The leaves are changing, the beanies are out, and there’s a chill in the New York air. That means it’s time to begin your holiday shopping!
Let’s be honest, it can be difficult to buy gifts for people. Whether someone is particular about their list or you just don’t know where to start. I’m going to share my gift-giving process and how I generally go about giving and buying gifts for people.
Gift Giving Pro Tip
As you begin to think of the people you are buying for and their interests, start saving gift guides you find and like! Once you narrow down the type of gift you want for someone, you can reference your gift guides for ideas. Whether you find the exact item or even a new brand to try out. They will help inspire you and cut down on your shopping time.
I share gift guides on my LikeToKnow.It and IG for anyone who may need some more specific inspiration. It’s always nice to have a starting point when it comes to holiday shopping. Especially if you have a lot of people to shop for. It can quickly get overwhelming. Check out some of my favorite gift guides here!
Make Them Swoon
Whenever I buy gifts, I look for items that will make the recipient swoon. This means that you will need to take a second to think about the person. What you know about them; their likes, hobbies, and habits to name a few items. These can help point you in the right direction of where to begin your shopping.
My sister, for example, is the workout queen, so workout gear is always a good bet for her. However, she usually buys functional workout clothes. So, I try to buy her brands she may not know of that are a little more luxe and items she’d love to have, but feels they’re a tad bit frivolous. For example – a lululemon infinity scarf or an Alala yoga jacket. Clothing that you feel confident in is the best. I’m all about dopamine dressing which you can read more about here.
This shows that I pay attention to her but also want to spoil her for the holidays. It’s a great way to incorporate your gift into their everyday life. You want them to use and appreciate your gift after all! So practicality is also important here.
You know how I mentioned my gift guides above? Well, they are another easy and fun way to find gifts for the people on your shopping list! Especially themed gift guides… they really do all of the work for you. Right?
Sending Subscriptions
Subscriptions or subscription boxes make great gifts because they arrive magically once a month to the delight of the recipient. Wine, gourmet food, makeup products, the list is endless. Nowadays there are subscription boxes and options for literally everything.
Have a teenager who is just starting to wear and experiment with makeup? An Ipsy or Boxycharm subscription would be a great option for them. An aunt who loves to try out new wine? There’s an option for it. All you need to do is decide on your price range, and delivery frequency, and you can begin Googling.
Or the more simplistic route for subscriptions is a Netflix subscription. I enjoy streaming a show or two at night or during my self-care days. You can buy a gift card for the site and allow your recipient to enjoy the streaming platform. You don’t need to enter your card information or remember to cancel the subscription later on.
Cash Is A Crowd Pleaser
Let’s be honest, everyone, especially teens, loves to receive money. You can’t go wrong with cash or a Visa/Mastercard gift card. The easier it is to spend, the more they will love it. If there is a specific store you know they love, a gift card there could be nice as well.
But, I do like to buy a little something as well. Just giving cash or a gift card feels impersonal since it’s just a handoff. Adding something else to the gift elevates it and makes it seem like you still put time and thought into it. Like a credit card wallet for you to put the gift card or cash in or a travel mug to go with a Starbucks gift card.
Small Businesses I Love!
I have to of course mention small businesses that I love since I believe in shopping small and supporting local businesses!
Metalicious
Metalicious is owned by my dear friend Stephanie! They sell unique handmade jewelry that will add an elevated bohemian element to your overall look and a special, heirloom-quality piece to your jewelry box. They have a range of alternative bridal jewelry to mark your union in the most impactful way or head over to our other collections for eclectic, stand-out rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.
Jam + Rico
Their mission is to offer thoughtfully curated accessories to enhance your wardrobe. Their pieces evoke confidence, bring joy, and beauty to each individual who wears them.
Jam + Rico stands for Jamaica + Puerto Rico, the plus sign symbolizes the depth of the culture of Jam + Rico. They travel to Caribbean countries searching for inspiration from the culture, music, people, and terrain.
Clever Girl Finance
Owned by my friend Bola Sokunbi, Clever Girl Finance is one of the largest personal finance media/education platforms for women in the U.S. and they consistently have been voted among the best of the best finance websites for women.
She has written books, offers free courses, one-on-one coaching, and she has a podcast. You can give the gift of financial knowledge this year.
Happy Gifting
Those are my favorite tips and tricks when it comes to gifting! Especially during the holiday season. It can be difficult to cross people off your shopping list, so hopefully, this helps make your shopping trips shorter this year.
Stylishly Yours,
Kalyn
This post contains affiliate links and I may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please see my disclosures for more information. Thank you so much for your support!
Love these gifting ideas and tips! Thanks for sharing. – @styledbysetitra