ideas, like a trip somewhere might not work out too well unless you know that the senior has always dreamed of visiting some particular place.
5. Consider buying bulk for someone.  This could work well with an older individual like I mentioned in number 4.  If your Great Aunt Suzy loves to knit every day.  She might really love getting enough knitting supplies to keep her in stitches for the next six months.  One caveat though.  Be sure you are buying exactly what that person likes if you are going to purchase a lot of it.
6. If you are going to ship a gift to someone by mail, take the time to pack it correctly.  If you don’t know how to do this, ask someone for help.  Use a sturdy box, bubble wrap, and plenty of packing peanuts.  Also, if what you are sending is on the heavy side, ask about flat rate priority shipping (in the United States).  It can save you a lot of money in postage and they’ll give you a free box.  If you are searching for online gifts that will be shipped, opting for the cheapest shipping is not always the best idea.
   

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7. Gifts don’t always have to be brand new.  Giving someone a gently used set of bedroom furniture when they really need it could end up being the best gift they ever received.
8. When buying wedding gifts, don’t put yourself in debt just to shop off of the bridal registry.  Sometimes everyone else buys up the moderately priced items and all that is left is high end merchandise.  If this happens, do your best to come up with a thoughtful gift that was not listed by the bride and groom.  Remember that this should not be a "gift for him" or a "gift for her", unless you are buying a gift for each of them.  If you are buying for a bride to be, ask if there is a list anywhere of bridal shower gift ideas put together by the future bride.  You can also check for a gift registry when you are dealing with a baby shower.  These are not as common as a bridal gift registry, but they are catching on with some folks.
9. Save some money by stocking up on the clearances that happen every year after Christmas.  Look for items that would make nice last minute gifts for occasions that might come up throughout the year.  It is never too early to start thinking of Christmas gift ideas for next year!  Do some after Christmas shopping with an eye toward Valentine's Day gift ideas, graduation gift ideas, and maybe even Father's Day gifts.  You might feel funny spending money so soon after Christmas, but just think how happy you will be to have your shopping done in advance (at a significant savings).
10. If you are in charge of purchasing corporate gifts, try to put a little bit of thought into what is being given.  Many companies like to give lip service to how close knit they are, but only a few special ones will take the time to choose gifts that will be appreciated.  Of course a Christmas bonus check is almost always a sure winner!  Also, be sure to watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation to get some perspective on corporate gift ideas.
11. If you have a good relationship with someone who depends on happy clients for their business, consider giving them a glowing testimonial in written form that they can use in their business.  This is sort of an unusual gift idea, but it would probably get put to use quite a bit.  The best gift ideas are not always found in a store.
12. Do you have a talent or skill that could be gifted?  Most people perform their job for a paycheck.  Is there some way that you could use what you do to help someone?  Gift ideas based on kindness or helping someone seldom go wrong.  Can you think of anyone who would appreciate receiving your services for free as a gift?  This unique gift idea might not even cost you anything but your time, but it will probably be greatly appreciated.
13. When buying a wedding or anniversary gift, consider finding an artist who will make a personalized gift for the couple.  It might be a painting or some other creative work.  A portrait made from their favorite wedding photo is a great idea for an anniversary gift.
14. If you know you will be buying a gift for someone, try getting clues from them early on.  Don’t wait until it is obvious that you are fishing for hints.  If you are buying for children, double check as the date for gift giving gets closer.  They can change their mind a LOT.
    

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15. Money CAN be a thoughtful gift.  Not every couple who gets married is fortunate enough to have relatives footing the bill for them.  If a couple has paid for their own wedding and reception, giving them some money to start them off on the right foot is perfectly acceptable.
16. If you like shopping online, don’t forget to check to see if gift wrapping is available or even included in your purchase.  Many shopping sites offer this service as a convenience to their customers.
17. While you are shopping early, be sure to check regularly for special deals that are going on for popular items.  Large sites like Amazon usually have some type of Daily Deal that offers significant savings on otherwise expensive items.  If you are really stuck for an idea, check out what is popular.  Some of my best inspirations for great gifts come from the listings of bestselling an most wished for items on Amazon.  It draws from a huge base of customers and is pretty much constantly updating.  You can find those lists, broken down by category, by Clicking Here.
18. Give without guilt.  Always give presents with a smile on your face.  Resist the urge to tell the recipient how difficult it was for you to afford the item.
19. Try to remember that you are buying for someone else.  Resist the urge to buy something just because you would like to own it.  Put yourself in the shoes of the person receiving the gift.  Will they put it to use, or will it get stuffed into the closet until your next visit?
20. If you are buying a gift for a child who is not yours, clear the idea with the parents first.  They may have reasons why they do not want the child to have a particular toy, or they may have already have plans on buying that same thing for their child.  This only takes a minute to do and it can help to avoid an embarrassing situation.
21. Remember that it really is the thought that counts when giving gifts.  Take some time to make the gift reflect that you really know and appreciate your friend or relative.

Please Share Your Gift Ideas!

I hope that this list has given you a few helpful gift ideas for how to choose the best presents for the people you care about.  This list has touched on some ways to make good choices for the people you love and care about.  These tips can be applied to birthday gifts, bridal gifts, a special wedding anniversary, graduation gifts, gifts for Dad or Mom, romantic gift ideas (gift ideas for him and gift ideas for her), or anyone you care about.     Please take a minute and share your own gift ideas and gift suggestions by leaving a comment!