Holiday Gifting Tips and Tricks | Kayla Fung

Holiday Gifting Tips and Tricks

by; Kayla Fung

It’s that time of year again… The air is crisper, Patagonia jackets are dusted off, and the countdown to winter break begins. In case you’re wondering, we still have twenty days to go. Accompanying the warm and fuzzy feeling leading up to Christmas, the holiday gifting panic rears its ugly head. A million questions pop into your head: What kind of gift would my best friend want?  How am I going to afford all these presents? Is this gift enough to show them I care?

Now, before you fly into a full fledged panic and hit the mayday button, I’m here with a few gifting tips that just might the holiday rush seem a little less crazy.

Tips, Tricks, and Hacks

1. What constitutes a GREAT gift?

When we think of amazing gifts, our minds tend to migrate towards the extravagant. We see celebrity gifts on Instagram and Snapchat all the time, the luxury cars and designer brands, and we just can’t help but feel inadequate. Before you worry, put things in perspective. I mean, we’re all students. Our average shopping budgets are most likely $100 divided amongst all the friends we need to gift. So, here’s a tip. A good gift isn’t measured by its price tag, but by the meaning behind it. So this Christmas, instead of splurging irrationally on presents, buy something economical but funny or make a thoughtful, handmade gift for a friend. I guarantee you they’ll like it.

1. How do I choose a gift?

Now, this one’s tricky. It seems like you know all your close friends like the back of your hand, but whenever Christmas time rolls around, you just blank. For the life of you, you just can’t think of a gift for them. What was their favorite color again? What food are they allergic to? Do they already own this item? You want to know exactly what they want without being too obvious and asking them outright. Thankfully, I’ve developed a strategy for this recurring dilemma that might just help you out this holiday season. The key is to stay alert. In the time leading up to Christmas, keep your ears and eyes open. If you notice your friend looking at a shirt online or hear them talking about this new gadget that they want, keep it in mind. Keep a small list of what things your friends seem to be interested in, and trust me, your life is going to be a hell of a lot easier at the end of this month.

1. How do I show them that I REALLY care?

If you take anything away from this article, this is it. How do I show that I really do care about someone through my gift? You do something simple, something that is often underestimated and overlooked. Include a card. I know, I know. You’re probably wondering how a card can boost the quality of your gift, so allow me to let you in on a secret. The key to gift giving is genuine appreciation for someone. Any gift, big or small, can be elevated by a heartfelt card or note filled with love, appreciation, or inside jokes that you share with a friend or family member. I can say with absolute certainty that this has been my secret weapon when gifting, and it has been a 100% success so far.

So friends, keep these tips and hacks in mind this holiday season. Gift sincerely, but don’t get too caught up in the presents, because just remember, the holidays are about the people you’re with, not the gifts you receive. Happy Holidays!