How to become the best gift giver without all the stress and hassle
Giving gifts can be a really intimidating task. A birthday rolls around and you’re not sure what the person wants. Or someone is grieving the loss of a loved one and you’re not sure what’s appropriate to give. Or maybe, someone’s just having a really bad day and could use a coffee, but you don’t know their order.
I feel you! I am a self-proclaimed terrible gift giver who happens to love showing up with little tidbits to brighten up a person’s day. That’s why I created 12 Hummingbirds in the first place!
If you find yourself stressed out when it comes to buying people just the right gift, here are some ideas that I use myself to control the stress and hassle of it all.
Set up a digital calendar for special dates
Open up your Google Calendar or whichever digital calendar app you use to keep track of your own affairs. Label it “Gift Occasions” or something similar. This is where you’ll enter all birthdays, wedding anniversaries, work anniversaries, etc. The key is to use the “Repeats Annually” feature. You want to build a calendar that keeps itself up to date from year to year.
When you receive a wedding invitation, mark the date immediately as an anniversary on your calendar. If a friend’s loved one passes away, put the date on the calendar. Mark “Repeats Annually” every time.
Let me tell you, it is so meaningful to show up for someone several years after a major milestone after everyone else has forgotten and moved on.
Make notes about their favorites
In your calendar, you can add special notes to each event. Pay attention to your friends’ coffee orders, places the love to eat, and snacks they’re always reaching for. Add those observations to the notes in your calendar event so you always have fresh ideas when that date comes around.
P.S. This is the tip that takes the MOST time and energy! It’s also why I created 12 Hummingbirds. If you and your friends have profiles on the 12 Hummingbirds app, their favorites are always accessible on your phone!
Start a gift closet
This has been a game changer for me. I have a small closet in my home dedicated to storing little gifts. When I’m shopping, I keep my eye out for things like coffee mugs, tumblers, ornaments, candles, fancy candies, pretty wrapping paper, etc. You’d be shocked what gems you can find in bargain bins and during seasonal sales. You don’t have to know what occasion you’ll use these treats for yet! Just build a treasure trove and you’ll have plenty to choose from when the right occasion comes across your calendar.
If you’re the kind of person who finds yourself running into Target an hour before the birthday party starts. Or the kind of person who’s constantly stuffing cash into a card because you weren’t sure what else to give, I hope this list helps you out! You don’t have to be naturally excellent at gifts! You just need to keep track of a little information and the rest will fall into place!