Ho, ho, ho! End of the year means shopping and gifting season is near!

Unfortunately, that also means we’re approaching the most planet-trashing time of the year. Billions of dollars are wasted on unwanted gifts annually, and millions of gifts turn into trash prematurely during the year-end holiday season alone.

That is to say, giving good gifts is hard.

There’s nothing inherently wrong about the idea of gifting — when it’s done thoughtfully. The feeling of receiving a thoughtful gift from someone who cares is wonderful. Even more wonderful, is seeing the glee in someone’s eyes when they absolutely adore what you’ve gifted them.

While it’s the thought that counts, none of us wants to give gifts that are only going to waste. So before you do your last-minute shopping for the holidays, here are some of the best tips we’ve come across that will make you a better gifter.

What makes them curse?

This is a great question to ask not just when buying gifts for others, but also when considering whether a personal purchase is going to be worthwhile.

If you spend a decent amount of time with your gift’s recipient on a day-to-day basis, observe what makes them curse! If there are pain points in their life that can be fixed with a tangible item, then it’ll almost certainly make a good (at least, useful) gift.

Call us dull, but we’ve stopped the habit of giving each other gifts a long time ago. However, a pair of comfortable shoes or reliable earbuds would have been very welcomed gifts if we wanted to get something for each other this year.

Life is too short to be spent frustrated and annoyed. The next time you’re getting a gift for someone you know pretty well — and that includes yourself — ask “What are some things that frequently annoy them?”. This may just help you come up with a couple of brilliant ideas!

Sometimes boring is better.

Does a gift have to be exciting to be great? Often, the answer is no.

For example, a watch can be an exquisite and exciting gift, but it may not be the best idea unless you’re extremely certain about the recipient’s tastes. Otherwise, your gift may head straight into their “collection” in the drawer.

On the other hand, while a display/storage case or cleaning kit for this person’s watches may not sound anywhere near as exciting, it’ll likely be much more useful in the long run.

So if your intention is to get something that will actually feature in a person’s life, consider things they need but don’t prioritize.

One of internet discussions’ most recommended gift — bath towels — is another great example of this idea. Yes, yes, it sounds a little boring and old-fashioned but everybody uses bath towels, right? We all need them, but not many of us prioritize and want to spend a lot of money on them.

In that sense, a luxurious set of bath towels can be a good gift that works for a wide range of people, and it could satisfy in terms of both practicality and “wow” factor.

A good gift can be intangible.

If you can’t think of a good gift no matter how hard you try, consider consumables or experiential gifts. You know, good food or a good experience will never go to waste!

Buy (or bake) some gourmet cookies; get passes to a class you think the recipient will enjoy; get tickets to their favorite concert, play, or museum, just to name a few. Moreover, the most irreplaceable gift is good company. Treating them to a nice meal or attending a fun class together is a great way to show you care.

Hopefully, these tips can help you become everyone’s favorite gift-giver this holiday season!

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Wishing everyone happy holidays!