6 Common Gifting Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Are you guilty of any of these?

As scary as it is to admit, the holiday season is quickly approaching. And with the holiday season, comes the giving of gifts.

While there is an art to good gift-giving, it’s a surprisingly easy task to master. Once you know who you’re buying for, the most important thing you can do is get some intel on your giftee.

Find out what they're interested in, what fascinates them, what they love, and what they despise. From there, the world is your oyster, and finding the right gift should (hopefully) be a breeze.

But before you start typing out your card details on a pair of socks with golf balls on them, or placing that order for a 'Live, Laugh, Love' sign to go above the kitchen counter, read through the list below to make sure you’re not making any of these common gift-giving mistakes.

1. Over-gifting (yes, there is such a thing)

Keep the phrase ‘quality over quantity’ in mind when selecting a gift for your recipient. While it may seem like giving multiple gifts is a more thoughtful route to go down, refining your selection to one gift which perfectly suits your recipient will always be cherished more.

2. Putting your interests before your recipient's

With so many different items to choose from, it can be easy to get carried away when looking for a gift in-store or online. A common gifting mistake many people fall for is choosing a gift they like without taking the recipient's interests, likes, and personal style into account. Try to separate your needs and wants when looking for a gift, and view the store through your recipient's eyes.

3. Re-gifting

You know you’ve thought about it, but have you done it? It may seem like a convenient way to cycle unwanted items out of your home, but re-gifting takes any thought out of the gift-giving process. Plus, the world is a small place, who’s to say your recipient doesn’t know this is the third time you've tried to re-home those acrylic salad servers.

4. Giving a gift that requires an extra expense

Avoid giving gifts that require the recipient to spend money to use it. For example, gifting a vinyl record when the recipient doesn't own a record player, or purchasing a ticket to a concert in a different city which they’ll have to travel to. The best gifts are the ones which can be enjoyed and experienced without needing anything extra.

5. Not asking your recipient questions

While it’s always nice to keep an element of surprise for your giftee, don’t be so secretive that you abstain from asking them what they might like. This doesn’t mean blatantly asking them what's on their wishlist, but subtle questions about hobbies, upcoming events, and new interests will spark ideas for an appreciated gift.

6. Going over budget

Many families, friends, and co-workers set budgets for gifts – and for good reason. Setting a budget allows an even playing field for all gift-givers and recipients so everyone gives and receives a gift worth the same value. Giving a gift over the price limit will not only make your recipient uncomfortable as they haven't done the same, but also be unfair to the other parties who have stuck within the allocated budget.