Struggling to find the perfect Christmas gift for someone who’s tough to buy for? Here are six potential solutions to your problem!
Planning your Christmas menu can be a piece of cake compared to buying gifts for some people!
Everyone seems to have one friend or loved one who is difficult to buy for. That person who always says there’s nothing they want, can’t choose anything they want or simply goes out and buys anything that they need.
Does that sound familiar?
It can make Christmas and birthdays quite stressful, but over the years I’ve come up with some strategies to make present buying easier.
Simple Gift Idea Strategies
The main strategy that I have developed over the years is to make a sneaky note whenever they mention something that they would like to have. So if someone comments on something advertised on TV or shows me something online, I make a note of it.
I like to use Google Keep because then I can access it from my laptop or my phone, which is handy when I’m out shopping. But you could write it in your diary or a notebook, as long as you keep it safely hidden from prying eyes!
I also set up a Christmas planning spreadsheet with a separate tab for each person’s gifts. This makes it really easy to remember what they mentioned earlier in the year when I start my Christmas shopping.
I’ve also shifted away from buying physical gifts, and instead I try to find ways to give an experience instead This might be a day out with the family, visiting a new place or trying a new skill. I know that I am definitely less bothered about material gifts and more excited about making memories these days.
So here are some of my gift ideas for awkward people:
Tickets for a Concert, Theatre or Sport Events
This is one of my personal favourites, and it always goes down well with my youngest son as well. Tickets for concerts and major sporting events are pretty expensive these days, so I quite often ask for them as a birthday present. And you can always combine it with dinner out before or after the event to make the day extra-special.
Cinema membership
Do you know someone who loves to watch films as soon as they’re released? Why not buy them a cinema gift card to pay for their next few visits. If they like to visit regularly, you could sign them up for a membership scheme like Cineworld Unlimited.
Experience Days
Experience days are a great way to give someone the opportunity to do something they wouldn’t normally do. They could try out zorbing or bungee jumping or go for a drive in a luxury supercar.
But it’s not all high-octane activities!
Experience days can also mean making your own designer perfume, learning to dance like their favourite Strictly professional, or eating a gourmet meal on board a steam train.
Spa Days and Pamper Sessions
Now this is one of my personal favourites!
Whether it’s a full day at a luxury health spa, or a couple of hours at the local beauty salon, I always find that a pamper session helps me feel relaxed and refreshed.
If you’re struggling for a gift idea, you could contact their regular beauty salon to buy them a pamper voucher. They’ll know exactly which treatments your loved one enjoys, so they can give you great advice on the right gift to buy!
Learning a new skill
Something else that has been a very popular gift for my family is learning a new skill. I once bought two of my sons vouchers to learn indoor skydiving, which they both really enjoyed.
You can also buy tickets for Zoom classes so that they can learn new skills like cooking at home.
Gift Vouchers
Some people are reluctant to buy gift vouchers as they think that vouchers are more impersonal than a gift. Personally, I’d rather give someone a gift voucher than buy them an unwanted gift.
As well as the standard High Street shopping vouchers and the ever-popular book tokens, there are plenty of other options. Steam vouchers are popular with gaming fans, and it’s even possible to buy gift cards for restaurants and coffee shops.
And if all else fails, there is always the option to give cash, which is always very popular with teenagers!
Do you have any suggestions for solving the gift buying dilemma? Let us know in the comments below!