Gift buying is apparently an art - for some they are very good at it whilst others, let’s just say they have room for improvement (that’s the optimist in me!). I was reminded of this vast gap recently and remembered exactly why I am one of those people who dread receiving gifts from those people who just don’t get me. I always think ‘it can’t be that difficult to get something for me’, but apparently it is as every year (well almost) I receive something that I deem appropriate for the ‘shite gift room’. You know the room you really want to have in your home where all those useless gifts can be stored and only taken out when the giver visits? I can’t be the only one who has this problem – can I?
Sale time has just finished and for some reason this year it has brought back years of crap gift memories. Maybe it is to do with those annoying people who rear their smugness around this time, telling me that their Christmas shopping is ‘done and dusted’. Personally, I can’t stand it when someone tells me that in November let alone in July (oh please!). How do they know what people want in advance? What about buying for people that might not be around when gift opening happens – I’m not thinking about dear ole Nana (that’s awful!) I’m referring to partners of your siblings or even step parents.
Whatever it is that makes people buy crap gifts, I think I have finally had enough of it and it’s the next thing I need to change in my life (an end to receiving hideous fluffy slippers, yeah!). My issue with the gift buying process is the ‘thoughtful’ part. It’s gone amiss. I don’t really mind how people buy the gifts – hell they can drop them out of a plane and land on my door step for all I care – it’s the why. Do people who buy months in advance with a quick whip around a store really get it right for that special someone? I love a sale, but I’m not convinced it’s a good recipe to avoid the ‘shite gift room’.
This may not come as any surprise, but I have stuffed up on the odd occasion, particularly when it comes to very rich people and ‘secret Santa’ type gifts. Okay, so I don’t technically know (yet) very rich people like Bill Gates, but I have stuffed up on some ‘secret Santa’ gifts for office Christmas parties. Unless you get someone’s name you work closely with, this area is so difficult, therefore it doesn’t count towards your record for being a good or crap gift buyer. However, the same cannot be said for buying for your friends or relatives. These scars last a lifetime (for the receiver that is – I should know) and it’s not like you can tell the person that you don’t like the gift (heavens no!). So if you empathise with me in any way (no matter how small), I think it’s time to help us by helping the gift buyer.
Some helpful tips for the lovely (and very generous) gift buyer:
1. Classify and understand your shopping stress levels:
a) The thought of shopping brings a smile to your face (happy to shop all day without a hint of perspiration). If this is you, that’s great! No excuse for you then – you can shop anywhere and your options are limitless.
b) You are someone who is just glad to get the buying part out of the way as quickly as possible (almost stress free). If this is you, just remember not to sacrifice gift quality for time restraints. Research so you end up getting what you set out to.
c) You feel slightly awkward (shopper who doesn’t like asking questions for fear of looking ridiculous – medium stress). If this is you, you need to practice asking questions (face to face or via the phone). Remember that asking questions may lesson the time you spend at the shops or online. Also, there is no such thing as a silly request/question unless you are me - I have paved the way for you with all of my confusing and ridiculous queries to shops in the past (no thanks needed).
d) The thought of shopping gives you the shivers (high stress shopper). If this is you, you are a definite candidate for shopping online. If you really need to go to the shops, find someone who you can shop with or get them to do it for you (just like the Queen but with less funds).
2. Think about what the person you are buying for wants. If this person hasn’t been precise (or you didn’t ask them), think about their interests.
3. If you are still stuck for ideas and asking them or someone close to them for ideas is out of the question, get some help using the ‘gift suggestions’ on most gift internet sites or enlist the help of shop sales assistants – they are paid to help you so make them earn their money.
4. Still stuck for that ‘perfect’ gift – why not get a specialty store voucher or go generic and get shopping centre vouchers. The idea that this is impersonal is rubbish - an ideal way to get them something that they will want and use.
5. Still stuck – cash gift. Who doesn’t like money?
Now relax, it’s over (till next time that is!).
Some helpful tips for the long suffering gift recipient:
1. Suggest that your crap gift buying culprits read this post.
2. Hinting what you want is so underrated these days. Make your hints count. Ask for anything and everything you like or need (months in advance if necessary) – eventually it has to sink in.
3. If all else fails (and to make sure the crap gift buying culprits don’t waste any more of their hard earned money), request vouchers or cash.
4. Try to control any anxiety by thinking positive in the lead up to your birthday or Christmas – positive thoughts will hopefully attract good things.
5. Anger management if all else fails.
Now with my personal views out there, hopefully those crap gift buying culprits have some ‘food for thought’ for any future purchases. I realise that there is a pretty good chance my post will backfire on me spectacularly when my friends and family read this. What is a certainty is that I will no longer have a need for the ‘shite gift room’. 2010 will either be the year of fabulous gifts or a year of receiving zilch, zero, zippo, nil, nada, null. Bring it on! Tx
Dedicated to all those long suffering receivers of useless gifts
Sale time has just finished and for some reason this year it has brought back years of crap gift memories. Maybe it is to do with those annoying people who rear their smugness around this time, telling me that their Christmas shopping is ‘done and dusted’. Personally, I can’t stand it when someone tells me that in November let alone in July (oh please!). How do they know what people want in advance? What about buying for people that might not be around when gift opening happens – I’m not thinking about dear ole Nana (that’s awful!) I’m referring to partners of your siblings or even step parents.
Whatever it is that makes people buy crap gifts, I think I have finally had enough of it and it’s the next thing I need to change in my life (an end to receiving hideous fluffy slippers, yeah!). My issue with the gift buying process is the ‘thoughtful’ part. It’s gone amiss. I don’t really mind how people buy the gifts – hell they can drop them out of a plane and land on my door step for all I care – it’s the why. Do people who buy months in advance with a quick whip around a store really get it right for that special someone? I love a sale, but I’m not convinced it’s a good recipe to avoid the ‘shite gift room’.
This may not come as any surprise, but I have stuffed up on the odd occasion, particularly when it comes to very rich people and ‘secret Santa’ type gifts. Okay, so I don’t technically know (yet) very rich people like Bill Gates, but I have stuffed up on some ‘secret Santa’ gifts for office Christmas parties. Unless you get someone’s name you work closely with, this area is so difficult, therefore it doesn’t count towards your record for being a good or crap gift buyer. However, the same cannot be said for buying for your friends or relatives. These scars last a lifetime (for the receiver that is – I should know) and it’s not like you can tell the person that you don’t like the gift (heavens no!). So if you empathise with me in any way (no matter how small), I think it’s time to help us by helping the gift buyer.
Some helpful tips for the lovely (and very generous) gift buyer:
1. Classify and understand your shopping stress levels:
a) The thought of shopping brings a smile to your face (happy to shop all day without a hint of perspiration). If this is you, that’s great! No excuse for you then – you can shop anywhere and your options are limitless.
b) You are someone who is just glad to get the buying part out of the way as quickly as possible (almost stress free). If this is you, just remember not to sacrifice gift quality for time restraints. Research so you end up getting what you set out to.
c) You feel slightly awkward (shopper who doesn’t like asking questions for fear of looking ridiculous – medium stress). If this is you, you need to practice asking questions (face to face or via the phone). Remember that asking questions may lesson the time you spend at the shops or online. Also, there is no such thing as a silly request/question unless you are me - I have paved the way for you with all of my confusing and ridiculous queries to shops in the past (no thanks needed).
d) The thought of shopping gives you the shivers (high stress shopper). If this is you, you are a definite candidate for shopping online. If you really need to go to the shops, find someone who you can shop with or get them to do it for you (just like the Queen but with less funds).
2. Think about what the person you are buying for wants. If this person hasn’t been precise (or you didn’t ask them), think about their interests.
3. If you are still stuck for ideas and asking them or someone close to them for ideas is out of the question, get some help using the ‘gift suggestions’ on most gift internet sites or enlist the help of shop sales assistants – they are paid to help you so make them earn their money.
4. Still stuck for that ‘perfect’ gift – why not get a specialty store voucher or go generic and get shopping centre vouchers. The idea that this is impersonal is rubbish - an ideal way to get them something that they will want and use.
5. Still stuck – cash gift. Who doesn’t like money?
Now relax, it’s over (till next time that is!).
Some helpful tips for the long suffering gift recipient:
1. Suggest that your crap gift buying culprits read this post.
2. Hinting what you want is so underrated these days. Make your hints count. Ask for anything and everything you like or need (months in advance if necessary) – eventually it has to sink in.
3. If all else fails (and to make sure the crap gift buying culprits don’t waste any more of their hard earned money), request vouchers or cash.
4. Try to control any anxiety by thinking positive in the lead up to your birthday or Christmas – positive thoughts will hopefully attract good things.
5. Anger management if all else fails.
Now with my personal views out there, hopefully those crap gift buying culprits have some ‘food for thought’ for any future purchases. I realise that there is a pretty good chance my post will backfire on me spectacularly when my friends and family read this. What is a certainty is that I will no longer have a need for the ‘shite gift room’. 2010 will either be the year of fabulous gifts or a year of receiving zilch, zero, zippo, nil, nada, null. Bring it on! Tx
Dedicated to all those long suffering receivers of useless gifts
