4 of 15

Write now Article Tools

I enjoy buying "hard to buy for" gifts and I have a great knack for doing it well!

Here are some tips that I use, that have proven to be very effective in picking out the perfect gift for the hard to buy for friend or relative.

Pay attention months in advance of things that they are interested in. Listen carefully to a certain type of food, movie, song or activity that they enjoy. I love wrapping in baskets..they look great and are fun to open!

If it's a food, prepare a basket full of similar items that they will enjoy. Go to specialty stores and find some unusual, but tasty treats. Wrap them all up in a nice basket, with straw or "easter" grass in the bottom. Get some clear cellophane, wrap it up, using a hair dryer to close up the seams.

Movies/videos, etc.....Look at second hand stores for old titles, that might not be available at first hand shops. Of course, since this is a gift, make sure the packaging is in perfect shape, otherwise move on. Make sure you know if they have a DVD player and/or VCR player. You, of course can also purchase brand new DVD's and videos. Think about a DVD or video cleaning kit, video rewinder and other similar items to wrap up in your basket. Pick a theme: comedy, drama, western, foreign, children, classics, old time flicks, science fiction, action, etc. Find some trivia based on the movies that you included. Print it on your computer in a nice colorful font and print it onto a pretty piece of paper or glue it onto piece of cardboard, covered with gift wrap. You might want to put in a gift card or tickets to a movie theater. Wrap it up and you have a great gift for a movie lover.

Music is a wonderful. Most people love music. Do they have an IPOD? Give a gift card to download songs. Find out what type of music they like, and what they have. Get some great CD's and again wrap it up in a basket. Do they play an instrument. Consider getting sheet music of some of their favorite songs or singers. Print out some matching lyrics on paper as suggested in the paragraph above. You can also add some cute music related items, just as dish towels, note pad, stationary, etc. Go to a music store that sells instruments to find cute musical related items for your basket.

For activities..think gift cards, displayed cutely with sticks into a soft piece of oasis (green foam from a florist shop). Tickets to events that they might enjoy, shows, plays, restaurants, bowling, tennis, Lazar tag, family fun entertainment, amusement parks, favorite stores, etc.

Be creative, pay attention and think about what would make the best, fun, and exciting gift. If you know the recipients favorite colors, use this to help plan the theme of your basket.

Learn more about this author, Barrie Silberberg.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Gift ideas for the "hard to buy for" on your list?
We want to hear your view. Write now!