Christmas is only one months away, we all love getting presents at this time of year, but sometimes it can be hard to choose between the perfect gift for everyone in your family or even for your friends.
As the countdown to Christmas begins, it’s a good time to get ahead of your shopping to tick off everyone on your present list this year.
In this article, there are 5 principles about choose gifts:
- Give something practical
When we choose a gift, we often choose something that really makes an impression. We measure success in gift-giving by how much the recipient beams when he or she unwraps it. But in reality, other values count for the recipient.
So it helps to put yourself in the shoes of the recipient. A funny gift that elicits laughter from the recipient at first, but is then practically unusable, is more likely to turn out to be a mistake. What makes the presentee happy for a long time makes him happier on balance. It's okay to think practically: a pretty potted plant gives more pleasure in the long run than a fresh bouquet that wilts after a week.
2 Material gifts are better than their reputation.
In times of the Corona pandemic, these findings come in handy. It will be a while before we can sing along live with our favorite band again or cavort around the stove at a cooking class. That's another reason why most people will be able to do more with a breadmaker than with a course with a sushi master. And that doesn't just apply to the gourmet in the family: Many have discovered homemade sourdough bread for themselves during the lockdown.
- Gifts do not have to be expensive
For the satisfaction it made hardly a distinction whether the present was expensive or favorable.
Since an engagement ring is no ordinary gift, the researchers tested the effect on birthday gifts - including clothing, wine, books and decorations.
With the same result: While gift-givers consider the price to be decisive, it made hardly any difference to the satisfaction of the jubilarians whether the gift was expensive or inexpensive.
A possible explanation: Who splurges when giving, compares the expensive gift secretly with the rejected more favorable options and expects accordingly larger joy over it. But the presentee does not know anything from the more favorable options. If there is the present also used to buy, saves thus not only purse and environment, but prepares just as much joy as the same in new.
- Consider the wish list
Most of all, we want to surprise the other person with something that they didn't even know they needed. How boring to just pick something from the pre-made wish list. Such a mindless gift is unlikely to be well received - is it?
The situation is similar with gifts of money. Gift-givers expect an unexpected gift to be better received than an envelope full of bills. But the recipients are usually happier with the latter, as the study showed. They prefer to choose something themselves rather than being surprised with a gift that may not quite meet their taste. Doing without surprises more often is not unromantic, but a sign of love.
- Focus on the tried and tested
When we shop for someone else, we usually focus on their unique personality. We try to find a very special gift that is tailored specifically to that person. Yet we would often do better to choose something more general, studies show.
Moreover, when we give gifts, we are careful to get something different for everyone. It should be individual - even if several acquaintances would be happier with the same gift. We are also better at buying something for ourselves than for others. We can take advantage of this. What we like ourselves often goes down well with friends, too. After all, we share preferences and interests with them. You can also give away your favorite book several times over. That's not only easier, it also provides a common topic of conversation at the next party.