How to Choose the Best Gift for Everyone on Your List This Year

We both know that you’ll soon enter full panic mode as you wonder how to choose the best gift for everyone on your list.

Seriously, don’t blow this one off because you need help!

You may remember this stress-reducing post from last year. I’ve made a few tweaks, updates, and edits that make it an even better guide to picking the best gift for everyone on your list. That’s right. In this post, you’ll find—

4 scientifically tested (okay, not really) inner-game tips on how to pick gifts that you’ll be proud to give and that that lucky someone will treasure and remember.
6 powerful choose the best gift questions to ask yourself to get great results!
Plus, several Jedi-level tips.

And, in the process, you’ll learn how to choose the best gift for just about everyone…

How cool is that?

Remember that tired old saying, “It’s the thought that counts”? Well, it’s a lame excuse for not putting meaningful thought into selecting a gift for someone. Period. Stop it! That’s old-school thinking.

I mean, thinking about someone is nice. And… It’s as if you’re telling your recipient, “Give me a pass, at least I remembered. You should be happy you made my list.”

There are so many good strategies for choosing the best gifts so I thought I’d take a crack at sharing my best ones.

First, let’s go deeper into that “thought” thing…

I hope you’ve known someone who’s a master at finding the best gift for everyone. Doesn’t it feel amazing to be on the receiving end of that proposition? For me, that would be my sister, Barb. I’m pretty sure I learned most of this from her.

Okay, are you ready?

Seatbelts? Check.

Safety glasses? Check.

Body armor? Check.

Here we go…

Whoa! Wait! Wait! Hit the brakes. We need to talk inner game first.

Gift-giving is not for amateurs. You’ll need to prepare yourself mentally. Trust me, you can do this.

I hope you have realized by now, this gift-giving thing is going to take some thought. Yes, there’s that thought thing rearing its ugly head again. I’m telling you, there’s just no way around it. Otherwise, go buy a fistful of Amazon gift cards and get it over with. Spare yourself the misery and nobody gets hurt. Or do they? (That is why a thoughtful gift is such a good thing).
And understand it’s going to take a little time. Great gifts don’t have to cost a lot, but they always take some time, thought, and effort. How much? Well, that’s up to you and how keenly observant you’ve been during the past twelve months.
So, you’re going to have to pay more attention. Use that Jedi sense of awareness. Keep an eye out during the year. I know, I know, you need help now. But start paying attention now so you won’t be in the same bind next year. If you read my previous holiday posts on gift-giving, you were warned.
You can, and should, ask for help. And it’s easier than asking for directions. Remember, they have friends, spouses, brothers, sisters, coworkers… everyone loves to conspire on a good surprise. Ask for some insider information. Then you’re golden. (Jedi-level tip… Don’t forget to thank your helpers with something along the order of a Starbucks gift card).

DISCLAIMER: Keep in mind this “choose the best gift” giving advice is coming from a guy, and we’re not generally good at this. But we can be. We just need to work at it. And yes, put some time and thought into it. (There it is again). Listening helps too! With the proper coaching, you can do it, my friend…. So, read do on…

Now for some advice and counsel…

Think of activities you’ve shared. One of the most memorable gifts my dad gave to me was a Weber Smokey Joe charcoal grill.

I had just graduated from college and was heading off into the real world. “Every man needs a grill, you know.” My dad and I had spent endless hours around his Weber burning burgers and steaks together.

He gave me a gift of memories of those times together. Priceless.

If you know me, you may be aware that I’ve been accused of being a bit of a gadget junkie. Guilty as charged. And, if left to my own devices, I’d go out and find the best new gizmo for everyone on my list. But don’t do that…

WARNING TO FELLOW GADGET JUNKIES: Unless you know them to be one of your gadget junkie kind, your thoughtfulness will be lost on them. And even then, you must know for sure they don’t have one of those doodads already. Whatever the hell a doodad is. (Whoops! sorry… lost that holiday spirit for a moment there).

Then, get inspired by asking the right questions.

Below are some how to choose the best gift questions designed to spur imagination and inspiration for gifts for everyone on your list…

Did you have a special experience with them? What gift could be a reminder of that experience? BOOM. That’s your idea!
What won’t they buy for themselves? Maybe they love to cook, but they still have that crappy old serrated ECCO knife they stole from mom’s kitchen. Go get them a real knife. One of the good ones.
What do they buy for themselves? Get them one of those. You know, the next one in a series. Or the one that’s just outside of their budget because they won’t buy anything nice for themselves.
On a similar note, what do they like to give as gifts to others? This can be a clue to what they would like. Just to be clear, don’t give them exactly what they give. Let it lead you to the next great gift. People usually give gifts that they like, too. Unless of course, they’re re-gifting. Then… maybe don’t do that.
What’s a gift you’ve received that you’ve gotten tremendous use from? For me, two that come to mind immediately are soft-sided insulated picnic-sized coolers and portable camp chairs. Those even became my signature gift for friends getting married. (Yes, I know, these are more for a guy. But I’m telling you the bride gets enough bride things in the process.)
Keep your eyes and thoughts open when visiting your target recipient at home. What essentials are they missing? So, they served you wine in tumblers? Obviously… get them more tumblers.

The personal taste conundrum.

A lot of posts similar to this one (but not as good, of course) will stray into the forbidden area of personal taste and design choices. This is dangerous territory for the uninitiated. Unless you’ve been lifelong besties, this is a very personal area. AVOID IT LIKE NECKTIES ON SALE.

Speaking of “ON SALE…” That alone IS NOT a good reason for a gift selection. The BLACK FRIDAY EXCEPTION—If you find just the right thing and it happens to be on sale, well… then, cool.

INSIDER INFORMATION: If it’s ON SALE this time of year there’s a reason. And many times, the reason is some poor corporate buyer made a bad choice. Don’t make her bad choice become your bad choice.

Be careful about connecting dots that aren’t meant to be connected. I’m thinking of the perfect example, but it would involve calling out a family member, and that could be problematic. Let’s say that your recipient loves Florida. That fact alone doesn’t make pink flamingos for the front yard a great choice.

See where we’re going here? Need another example? Okay, say they took a beach vacation this year. That doesn’t make a beach bonnet a nice gift for two reasons… one, it’s too late and two, who even uses a bonnet anymore? (Don’t answer that.)

Finally, experiences are the new black, orange, or whatever color is in this year.

A gift doesn’t have to be a physical thing. “Experience” gifts are perfect for the person who has everything, or too much, or is in downsizing mode, or just moved into their new, tiny house.

The best reason for giving the gift of an experience this year is it won’t end up being stashed in a closet somewhere. You can thank me later!

This can be as simple as a gift certificate (this is one time when gift certificates are acceptable), a spa day, tickets to a show or concert, an outing, an adventure park, you get the idea. Let loose and make it fun!

BONUS ALERT: You’ve got a friend whom you both have trouble finding time to get together. Giving tickets to an event you both would enjoy is a great way to make that happen. And it’s only a tiny bit self-serving but in a generous way.

There you have it… how to choose the best gift for anyone from the LifeUntucked^®labs.

Here’s wishing you a very untucked holiday season!

p.s. Oh, one more tip… consider this one a FREE BONUS. Share this post with someone who might be considering a gift for you, and you’ll improve your chances of getting a truly awesome gift. Nothing wrong with improving your odds, right?

p.p.s. The bluish-silver one is my favorite.