This year, Wisconsin has already experienced some abundant snowfall, setting the scene for a wonderful Christmas day. There are countless ways to spend this holiday with friends and family. Gift giving is just one of the great ways to share affection with your loved ones; though, not all are familiar with the ‘right’ presents to look for. Perhaps, you don’t know the person’s exact interests or personality. Well, here are a couple things to consider on your gift giving journey. 

What’s the purpose of your gift?

What is the gift meant to do, or ask yourself how you want the recipient to feel about it. What is the gift exactly for? Typical events include: Celebratory, Comforting, Romantic, Casual, Milestone marker, and Gratitude/Host. Once you have both the category and emotions you want to evoke, continue reading.

Brainstorming possible ideas

This is probably the most challenging part of gift giving. You may not be able to make up your mind, or genuinely have no idea. Instead of simply guessing and choosing, consider subtly asking questions to your desired person. Don’t make it obvious! If not, ask yourself:

Daily life or routines:

Is there something they do very often, as in a daily habit?

What do they always carry with them?

Is there something they always forgot to buy for themselves?

Aesthetics:

What colors or fabrics do they often wear?

What textures of materials do they love?

What is their overall age of their dressing? Vintage, modern, maximalist, minimal, earthy, ect?\

Favorite brands? Labels?

Desires:

What hobbies do they love/want to try?

What have they been saving up for?

What do they often talk about getting for themselves?

Quirks:

Is there an inside joke/quote you two are aware of?

What is something about them that humors the both of you?

Emotions:

Are they going through a difficult time?

Have they entered a new stage in their life? (Parenthood, job)

Small details:

Are they allergic to anything?

Are they soon traveling somewhere?

Will your gift be useful to them?

Low-key interrogating:

“What do you usually do on the weekends?”

“What is your favorite food or snack?”

“What are you in-to right now?

Choosing the ‘genre’ of your gift

Will it be a sentimental one? This will be a personal gift to your relationship or to their own story. Practical gift, a generous add to something they do or use daily. These are just a couple of options to possible big pictures of your gift.

When should you begin planning your gift and how much should you spend?

Planning early is essential to give a thoughtful gift. It really shows that you thought ahead instead of giving a last minute gift to seem nice. For birthdays, shop 3-4 weeks ahead. Holidays, look into it through October to December. Prices are really up to you. It is your money. Though, don’t be a show off. You will make the recipient feel bad for accepting such a pricey gift. It all depends on the person, and the size, meaning of the gift, A big thing to consider.

Do it!

Start planning the gift, and give a date/location to where you will give your wonderful gift! Do it wholeheartedly and at the right time. Enjoy this year’s amazing holidays surrounded by friends and family.

O’Brien, J. (2025b, June 24). The ultimate gift-giving guide for everything. Feeling! Magazine. https://www.feelingthemagazine.com/p/the-ultimate-gift-giving-guide-for