Choosing A Really Personal Birthday Gift

It's tempting to think that such struggles are associated with last minute shopping and there may well be an element of truth to be found here. It certainly does seem to be the case that a lack of thought can lead to problems. If you've ever tried shopping on Christmas Eve, for instance, then you'll know that it's rather too easy for panic to set in.

The same can also be true when buying a birthday present. The problem is that this is an exercise that does usually involve a great deal of thought. This seems to me to be true, whether you are buying something for a parent, for your best friend, or for someone that you know less well. The quality of the gift is likely to reflect your thought process.

If you're buying something for an individual who you don't know particularly well, then there is a clear tendency to select something fairly generic. This may mean a box of chocolates, or a bunch of flowers. There is nothing wrong with these selections, in most cases. They simply reflect the fact that you are playing it safe, which is unlikely to be bad news.

But what do such selections say when they are associated with a recipient that you have known for years? I think that the first thing to say is that this needn't be a problem, as long as you know that they really love flowers or chocolates! In those situations, they can actually work really well.

There is a danger, however, that these may send out certain signals. If you know someone incredibly well, then why are you buying something that is so generic? It seems to make sense that you should be able to opt for something that's rather more individual in nature. Although you may tell yourself that your friend, or loved one, will be happy, there may be a nagging doubt in your mind.

It certainly looks better if you can select something that is clearly original. The problem is that this is easier said than done. Although you can shop online to gain access to a wider variety of gifts, many of them will rely on you acting at an early stage. I think that the reality here is that you need to be organised. You can't leave the choice until the last possible second.

I always like engraved gifts, for example, since they are clearly very personal. They show care and attention, allowing you to escape from that feeling that you have selected something that is simply too obvious.

Could they be an answer when you next come to buy a gift? There is no doubt in my mind that you should be looking to make more personal choices.