Do you wish you were an expert gift shopper? Have trouble figuring out what the right gift is for someone? Has it turned you into a giftcard guru? The answer is simple. Good gift shoppers don’t ask questions, they answer them. If you can answer one of the following questions, you can find the perfect gift for anyone:

1. What do they love? Everyone has hobbies or passionate pursuits. Anything that encourages someone to follow their passion makes a great gift. Whatever they are totally into, look for the newest thing or accessory that just came out, or an old hard to find item. You might find a great book on the subject or tickets to an event. You might even find a gift that supports their passion by taking it into a new direction.
2. What do you love about them? Every person on the planet has their own unique set of quirks and character traits. This is more about what you see in them than what they see in themselves. If there is something they always say or do, you can find a gift that reflects that. Answer this question and you will always find a very special gift for someone. It’s the kind of gift that makes a person say “I don’t know why you got me this … but I love it!“. After you explain why you chose that particular thing, they love it even more. And they have some new insight into themselves.
3. What do they need? When you go over to someone’s house, if there’s something they never have or have enough of, that’s a great gift idea. The things they always borrow from you … great gift idea. In both cases you’ll find something practical, usable and both of you will have a good laugh. Maybe they don’t need a particular thing but they could use your particular talents to get something done. You can step in and volunteer your time and services with a custom gift certificate that they can cash in to you.
4. What do you think they would love? Sometimes you can’t answer a question specifically and the best thing to do is stop looking for something. Browse around with a clear and open mind and trust that feeling you get when you see something you think they would love. It’s always easier to find something when you’re not looking for it because it could be anything.
5. I’ve failed. Now what? When everything else fails, think gift card. The secret to giving gift cards is to get one at a store the person shops at often or can’t afford to shop at. And don’t just put it in a card. Wrap it up in a little package with some little extra thing - a gizmo, doodad, knick-knack, trinket, stuffy or whatever that’s cool, cute, or funny.

Finding a great gift idea is all about knowing the person you’re buying for. Sometimes we get disconnected because our busy lives get in the way. Get connected. Stay connected. The most valuable thing in our lives is not a thing at all. It’s the people.

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