Due to busy schedules, many people do not have the time for what, or rather, who, matters. It’s bad enough that you can barely find the time to squeeze in holidays with family and friends. However, these also require that you carry along accompanying gifts.
An often-repeated scenario is that it’s less than a week to your scheduled event with family and friends, and you haven’t yet gotten around to buying gifts. If this is your reality, do not panic and do not give in to the temptation to dive into a frantic shopping frenzy. Here are some tips on buying a last-minute birthday gift for everyone on your list, and no one will have a clue that you forgot again.
1. Go To The Store
The trouble with shopping online is the additional time it takes to deliver your purchases. So if you are out shopping for a last-minute gift, avoid ordering for them online to avoid the chances of a delayed delivery promise. Delayed delivery usually occurs when having last-minute shopping during the holiday seasons when everyone else is shopping, and delivery services are slow because of overbooking. During this season, and if it is humanly possible, go directly to the store and buy a gift from there.
2. Get A Practical Gift
A common trend of buying a last-minute gift is to take the first thing we can get our hands on, sparing no thought for the intended recipient. In most cases, the result will be a gift that your recipient may never use. Have you run out of ideas on what to get and you are running out of time? Get a practical gift. Think within the lines of what your recipient uses regularly, what he probably would not buy but would love to have, and what your budget is. Then you will have the satisfaction of watching your loved one’s eyes light up upon receiving your gift.
3. Think Gift Cards
The idea that gift cards are impersonal is a myth. Today, almost every store offers gift cards. Therefore, all you need to do is think about what your loved one loves to do and gift them with a gift card to that kind of store. For instance, if the person loves décor, give him a gift card to a home furnishings and decorations store. The beauty of gift cards is that you gift the receiver a shopping spree in their favorite store and choose what they want.
4. Avoid Clothes
Clothes are the perfect gift, especially if you know the person well. However, you need time to get a clothing item that is just right. If you must buy clothes, then go back to the gift card idea and gift your person with a gift card to his favorite clothing store. You could even take it a notch higher and offer to free up some time and take your loved one shopping on the day they intend to use the gift card and then treat him to dinner or lunch at a fancy restaurant.
5. Avoid Peak Hours
If you are out buying a last-minute gift, the last thing you want to do is to get stuck in crowded stores. Crowded stores will only make you uneasy and more likely to pick just anything, just so that you can get out of there. The best times to find the perfect gift with little hassle are when stores are less crowded, such as during mid-afternoon hours or over lunch.
Conclusion
It would be much easier to get your gifts way in advance. Don’t count out the possibility of getting a last-minute birthday gift just because you have run out of time. It is still possible to find something affordable, practical, and thoughtful that your person will not even know that it was a last-minute gift.
