Spending hours in long lines in the store or scanning through websites for that perfect gift can sometimes take away the joy and fun from the gifting process. Moreover, a huge focus on objects or a bunch of stuff people may not need can get stressful on your mind and pocket. To that end, I try hard to make, create or buy gifts for family members and friends that has to do more with the person’s soul instead of a hefty price tag.

I am sharing below my gift ideas that are my personal favorites be it for the holiday season or any event in someone’s life. Some of these ideas are DIY, some can be purchased online within minutes while some are more personal and need your time and presence. I am also sharing here some tips that can help you decide what that gift could be.

TIP 1 Listen  – Did your friend, colleague or family member talk about a product or service they want to try? Try gifting them something they really want. Even though it might be something predictable or boring, but research has shown that gift recipients are more appreciative of gifts they ask for than those they do not.

TIP 2 Don’t focus on size – In the spirit of gifting and showing love we sometime focus on the size of the gift instead of focusing what someone would really love. Be smart and practical and save money!

Tip 3 Keep it simple- Shopping for a“PICKY” friend or cousin can be stressful and one is always second guessing their gift. Keep it simple and uncomplicate things by getting them what they like and not what you think might me cute.

TIP 4 Focus on the moments & the experiences – There are overwhelming number of gift guides and Top 10 gift items lists out there online sharing so many different types of goods and products. But if you want to focus on improving your relationship or make a family member or friend feel closer ,than experiential gifts have more impact than material goods!

(According to a research by Chan and Mogilner’s, the relationship improvements that recipients derive from experiential gifts stem from the emotion that is evoked when the gifts are consumed, not when the gifts are received. Giving experiential gifts is thus identified as a highly effective form of prosocial spending and can have a greater impact on improving the relationship between the giver and receiver.)

Here are some gift ideas that cover the above 4 TIPS

MAKE A GIFT

These gifts take your personal time in making something that will be cherished by someone.

PHOTO & MEMORY GIFTS – Photo books for grandparents, Family calendars with quotes, Personalized story books, Pillows, & Photo mugs. You can get great deal on stores like Shutterfly, Vista Print, Costco, Minted, Sanpfish etc. I personally use Shutterfly.

Digital Art Print -I love this idea, it is easy to get and can be a great piece of art in someone’s house in the nursery, bedroom or kitchen. You can add your touch by selecting a frame that will go with someone’s taste. Digital prints can be a quote you like, an image , a collage or anything that speaks to the person’s taste and preferences you are gifting too.

Personalized Gifts– Etsy has so many fantastic options to personalize gifts from glass bottles, fabric bags to metal and leather key chains, diaries etc. I gave my best friends personalized jewelry with our initials on it Nordstrom usually has a small kiosk at their stores where you can personalize anything!

Build a Box/ Gift – This is extremely simple and a fun way to create something for a friend and family member really focusing on what they will appreciate most. Example: A coffee box with a cute mug with a fun quote, their favorite coffee blend, some chocolate and a cute message holder.

You can also buy a cozy slipper and fill it with some spa essentials like bath salts, candle, nail polish, face mask for someone who can enjoy some Me time. I just made some gifts for son’s teachers with Bath & Body works items.

Build a terrarium: My personal favorite! I must have gifted so many. It’s a great project if you like. From simply buying a gorgeous succulent or cactus and placing it in a cute mug to creating a terrarium garden in a glass bowl with tips from Pinterest. A plant is always a great gift idea!

SMART & PRACTICAL GIFTS

Movie, TV or Music Streaming Subscription gift- with so many great options available for entertainment and music today you can be sure this will be a much appreciate gift especially if you can’t meet someone physically.

You can gift a year’s or few months subscription of Spotify Premium, Netflix, Apple Music, Apple TV, Disney + to HBO etc

You can also give other subscription gifts like lifestyle boxes for wine, beauty -A face mask subscription box

Kids STEM Toy box from Amazon

Lifestyle subscription box Fab Fit Fun (Use code ARUSHI to get $10 off)

Dollar Shave Club box for men

Membership gifts can really bring ease to someone who needs it and haven’t signed up yet. Be it from a local gym or boot camp class membership to Amazon Prime or Shipt home good and grocery delivery service, they add a lot of value to someone’s life by saving their time. For families Zoo, Museums, botanical memberships make great gifts too.

Gift Cards– This might not be personal, but they make the person excited they can shop something they like whenever. For example, a $50 Zara gift card is great idea for friend or family member who loves to shop there and can add some more $$ and buy their favorite bag. Gift cards of stores where people prefer to shop makes most sense. I personally prefer gift cards over any random gift that I might not use.

 Charitable donation- Contribute to your friend’s racing fund or donate to a charity of their choice. Giving to a charitable or social cause in honor of someone you care about is one of the most thoughtful ways to celebrate the season of giving.

Experiential Gifts

Experiential gifts are perfect for our loved ones who reject the notion of receiving material gifts during the holidays. From workshops and museum memberships to immersive artwork and trans formative books, there’s no shortage of meaningful experiences to gift our minimalist friends. Groupon has some great experiences you can look at and even Airbnb.

Meditation classes– Most major cities have unique meditation and mindfulness studios for classes and workshops, so look around for local options as well.

Pampering Sessions -Relaxing Spa day, boutique pedicure and manicure services, hair spa day and more are perfect way to pamper your family member or friend. Join them too.

Creative Workshops- If your spouse, friend or family member likes cooking, music, pottery making or like to learn how to surf or scuba dive a workshop or class gift makes a great call. This is great for date nights and also for bonding between siblings and friends.

Annual Pass to national parks is a great gift for the outdoor lover.

Tickets to a musical, sports event or concert

For the adrenaline junkie you can look at flying lessons, race car driving and escape the room tickets.

I hope you like these ideas , they make great holiday and special occasion gifts too. I have seen people’s face light up with a smile when they receive a gift they didn’t expect with awe and surprise. Isn’t that a wonderful feeling? I believe we all can appreciate a gift that is thoughtful and meaningful and care less of the brand or its price.

Happy Holidays !