Some tips to ensure your gift recipient is happy
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Editorial Assistant
Black Friday is fast approaching, and in order to have any success in the mess of people crowding the stores, you’ll have to go at least somewhat prepared.
A big concern for adults around the holiday season is what gifts to buy. Kids and teenagers just aren’t as easily entertained as they used to, and even parents sometimes find themselves drawing a blank when thinking of gift ideas.
First, a few general tips that will make the recipient of your gift a little more thankful:
• Ask the cashier for a gift receipt for the purchase — multiple, if you’re buying for more than one person.• Always double-check sizes to make sure you buy the correct one, and keep any tags on clothes in case they need to be returned or exchanged.
• If you decide to play it safe and go with a gift card, get one that can be used at any store, such as a Visa or American Express gift card — that way, the recipient can choose their favorite store, and you can skip the guessing game.
• If you’re buying a toy, buy batteries to go with it (if they aren’t included).
Some gift ideas are overlooked around this season, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t quality. If you have to buy a gift for someone you’re not really close to, such as a coworker, boss, teacher, or your delivery person, these ideas may be what you’re looking for:
• Gift subscriptions. Magazines, newspapers — gift subscriptions are usually pretty cheap, and they last a whole year (or however long you paid for).
• Gift baskets. They contain many different items, and are a great gift for a person that you just can’t figure out what to buy for. Plus, there are multiple kinds to choose from: fruit, cookies, wine, chocolate, etc.
• Anything personalized. There are many Web sites out there, such as www.personalcreations.com, that allow you to personalize pretty much anything: coffee mugs, pens, wall hangings, stockings, notepads, etc., for relatively cheap.
• Month Clubs. Fruit of the month, beer of the month; there are tons of “clubs” that you can sign someone up for, depending on what their interests are.
What about buying for children or teens? They do tend to be more picky than adults, and the last thing you want is an unhappy child on Christmas Day. Obviously, toys are always a safe gift option for kids. But remember, technology plays a huge part in children’s lives today, even the younger ones. There are many child-friendly and relatively cheap laptops, cell phones, mp3 players, and other electronic devices that will entertain the child that isn’t interested in Hot Wheels cars or other classic, non-electronic toys. Some things to remember when buying for young children:
• Make sure to check the age recommendation on the box: toys are made for specific ages, and you don’t want to get a young child something that could potentially harm them, a toy that is too young and will bore them, or one that is too old and will frustrate the child.
• If the toy doesn’t look interesting when you buy it, the child probably won’t find it interesting, either; bring out your inner child when buying for one.
• Toys for younger children are usually aimed at teaching and developing skills that they will use as they get older; the more sounds/lights it has, the more likely it is to appeal to a little one.
• Books are a very underrated gift idea for children. Reading to children as they are younger has proved to promote intelligence as they get older, so if you’re looking for stocking stuffers, books would make great gifts.
• Although clothes are usually always appreciated by moms, especially at the rate kids grow, they’re not really an exciting gift for a child. If you do decide to get clothes, keep it to a minimum if you want to keep the child happy.
• A good way to find out what toys are popular this year is by looking online. There are many websites with reviews and gift guides that list the hottest toys this Christmas season, and they’re a great place to start a search when figuring out what you’ll be buying this year.
Teenagers are possibly some of the toughest people to buy gifts for. What can you get that will actually interest them, besides a gift card?
• Cell phone/iPod/laptop accessories. Find out the name of their device (asking their parents is an easy way to figure this out without giving away your gift idea), write it down, and take it to your store of choice (Best Buy and Verizon Wireless are among the most popular). If you’re not very experienced with electronics, ask a sales representative to help you: just give them the name of the device and they’ll know what to do. Cases, screen protectors, and car chargers are just a few that make thoughtful and practical gifts, and many cell phone stores offer bundles that save you money if you buy three different accessories or items.
• Car accessories. Steering wheel covers, seat covers, air fresheners, floor mats — not only do they make good gifts, but they encourage your teen to take care of their vehicle.
• Outerwear. Many teenagers don’t like to spend money on things like hats, mittens, and scarves, so gifting them is a great option. Just make sure to keep any tags and include a gift receipt, in case they want to exchange them for a different style.
• Gift sets. There are many gift sets that include things like body wash and shampoo (for boys and girls), varieties of makeup, and other beauty/hygiene products that are pretty cheap.
• Remember, if you decide to get a gift card, get a universal one, and be sure to put an amount that will actually buy them something; $10 gift cards just don’t go very far any more.
Shopping for others can be very frustrating and costly, but being prepared is half the battle. Before you go, write down who all you’ll be buying for and an idea of what you want to get each person to save a lot of time and hassle. Knowing where you’re going and what you want can save you a lot of money, too. And if you’re still stuck and just don’t know what to get for someone, either: put yourself in their shoes and think of what gift you would like to receive, or just ask them. Good luck this holiday shopping season, and never forget the real reason we celebrate this time of year.