by Lorelei Cohen

Created on: December 03, 2010   Last Updated: November 14, 2011

Taking the guesswork out of gift giving can be tough. Is the gift you are purchasing appropriate for the person you are shopping for? Is it the right size, is it the right color, and most importantly is it something which they will like?

An all day shopping trip scanning the store aisles can leave you feeling weak in the knees. There are ways to make gift shopping easier and removing the guesswork from your gift choices is a great place to start..

There are a few simple gift purchasing tips which will insure you pick the perfect present each and every time. It is referred to as individualization and is the process of selecting a gift by looking at the defining characteristics of the person you are shopping for. It may sound like a difficult way to choose a present for someone but it really is easy. You simple look at the interests, hobbies, and lifestyle of the person who you are shopping. Then you select a gift item which will fit into one of those areas.

Begin by looking at the most easily recognized characteristics of the person you are shopping for. You generally know what they do to earn a living, and a few of their hobbies, or interests. Does this person have pets? Do they enjoy going to the local hockey games, theater, or craft fairs? These little items are important tips into a your finding great gift choice.

By looking at the larger picture of their work, hobbies, and interests you can usually begin to narrow the field down to individualized items which they will enjoy receiving as a gift.

Is their job one that is high stress? If so, then maybe a gift of relaxation would be ideal for them. Perhaps a gift certificate for a spa treatment, pedicure, or massage would help them to relax. Maybe a lunch out at their favorite restaurant or tickets to the local theater would be the gift which they would enjoy most.

Does this person work in an office? If so then maybe personalized desk items such as stationary, notepads, or a cute mug filled with matching erasers would perk their day up.

What does the person do after work? Are they a couch potato or do they have hobbies which lift their spirits in the evening. If this person enjoys working on crafts then which ones does he or she participate in? Do they relax after work by doing bead work, knitting, woodwork, or pottery? If so then theme your gift with this in mind.

If the person is athletic and enjoys the sporting arena, then which are his or her favorite sports? Who is their favorite team? Who do they cheer on at the games? There are thousands of sport related gift items to be chosen from. Clothing, collectibles, and team play items which you can select your gift from.

Personalizing a gift is simply a matter of thinking about the likes and dislikes of the person who you are shopping for. Select your gift by looking into their passions. Golfers are usually very addicted to their game so center your gift around their favorite past time. A horse fanatic, antique car buff, or coin collector would enjoy almost any gift which comes themed with those images on it.

If the person does not have a large income, is a student, newly married, or a new parent, then consider giving them a gift certificate. They can probably use a little extra spending money for items which they are in need of, and they are probably the best ones to choose which things they need, or want the most.

Take the guess work out of your gift giving by individualizing your gifts. It is probably one of the easiest ways to take the guess work out of giving.

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