Happy August! Can you believe the month has changed over once again? Even though July flew by, I have to say it was a pretty fun month. We had a lot of lake time, the weather has been pretty amazing the past week and summer fun in Des Moines continues. August will bring more, because I’m not one of those who writes off summer after the 4th of July. We still have so much to enjoy! Not only does this month mean more summer, but it’s also a month that hosts multiple birthdays in my family. Which means buying the best birthday gifts for the ones I love. Because, duh, they deserve the best!
I’ve had a lot of birthday gift buying experience in my lifetime. I love buying gifts for people and when August hits, I’ve got some serious shopping to do. So, I thought it would be fun to share my tips on how to buy better birthday gifts. I’ve curated these tips over the years without even realizing it. I wanted to get better at gifting, so I practiced. And these are the four rules I stick to when making my list.
Be personal
I always love getting gifts with a hint of personalization. An initial necklace or bracelet for a bestie never fails. Or anything found on Etsy for anyone in your life, really. Such a good place to shop! I’m also a big boutique shopper when it comes to gifts. Skip Target and look for something unique that reminds you of them. Beyond actual items, there’s nothing better than a card with handwritten note delivering a special message for their birthday. Deliver it with a bottle of their favorite wine or drink of choice and you’ve got a winner.
Cater to their interests
Have you ever received a gift that you have no idea what to do with? Or that you absolutely hate? It’s the worst feeling! Showing someone you care starts with being curious about what their interested in. Have a friend who loves to sit by the pool in the summer? Get them floating drink holders or a cute towel. My husband has a Jeep and loves accessorizing it, so last year I bought him a Jeep accessory he constantly talked about. He was overjoyed. It’s really simple when you start thinking about gifting based on what that person loves – because they’ll love that gift!
Don’t rely on material items
If you’re like me, you’d rather have an experience than a material item. This hasn’t always been the case, and I still ask for a few things if I want them badly enough. But, the best way to celebrate a birthday is actually spending time with the person you care about and doing something you’ll remember. One of my best’s had a birthday in July and we took her out for a girl’s night to see a play. Bought her ticket and had happy hour right before. It was so fun! We loved the time together and now we’ll remember that night forever. It’s way better than gifting a scarf that may end up at Goodwill in a few years.
Keep it simple
And really, at the end of the day, the simplest birthday gifts are the best. I’ve found myself in past piecing together a gift – spending $5 here, spending $8 there – feeling like I had to fill up the bag or something. Definitely not required. A small, thoughtful gift will always be better than 100 gifts put together. Whether that gift is your time or a luxury candle, it’s always the thought that counts.
Do you have any gifting secrets?
xoxo. B
