Make Sure That Buying Gifts Is Easy

I've been asking friends about their own experiences and it's become clear to me that some elements of the process are simply not as obvious as I had previously imagined. I had always thought, for instance, that it should be easier to buy a present for a close friend, or for a family member.

Before explaining the reaction of others, it's probably worth pausing to explain my own thought process at this point. It had always seemed to me that it should be easiest to buy for these people because of the close relationships that existed. If you know someone well, it should surely be easier to make intelligent buying decisions.

In part, this must be due to the fact that you would already have an understanding of the things that they like in life. Almost by extension, it could also be said that you would understand the elements of life that they don't enjoy. This all means that everything should be that bit more obvious.

But this turns out to be wrong. It appears that my way of thinking is certainly not in line with the experiences of others. Friends have taken the time to explain that buying gifts can actually be more difficult in such circumstances. The problem is that expectation levels have been increased and you are left looking for something really original.

In short, you can't simply choose a fairly mundane present. From these conversations, it's become clear that many of us make mistakes when buying gifts. There is, however, an art to buying gifts. Let me talk you through this process.

Firstly, you need to allow time. If you're intending on doing everything at the last minute, then there can be absolutely no doubt that you are making things that bit more difficult. You are seriously reducing your chances of success. So start thinking about things some weeks in advance.

Also make sure that you think carefully. If necessary, you may wish to ask other people for help and advice. You may, for example, belong to a group of mutual friends. Don't be afraid to ask for assistance and inspiration. You can also get more inspiration by shopping around and using the Internet.

Eventually, you need to find something that is unique, relevant, personal and memorable. That's not an easy task, but it clearly is something that can be achieved. It's simply a matter of having the right process in place.