Step it Up: How to Take Your Gift Giving to the Next Level

Image via Complex Original

Forget everything that you’ve heard about it being the thought that counts when it comes to gift giving, because the gift counts, too (s crass as that may sound). It serves as a direct statement on the value that you put on your relationship to the recipient. Sure, it’s always nice that you think enough of someone to even put him or her on your gift list in the first place. But when that gift is clearly one of the three items left in a holiday-ravaged store or something you picked up at the local gas station, frankly, you’d be better off handing over a simple card with a heartfelt, handwritten note. The bottom line is that last-minute gifts are almost always guaranteed to be not well-thought-out gifts, which is just one of the many reasons why you should start your buying frenzy early. Keeping your sanity intact is just a fortunate side effect.

Here’s a simple trick to getting a gift someone will truly love: listen. That’s right, the key to being a truly A-list gift giver is simply to listen closely to the conversations that you have with the intended recipient and jump on any clues. When he tells you how much he loves those custom kicks you’re wearing, design a (slightly different) pair for him. When she offhandedly mentions that Roald Dahl is her favorite author, make a mental note to see how much a first edition copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory might run you on eBay.

If keeping your ears open for a hint as to what might make the perfect gift proves problematic, you can always use your Internet stalking skills for good to pinpoint the perfect gift. Spend a few minutes on each of the recipient’s social media pages to see what he or she has been liking on Facebook, tweeting about, buying on Amazon, or listening to on Spotify for an easy rundown of the kinds of things that he or she is into at the moment. From there, use your imagination.

Just because you can’t buy your significant other a new Lamborghini doesn’t mean that you can’t give him or her a new Lamborghini—at least for the day. A short-term gift—a weekend car rental, a one-time house cleaning, etc.—can be just as appreciated as the real, full-time thing. And it doesn’t come with an insurance bill.

If you like the idea of a one-day sports car rental, why stop there? Add in the racetrack, too! Turning a simple gift into a full-fledged experience—flying lessons, cooking class, an art seminar—is the stuff of what memories (and gift-giving heroes) are made.

What’s better than one gift? Twelve gifts, obviously. And no, we’re not talking about the Jam of the Month Club (unless your recipient really, really likes jam). Today, it’s easy to find a gift that keeps on giving with a host of monthly subscription clubs that will remind your recipient of you again and again (and again and again)… Bacon, Moustache, and Pickle of the Month Clubs are just the beginning.

Stepping outside of one’s comfort zone is a good thing. But oftentimes, people need a little bit of a push. Egg on your recipient’s inner daredevil with a gift that will push him or her to their limits—like a day of skydiving or a weekend of swimming with great white sharks. Better yet, make it a trip for two and promise that you’ll tag along.

Charity is a good thing, and it makes people feel all warm and fuzzy about themselves. So skip the tangible tie rack and, instead, opt for a donation—in the name of your recipient—to a charity or organization that’s well-aligned with his or her likes and interests. You know, like an ASPCA donation for that crazy cat lady down the street…

Could your recipient use a night off from the kids? A weekend away without dog? Some help painting the bedroom? Or assistance grouting the bathtub? More time is the one thing that a person can’t buy for him or herself, but you can offer up some of your own. No wrapping required.

Sure, you could just hand over a gift in all its naked glory. Or you could make the recipient work for it, turning the process of actually finding the gift into its very own memory. Throw a couple of obstacles in the way of the final treasure—a scavenger hunt that leads to the final prize or a game of trivia that determines whether the person gets Gift A or Gift B. And then really wow ’em by giving them both gifts anyway.