Our modern society made sure to sprinkle occasions for memorable events throughout an entire year. Thanks to anniversaries, holidays and celebrations, people can get together and enjoy the presence of those who make them feel strong, loved and happy.
What all these merry celebrations have in common is the ritual of gifting tokens of affection. We all know how this works. People plan ahead their mall or themed fair trips. When the awaited day comes, the shopping spree commences.
Unfortunately, shopping has reportedly lost its luster. In fact, shoppers can feel how stress is building up. McKinsey & Company revealed that almost half of concerns spring from the possibility of not picking the right gift.
If this happens to you and are willing to change that, there are a few tricks to get in the shoes of a moderate shopper. Holidays and birthdays are the best occasions to put on your gift-giving hat. Nobody should miss that. But this time, make your giving experience enjoyable from top to bottom.
Home Preparations
Show up unprepared, and stores might take you aback. There are simply too many stimuli trained to lead you astray.
The antidote to any shopping frenzy? Getting into a mood of generosity and discipline before leaving the house.
Home ambiance
Have you noticed that when you are feeling at peace with yourself, that’s when shopping gets inspired? A meaningful shopping experience begins with a little self-indulgence.
While getting ready to go out, create the kind of ambiance that elevates your spirits. Be it vibrant or blissful, don’t hold back from any indulging stimuli. Favorite playlists, fragrances, candles, movies – it’s in your power to set the tone for a magical session of shopping.
Call friends
Invite people you look up to to join you in your plans. There are so many wonderful reasons for it. For starters, whenever you are with friends, even the most tedious task turns into an exciting quest. This way, the stress thermometer plunges to trifling readings.
On top of that, having your friends with you keeps your mood swings in check. They have a way of making your worries vanish into thin air. With their support, you can skip the anguish of failing at gift-giving altogether and bring reason back to the table.
Stick to a budget
Stores have been devising endless siren songs to render shopping lists redundant. For instance, price variations are deconstructing your notion of a good price.
You might start off clean with a budget-friendly item. However, the next thing you notice is that its expensive version has bonus features and beauty points. During impromptu research on your smartphone, you unexpectedly find a mid-range option as well. Which of these three is the right path to take?
A fixed budget dispels any shopping dilemmas that might cast doubt on your studies.
A trick for mastering uncharted hobbies
One of the things we love about our friends and family is their unique interests. It’s captivating to hear them speak about their passions. However, the hard part begins when you have to pick a present that satisfies these particular interests.
Take the shortcut to the perfect hobby gifts by relying on others’ insights and knowledge. Micro-influencers are creating tons of content every day to keep people in the loop with the latest updates in their favorite markets. Part of their job is to deliver information in an entertaining but also educational manner.
With that in mind, influencers’ input on social media or blogs is valuable in situations like these. When you are unsure which model to pick for a makeup or tech aficionado, let available specialists guide you.
It doesn’t have to be material
Jewelry, gadgets, clothing, toys, chocolate – these are all essential gift categories. However, their material side causes them to be consumable or prone to deterioration. Consequently, their meaning can get lost in time.
If the occasion calls for a memorable present, you might want to consider other types of gifts:
- It is said that life is as rich as the number of experiences one accumulates. Prolong the magic of life by going for plane tickets, vacation packages, spa sessions, horse riding lessons, and other long-lasting sensations and impressions.
- Lighting a gleam of joy in the eyes of hard-to-please people is a true triumph for any giver. Where material gifts failed to warm cold hearts, make donations on behalf of the recipient. A thoughtful gesture has unimaginable implications.
- No doubt, personalized gifts create the most emotion. Think of a necklace guarding a secret message, a custom painting with symbols known only to you two or an engraved watch.
At the store
Do your homework well and new Christmas carols will sing about your wonderful gift shopping sessions. Nonetheless, even when success is within grasp, one should stay focused to evade temptations.
Pack a snack
Usually, hunger makes it a habit to augment negative feelings. One trivial reason for concern can ignite piles of stressful thoughts under the surveillance of an empty stomach.
That’s why a healthy snack like an apple or digestive biscuits has the power to keep clouds at bay. Make sure you’re feeling full throughout your mission and your good mood will stay unflinching.
Ask for bonus wrapping services
Retailers know their clientele like the back of their hand. Especially on holidays, stores make available extra features to welcome even more customers. One of these perks is gift wrapping on the house.
Therefore, don’t forget to inquire whether those stores you’ve picked are providing such services. This way, you take care of one essential part of gift-giving free of charge and the result will look professional.
Enjoy yourself
Think of gift shopping as a wonderful extension to the party to come. Savor the moment, talk with storekeepers and smile to them, try out samples, listen to in-store music, and test new gadgets. Enjoy every part that makes up a memorable shopping session without giving in to unreasonable purchases.
Plus, it’s easier than ever to avoid stressful moments in a store. With such a wide variety of merchandise nowadays, you can master the art of giving in no time.