Ah, December. It’s the most wonderful time of the year for some, but it can be the most dreaded for others, what with the new wave of troubles it brings for us all: the glorious feasts threatening our diets, the fully booked flights and hotels, the crazy holiday traffic, and last but not the least, the Christmas shopping rush.
So for all the Grinches out there who have been putting off their holiday errands, the following are a few tips and reminders for you to ponder on before you embark on the chaotic and blood-boiling experience that is known as last-minute Christmas gift shopping.
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- The price tag doesn’t matter
Whether your gift is worth a hundred or a thousand pesos, how cheap or how expensive it is doesn’t really matter; it is up to you on how much you want to spend for that person (unless, of course, it’s a Kris Kringle with a specified budget). Remember, the price value of your gift does not necessarily equate to how much you value the person receiving it. (PSA: Please oh please don’t forget to remove the price tag before wrapping your gifts!)
- Avoid categorizing by gender; go unisex
Gone are the days where pink equaled girls and blue equaled boys. In a generation with varied identifying sexualities, it becomes more and more difficult to categorize colors for certain genders. The safest thing to do would be to buy items that everyone and anyone would like and use—notebooks, tumblers, and the like.
- For last minute gifts, it’s OK to give food
For those who lack the time to look around for specific gifts suited to the people in their Christmas shopping list, it is indeed acceptable to gift them yummy food or dessert, because who doesn’t love food? Just make sure that whatever you buy doesn’t spoil easily and will have a long shelf life—the receiver might not be able to eat it right away.
- You can recycle gifts—but do so wisely!
We’ve all received gifts we didn’t really need or like—most likely, we recycled those gifts or gave them to charity. If you choose to recycle, then by all means please ensure you don’t make the mistake of giving the gift back to the person who originally gave it to you! And yes, it’s happened before. How did the person know it was recycled? When they unwrapped the gift, it had a previous gift tag with someone else’s name on it; yikes.
- Presentation is key
Don’t forget to wrap your gifts with love! You can even make your own gift-wrapping paper to bring out your inner artiste and add your own personal touch. And for those who aren’t so skilled in the gift wrapping department, don’t’ fret; there are always gift wrapping counters in bookstores and readymade gift bags and ribbons to come to your rescue. Reminder, if your gift is fragile, don’t forget to put it in a box and some bubble wrap (which, for some, can be a bonus!).
- Label your gifts correctly
Make sure you don’t mix up all your gifts and write your personal messages on the gift cards. A simple “Merry Christmas” will do, but try to include a short and sweet message to the receiver as well—people often appreciate these personal messages.
- It’s the thought that counts!
Who wouldn’t be delighted to receive a gift that was well thought of? Big or small, expensive or not, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you remembered the person and spent the time and effort (and money) to get them a gift suited to their likes or personality.
With all that said and done, hopefully these simple guidelines will go a long way for you; by then you’ll be sure to make Santa and his little helpers proud.
