1. How can I make my presents more thoughtful?
We all start December with the intention of demonstrating our love with that one perfectly chosen present that will make the recipient weep with joy. And yet we end up giving everyone under 20 cash, and over a bottle of nondescript booze. Again.
“The most thoughtful gifts celebrate a connection only you have with that person,” says Leanne McEntee, product and inspiration director at notonthehighstreet. “For example, a special place or a song. Some of our most popular gifts are framed vintage maps, or a print of a soundwave from a much-loved piece of music.”
2. I’m on a budget this year (and don’t tell me to make them all jam)
If you don’t want to go overboard, but don’t have a craft-loving bone in your body, step away from the glue gun, because there are other ways to be creative. “If you can show that you’ve put time and thought into a gift, the monetary value doesn’t matter,” says McEntee.
“Maybe they’ve just turned vegan, so you seek them out some vegan doughnuts. Maybe you print out and frame a forgotten but much-loved photo, or write them a beautiful handwritten card saying how much they mean to you. Opt for smaller tokens with a personalised twist – one of the best presents I’ve ever received was a mug with an illustration of my dog on it.”
3. Should I get my child’s teacher a present? And if so, what?
The trend for end-of-term gifting means that teachers are receiving more than just apples and “Your the best teacher” [sic] cards. A survey by Mumsnet found that 45% of parents now give gifts to teachers.
“While it’s definitely not obligatory, it can be lovely to show your appreciation if you want to,” says professional present-buyer Polly Hadden-Paton. “A group gift to be shared among the teaching team – classroom assistants too – is a nice gesture, maybe a hamper or a tin of personalised biscuits. You also can’t go wrong with stationery, in my opinion: a beautiful notebook – perhaps customised with their initials – is practical and thoughtful, and it looks like you’ve made the effort without breaking the bank.”
4. What can I buy for my office Secret Santa?
Secret Santa: two words that keep the novelty sock trade alive. But you don’t need to panic-raid the stationery cupboard and wrap up a stapler, or go down the cheap, naff and novelty route – a savvy Secret Santa gift just requires a bit of light stalking. “Get advice about what their interests are from another colleague who they’re close to, or look at their social media feeds for clues as to what they enjoy doing outside of work,” says expert Ashley Wong. “The best gifts say: ‘I see you and appreciate you’ and reflect back the version of ourselves we want to present to the world.”
5. Should stocking fillers be quality or quantity?
There’s nothing like the weighty feeling at the end of your bed on Christmas morning, even if you already know the pillowcase contains 20 satsumas and a comedy block of coal. “Stockings are all about anticipation,” says Hadden-Paton. “So think about wrapping each individual present in a different way – maybe one involves a treasure hunt, or is hidden in a book, or is sewn into a cuddly toy that has to be ‘operated’ on. It’s also a good idea to include things that can be enjoyed throughout Christmas Day.” Try new games to play as a family, cosy crochet slippers and, if you’re doing stockings for adults, festive spirits – Christmas pudding gin, anyone?
6. Help! It’s 8pm on Christmas Eve and I’ve not bought any presents
Whether you bought them all online and they’ve not arrived yet (sure, sure) or you’re one of those delightfully scatty types, there is an alternative to going to the 24-hour garage and buying everyone windscreen defogger (à la Friends).
“Experiential gifts have become really popular in the past few years and are a great option if you’ve left it until the very last minute,” says McEntee. “Something like a tour of a gin distillery or an urban beekeeping course goes down really well and you can draw up your own ‘voucher’ or ‘ticket’ to gift them with on the day.” The main thing is to go on what you know they like (be it gin, honey or insects) and give them something a bit different.
7. What can I buy a new partner?
So you’ve landed a new squeeze for cuffing season, but buying a present for someone when you’ve only just found out what they like for breakfast can be tricky. “Don’t scare them off with something too high-value, such as jewellery, or too intimate, like underwear,” says Hadden-Paton. “Think about what you do know about them so far, and what you’ve done together as a couple. Maybe it’s a book you’ve talked about or a gig or play they’ve mentioned that they want to see.”
And romantic presents should be all about indulgence. “Go for something small, but make it the best possible version of that, such as a cashmere scarf.”
8. Are we doing pet presents?
Obviously a dog is for life, not just for Christmas, but they do look really cute in novelty outfits at this time of year. So, should you be adding any four-legged family members to your gift list? “The pet gifting market is now huge,” says Hadden-Paton. “I have clients who spend more on their pets than they do on some family members. There are Advent calendars for dogs, personalised pet stockings, novelty blankets and chew toys – it can be a fun way to include your furry friend in the celebrations, especially if you have kids.” So whether you upgrade their favourite toy, monogram a new bowl or go all out with an Advent calendar, your pet probably deserves a little festive treat. Posing for Instagram in reindeer antlers isn’t easy you know.
9. I’m going to my in-laws for Christmas for the first time, how can I impress?
Finding a present that says: “I am definitely the appropriate person for your son/daughter” doesn’t get much traction when you search for it on Amazon.
“In this situation, what you’re looking for is a good talking point,” says McEntee. “So go for something unusual, such as a grape vine gift set so they can grow and make their own wine. This is also a good opportunity to get to know your partner better, by asking them what their parents enjoy doing. If all else fails, look for something universally loved, such as a cheese board with some special cheeses you’ve picked out, or, even better, something that keeps on giving, like a cheese subscription.”
Best check they’re not lactose-intolerant first.
10. Should I stick to the one-present-rule?
Everyone knows that one person who sneakily buys a mountain of gifts when you’d agreed on a strict one-present rule. So should you do the same? “I actually think it’s important to try and stick to the agreed budget or amount of gifts,” says McEntee. “Buy one good present and have confidence in it, as you can actually end up devaluing and detracting from the main gift by buying extra things. If you do see something small that you really want to get them, you can always put it in their stocking or save it as a spontaneous gift later down the line.”
11. How can I get better at wrapping presents?
We all know it’s what’s inside that counts, but if your presents end up looking like they’ve been chewed up and pooed out by a sticky-tape monster, it can be a bit of a downer.
“Using double-sided sticky tape is a cheat’s way to make the finished product look very slick,” says “wrapologist” Kirsten Westlake, from Wrapsody. “Think about the passions of the person you’re giving to – if they love jazz, use old sheet music, if they’re into food, use pages from a vintage recipe book. And if you’re wrapping something huge, use paper tablecloths, not rolls of paper – it’s more flexible and won’t rip as easily.”
12. What should I do if someone hands me a gift but I’ve not got them anything?
Should you hastily pass off something you own that you don’t want any more (like the cat), or pretend you’ve sent them something that got lost in the post?
Apparently neither of these is the answer. “It’s a good idea to keep a few spare gifts around the house for this purpose,” says McEntee. “They don’t need to be generic; artisanal food and drink with a twist is always a winner, as are fun ‘year ahead’ planners, and anything handmade tends to make people feel more special. Failing that, just be extremely gracious and grateful to be receiving something. Presents don’t have to be reciprocal – the person giving them just wants to bring joy.” And maybe make a mental note to get them something next year.
For more personal, thoughtful and refreshingly unique gifts, plus a whole host of experiences, visit notonthehighstreet.com
