In Developing Countries;

• it is easier to come up with gift ideas,
  • (if you have the funds for it),
• there are many things that people need
  • but do not have; indeed
  • cooked food was the gift that
    • my mother dispatched
      • (through us children)
      • to neighbors, extended family, and friends
      • as a sign of good will at Christmas time;
  • watches, shoes, garments, jewelry, dishes, sheets,
  • pens, books, personal music player, TV, computers, toys, etc.
    • are all also great gift ideas.

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In affluent societies like in the Western World

• coming up with the perfect gift at Christmas
  • can be a challenge;
    • because most people use
      • their regular incomes or
      • credit cards to buy what they
        • need or use regularly.
• One option is to buy
  • high-end gifts or
  • exotic and rare versions
    • (which can be very pricey)
    • of things people use on a regular basis.
• Regular folks therefore have to work harder to give the perfect gift;
  • here are a few suggestions of how to give the perfect gift.

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Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

The perfect gift takes time

• Start early, as early as September;
  • listen to everyday conversations,
  • listen to expressed desires and aspirations
  • and make a note for gift ideas from those conversations.

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The perfect gift may be an ‘experience’

• Gift ideas do not have to be ‘things‘
  • they can be
    • a vacation, cruises, concert, a trip to a destination
    • museum/zoo visits or theme park rides, air fare, special trips;
    • time off work, housekeeping, or baby sitting;
    • an offer of cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping;
    • scholarship, tuition contribution, tutoring,
    • a special radio station/you-tube, blog post announcement, etc.

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The perfect gift should be personalized, customized or handmade;

• an autographed book/ticket/music/fan wear,
  • (from the author or composer, or admired person)
• monogrammed items:
  • a person’s name, initials or special message,
    • can be inscribed on
      • silverware,  bathroom set, plaque, musical instrument;

The perfect gift must fit the personality of the receiver 

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• Some people want big
  • (the amount spent is impressive)
  • others look for small details
    • (how rare, how much effort, how much thoughtfulness!)
• Some people are visual

• • others are action oriented, still
  • others are moved by sound, etc.
• Some people like things, others like ‘experiences.’

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Photo by bruce mars on Pexels.com

• Some people want to keep up with their peers
  • (they get gifts that are popular)
  • others want to know that ‘they’ are unique
    • (they get gifts just for them);
• How do you know what is the perfect gift?
  • People usually give the type of gift
    • that THEY like to receive;
    • use that to guide your gift giving
      • TO THEM!
      • not the other way around
      • do not give what you cherish
        • (I once gifted a hat to my wife
          • that she has never used;
          • it was something I fancied for myself!)

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The perfect gift may be what someone tells you they want

• They tell you directly or respond if/when you ask.
• Some apps make it easy to create a registry for gift requests.
  • PCmag.com has a list of popular apps.
  • lifewire.com also has another list of Christmas gift apps.