How to Buy a Memorable Christmas Gift

It can sometimes be difficult to buy a Christmas gift for that special someone. With all those Christmas lists of items someone wants and updating old electronics, it can be difficult to get something truly special and surprising.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A thinking cap
• Paper
• Pen/pencil
• Money
• Transportation
• Internet connection

1. First, stop thinking inside the box. Stop trying to get gifts that are on someone's wishlist, stop thinking about what nifty new electronic he might like (for five minutes), and make the decision to completely avoid gift cards at generic stores. All of these types of gifts suck the excitement and surprise out of gift giving and receiving.

2. Sit down and start thinking about the times you have spent together and the things the person likes to do. What is his favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon? What are her hobbies? If the person is a spouse, what was your first date? Just start jotting these sorts of things down.

3. Look at each item on the list and think about ways you might be able to concoct a gift. Most of the best gifts are progressive gifts, where you give them two or three small items and one big item. Also, try to figure out gifts that can all fit into one gift bag. There is more surprise and it is more fun if they are layered in the gift bag with the biggest present on the very bottom.

4. If you want to be elaborate with the gift, consider this: If his favorite NFL team is the Giants, consider buying him an official Eli Manning jersey, a Giants cap, a jacket with the Giants logo, and finish it all up by surprising him with tickets to see the Giants play. If she loves cooking, consider buying her a new food processor, a recipe book, a gift card to her favorite farmer's market, and finish it up with a card saying you have enrolled her in a cooking class with a local chef.

5. The gifts do not have to be elaborate though, just heartfelt. If you cannot afford a lot and your first date was at a movie, you could consider buying a film poster of that movie, a movie popcorn serving set, and a copy of the film on DVD or BluRay to snuggle up to and watch that night.

6. Once you have started coming up with a plan, go online or travel to some stores and start researching the gifts. The more you look around, the more likely you are to find a good deal.

7. Once you have decided on a gift, make your purchases and get them all set up in the gift bag. All you have to do now is wait for the expression of surprise on your special one's face.

Tips & Warnings

• You do not have to get one type of gift. If you can figure out six or seven gifts that fall into more than one category, feel absolutely welcome to make multiple gifts.
• If you are opening the gifts up alone, the gift bag is the best route. If you are opening up the gifts with a big family, where you take turns opening gifts, you might want to consider individually wrapping them (but make sure you keep an eye on the big gift so your recipient does not open it too soon).
• If you do not really know the recipient on a really personal level, this may not be the best route. In that case, the old tried and true gifts listed in the introduction will usually work just fine.

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on 12/16/2008 Great tips. You want to make sure to buy a great gift so it will be remembered.