The Boots guide to finding the perfect Christmas gift
Emma-Jade Stoddart
Gifting
Reading time: 6 minutes
Remove any guesswork with our top gifting tips
Wondering how to find the perfect Christmas gift for a loved one? It can be tricky – unlike birthdays and weddings, Christmas often involves purchasing several presents for several people – all of whom have various likes and dislikes. But before you ask for their wishlists, have a read of our top 10 gifting tips below that are guaranteed to make Christmas gift-giving a far easier (and more enjoyable) process.
Let’s start by saying that picking presents needn’t be an agonising task. It can be fun, enjoyable and, with a little guidance, easy. Remove any pressure to find the ‘perfect gift’ and focus your energy on searching for thoughtful and meaningful presents instead. After all, these are the gifts that will be truly treasured. Also, it’s important to set yourself a budget, stick to it and avoid succumbing to the idea that the more you spend = the better the gift. With increasing costs of living, this year it pays to be savvy with your spending.
Here are our top tips for finding thoughtful gifts when Christmas shopping, from stocking fillers to personalised presents and more.
Tip #1: be practical, not showy
Don’t underestimate the power of a practical present. Guaranteed to be used, these gifts are a worthy investment that will bring the receiver a lot of joy.
Think about what the receiver needs – perhaps they’re obsessed with accessories and would benefit from a jewellery box to organise their collection? Or maybe they love getting glammed up and would adore The Flat Lay Makeup Bag? It doubles up as a tray, meaning they no longer need to rummage around for their products.
Tip #2: help solve problems
Is there anything better than receiving Christmas gifts that can simplify your day-to-day life? We think not. Whether it’s big or small, these presents will always be appreciated. Look for something that serves a function and that you know the receiver will get lots of use out of.
Measuring spoons are great gifts for someone who’s recently moved house and loves spending time in the kitchen. Or do you have a friend who’s always losing their keys? Treat them to a keyring and for an extra-special touch, have it personalised.
Tip #3: pick a hobby
Does your loved one or friend have a hobby that can inform your present picking? Or maybe they’ve chatted about wanting to start a new hobby or learn a new skill? If this is the case, seek out a gift that will help inspire them.
Are they creative? Go for an arts and crafts kit. Or perhaps they want to learn how to play a new instrument? Surprise them with a lesson or two.
Tip #4: use our gift finder tool
Narrowing down gift ideas is easier said than done. To help, Boots has launched a new digital gift finder tool that allows online users to filter presents according to their recipient. Clever! Users can filter according to the recipient (for him, for her, for kids), then price point and then category (fragrance, beauty, electrical) to receive a curated edit of present ideas. It makes gift shopping easy and efficient.
Mylee The Real Deal Gel Polish Kit
• Suitable for 16 years old and over
• Includes Mylee Pro LED lamp
Searching for a practical beauty gift that has an instant ‘wow’ factor? You’ll likely receive this impressive gel polish kit as a suggestion in the gift finder. It comes complete with everything they need to do a salon-worthy gel manicure at-home (and to remove it). For extra brownie points, send our below tutorial to the lucky recipient to help them get the most out of their kit.
Tip #5: consider their downtime
When searching for a thoughtful gift, ask yourself this: how do they like to relax? Maybe it’s in front of the television with a glass of wine, or perhaps it’s soaking in a bathtub at the end of a busy day. Whatever the answer, search for a present that complements this activity – be it a personalised wine glass or a self-care set.
Tip #6: gift an experience
When it comes to gifting, most of us go down the physical route – opting for material presents that can be unwrapped on Christmas day. But a great alternative – and that’s incredibly thoughtful – is an experience. From theatre tickets to a lavish meal, experiences are exciting gifts that encourage the receiver to create new memories. And with so many options out there, finding an experience they’ll enjoy has never been easier.
Our top tip? If the experience doesn’t come with tickets or a voucher, create your own with a handwritten card that can include a personalised message on why you chose that specific experience for them.
Activity Superstore Mega Choice Gift Experience Pack for Couples
• Voucher valid for 12 months
• 600 experience options
• Hundreds of locations to choose from
Having difficulty deciding on choosing an experience to gift? Go for this Mega Choice Gift voucher, which not only gives the receiver 600 experiences (spanning everything from afternoon tea to a helicopter simulator) to choose from, but lets them bring along a plus one, too.
Tip #7: consider their interests
It may sound obvious, but think about your loved one’s interests and jot them down on a piece of paper. Seeing this list can help spark different gift ideas. For example, someone obsessed with Harry Potter will have likely watched the films and read the books – but they’ll probably still enjoy a Harry Potter-themed gift.
Or do they enjoy reading or writing? If so, kit them out with a new pen and notepad to journal in. And a lovely cookbook is a great idea for those who love to spend their time cooking up a storm in the kitchen.
Harry Potter Time For Magic Bath Collection Set
• Contains seven products
• For bath and body
• Includes cosmetic pouch
• Includes eye mask
Any Harry Potter fan will fall head over heels for this bath and body gift set, complete with a golden snitch bath bomb, Hogwarts silk eye mask, a whipped-up body cream and a Hedwig cosmetic pouch.
Tip #8: scroll through their social media
Social media is a great place to go to for gift ideas. Have a look at their feed and pay close attention to their photographs. You may spot a certain style of interiors, which can inspire you to find a gift for their home. Or you may find posts dedicated to their favourite products or perfumes.
Tip #9: make it personalised
For an extra-special touch that will really make their day, give a personalised Christmas present. From customised keepsakes to engraved jewellery, bespoke gifts show the receiver just how much you care about them.
A personalised chef hat is a fun gift idea that will humour the foodie in your life, and for the one who loves walking, gift them a personalised reusable water bottle.
Tip #10: gifts that give back
If there’s someone on your list who has everything they could possibly need, consider donating to a charitable cause in their name. This is a truly meaningful gift that we’re sure will be warmly received. To make it more personal, donate to a cause you know they’re passionate about.
The Prince’s Trust Voucher
If they’re keen to give back to the next generation and invest in young people, why not get them this Prince’s Trust voucher? You can let the recipient know that 100% of your donation goes to the charity to help give young people the opportunity to create a better future through employment, education and enterprise.
