I may be the odd man out here, but I don’t like giving or receiving gift cards as a gift. To me, they’re impersonal and an easy way out. If you have a relationship with someone, you have a good idea about their interests. Catering their birthday gift to suit their personality is a double win.
We’ve compiled a list of gifts for all of the different people you may be shopping for, while also keeping your budget in mind!
For the book lover:
You know your friend likes books, but you’re not sure which ones they’ve read, haven’t read, etc. Below are some links these friends might enjoy, from a funny t-shirt to cute personalized items expressing their love of literature.
For the coffee snob:
Your pal drinks coffee from sunup to sun down, has their favorite blend, and more travel mugs than should be legal. Here are some gifts that are bound to perk up their day. (See what we did there?)
For the adventure type:
Your friend is always planning trips, going places, and expressing their desire to travel the globe. These gifts can help make their visions become a little more of a reality.
- A U.S. international park interactive poster
- “Our adventures” mini album
- A leather luggage tag and passport holder
For the one who’s always in the kitchen
We all have that friend who loves cooking and trying new culinary things. (Hi, it’s me. I’m that friend and it just so happens my birthday is in ten days — hint, hint.) These items can allow them to continue to expand their cooking horizons.
- Gourmet seasoning collection
- Kitchen conversions cutting board
- “Cooking because murder is wrong” poster
For the gamer:
Whether your friend is into Xbox or D&D, they may get some more fun out of these gifts.
For the one who has everything:
Your friend may seem to have everything they could need or want and you’re having a hard time coming up with what to get them for their birthday. The following items are things they would still enjoy even if they had something similar.
With these gifts, you’re sure to impress your friends. They’ll love that you took the time to handpick something that truly embodies the things that interest them (don’t tell them we helped you ;-)).
Most are within a reasonable price point as well, meaning you can impress them without breaking the bank. What’s the coolest gift you’ve ever gotten? Let us know in the comments below!
Photo by Kate Hliznitsova on Unsplash
Speaking from personal experience, nothing says “You are an obligatory todo-list item to me, and I can’t be bothered to know anything about who you are as a person” quite like a gift card. Bonus points when it comes from a parent or a sister. Extra bonus points when people ask you for a “wishlist”.
How many times has Facebook reminded you that it was your friend’s birthday? While there are benefits to the fact that we can reach out to people in our lives with the click of a button, it is important to remember that social media isn’t reality, and putting effort into relationships is still necessary. Don’t just go with the flow; think ahead when it comes to events in your life and think about how you can make them as meaningful as possible. Friendship is not about Facebook likes and Instagram posts, but about lifting up the people you love, and making them feel special.