What do you buy for the person who has everything? Similarly, what do you buy for the person who has nothing? Finding the perfect gift for someone can be a difficult endeavour if you don’t know how to read the situation, if you don’t know what they need, or if you want to make it really special.

The first thing you need to consider is the occasion. If you’re getting a gift for Mother’s day or for Easter for example then you don’t need anything too big or expensive, whereas if you’re getting something for a wedding you should go a bit more expensive and maybe get something more practical. Alternatively for a wedding and often a birthday there may well be a list which will enable you to pick something that’s sure to be a hit (though if you know them well you might appear to have a lack of effort or imagination by using this tact).

The person you’re buying for also makes a difference, with closer friends and family demanding more thought and money. Buying something really expensive for someone you hardly know can be just as embarrassing as buying something cheap for someone you’ve known for a long time if not worse. For good mates you might not even need to spend that much, the situation may instead call for an amusing or novelty gift that they’ll appreciate as part of an in-joke or something that you can enjoy together.

For these smaller kinds of gifts you have an opportunity to get them something that they wouldn’t normally spend the money on. For example, when you see a cool desk toy that you think would look cool in your office but can’t afford to spend the money, this is exactly the kind of gift that would be well received. In fact decorative/novelty items are often a good idea if they’re practical and unusual as they can actually get use from them.

For someone closer however, particularly a partner, the emphasis should be less on amusement, novelty and practicality and more on something that they want. For a small gift, their favourite flowers or chocolates could be a nice gesture, especially if personalised with a note or if given out of the blue. For larger events such as anniversaries or birthdays you want something that will spoil them, and if possible something thoughtful that shows you know them well. A great gift is one that they wanted but didn’t specifically ask for. You can do this by talking to friends or by snooping around. Go shopping with them and keep an eye on the things they look at and make notes for future reference.

If you know them really well though you should be able to get them things they didn’t even know they’d want. By learning their tastes you should be able to predict what kinds of books, films or music they’ll enjoy. Combined with something slightly more expensive and romantic this gesture will make them feel warm with the knowledge that someone cares enough to know what they’ll like, and they might even find a new band or author they like.

Mack LeMouse

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