22 Questions to Consider When Buying Gifts

INTRODUCTION

There are few things more exciting than buying gifts for the people you love. But there are also few things more stressful than shopping for someone else. Whether you’re buying a birthday present, holiday gift, or just something for no reason at all—we know that feeling! That’s why we created this list of questions to help you pick out a great gift for anyone in your life.

IS IT SOMETHING THEY’RE INTERESTED IN?

You can get a sense of what your friend or family member enjoys by asking them about their interests. Do they like to read? Cook? Shop? Travel?

It’s important to know what they like, because you’ll be able to find gifts related to those things that are sure to bring a smile to their face and make them happy.

CAN IT BE USEFUL FOR THEM IN THE LONG TERM?

• This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you’re buying a gift for someone, it’s likely that they don’t have a lot of time to do things like take vacations or attend concerts. Buying them something that will make their lives easier when they go back to work is a great idea. An insulated lunch bag or water bottle may seem like an insignificant thing now, but these items could be extremely useful once the recipient returns from vacation and has to start packing a lunch every day again.*
• Example: A well-designed backpack is perfect for carrying laptops or textbooks around in style!

DOES IT ALIGN WITH THEIR STYLE AND PERSONALITY

Does it align with their style and personality?

The first thing to consider when buying a gift for someone is what do they like? What are their interests? Do they like to read, play video games or watch movies? Do they prefer to spend time outdoors or indoors? Are they into music, art and sports? Knowing these things can help you find something that will be meaningful and useful while also being something the recipient will enjoy.

If you know someone who loves music but has never had an instrument before, then get them one! Or if your friend loves action movies but doesn’t have Netflix yet (or even if s/he does), buy them a subscription so they can watch all their favorite shows whenever they want! It’s not difficult at all; just think about what that person likes and buy them something related. That way everyone wins: The person gets something awesome while enjoying themselves more often thanks too!

IS IT SOMETHING NEW THAT THEY DON’T HAVE YET?

• Is it something new that they don’t have yet?
• Not all gifts should be completely new, but if you want to get your friend something exciting and new, consider their interests. Maybe they love cooking and you know of a foodie festival coming up soon. Or maybe they are into the latest tech gadgets and there is a big gadget convention happening in town this week.
• Can the gift be used?
• Sometimes when giving items as gifts we often forget about how practical it may be for the receiver—is this item useful? Can they use this gift every day or just once in awhile? If so, then go ahead with buying it! (aside from collectible items such as figures and display items of course)

[FOR CLOTHING] IS IT THE RIGHT SIZE?

• Do your research. Sometimes, the easiest way to know what size someone wears is by doing a little bit of homework. If you have a friend whose style you really admire, take note of what brands and sizes she likes to wear. Or if there’s something specific in mind, search for it on the Internet or in stores near where your friend lives.
• Ask them directly! This one seems like common sense at first blush: just ask them their size! But really think about how awkward it would be if someone asked you this question during an informal conversation with friends—it might seem intrusive and rude or even embarrassing depending on the situation!

The best way around this is just being straight-up honest with each other; let them know that while they may not want gifts that are too personal or revealing (like lingerie), buying clothing is still something they’d appreciate receiving from loved ones who don’t live near enough by year round anyway so whatever happens there doesn’t matter much anyway since those occasions are few and far between anyways.

WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEM A WANT, A NEED, OR BOTH?

When you buy gifts for others, keep in mind that there are three different things you can give someone.

• A want is something that they want but don’t need. This could be a new jacket or pair of shoes that they have wanted for a while.
• A need is something they need but don’t want to have right now. It could be a new garden shovel or a new set of knives because their old ones are dull and worn out (or maybe they just think their old ones look bad).
• Both: both a want and need together in the same package!

WILL THIS ITEM NOT OFFEND THE RECEIVER?

Everyone has their preferences (religious, cultural, identity, etc) and it can be at times needed to consider in order to buy gifts that will not disrespect those preferences.

If you’re buying a gift for someone who practices no religion whatsoever, ensure that whatever item or service they receive isn’t offensive in any way—even if they don’t realize why they feel uncomfortable. It’s always best when the person receiving the present can understand why it made them feel uneasy without having any explanation required beforehand!

IS IT SAFE OR APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR AGE?

As you’re buying a gift for someone, there are many things to consider. One of the most important things to think about is whether or not your gift will be safe and appropriate for their age. If they are a child, consider whether or not your gift will hurt them by being too sharp, or if it will present an electrical hazard. If they are an adult, ask yourself if the gift might be considered offensive or inappropriate (for example: maybe he/she doesn’t like cats). After all, it’s always better to err on the side of caution when giving gifts.

IS IT A VISUALLY PLEASANT/ADORABLE ITEM?

Is it a visually pleasing or adorable item?

I know this is probably a no-brainer for most people, but let’s be honest: how many times have you gotten something off of Amazon Prime and were so excited about it that you opened the box right away, only to have your heart sink when you saw what was inside? Or maybe it wasn’t that bad, but the item just wasn’t as good-looking as you’d hoped. Whatever the case may be, if an item isn’t visually appealing enough for either yourself or your recipient to want to use it regularly or at least display somewhere in their house or apartment/apartment (ick), then I would definitely say pass on buying said product. It’s better not to waste money on something that no one will ever use!

The same goes for if someone gives you something like this—you know how people always say “It’s the thought that counts”? Well guess what: they’re right! Whether they spent $5 at Target on some floral-print dish towels or $500 at Bloomingdale’s on some fancy designer duds with embroidery around each pocket flap…or whatever else might cause them stress over spending money—if they gave something like this because they wanted YOU to enjoy using it and thinking about them while doing so…then go ahead and take advantage of your friend’s thoughtful gift!

WILL IT MAKE THEM HAPPY TODAY AND IN THE LONG RUN?

Before buying a gift, take the time to think about whether or not it will make your loved one happy. If you’re really not sure, ask them what they would like and then go from there. You can also think back on whether or not certain gifts have made them happy in the past.

For example, if you’ve given them a scarf before and it was something that they love wearing every day during winter months, then maybe getting another scarf for Christmas would be an awesome idea (assuming it’s within your budget). Or maybe giving someone new headphones for their birthday is something that always makes them smile because they’ve been wanting a new pair for awhile but couldn’t afford one yet—in this case, giving these kinds of gifts are always appreciated!

CAN IT BE SOMETHING OF SENTIMENTAL VALUE?

When you’re buying a gift for someone, it’s important to consider the value of the gift. What is the monetary value? How much will it cost you? How much do they need it? Is your budget limited or unlimited?

But there’s more to consider than just money. You also want to think about what kind of emotional value this particular item has for them as well as how it fits into their life and lifestyle. If your friend loves reading and already has an entire shelf full of books by their favorite author, this isn’t going to be a very meaningful present for them (even though you might think that it’s the perfect thing).

The same goes for sentimental value: if they don’t have any emotional attachment whatsoever to one piece of jewelry or another, then simply giving them something won’t mean much at all—it will probably end up sitting in drawers collecting dust after only being worn once or twice because no one really likes wearing jewelry like that anyways!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE SOMETHING POPULAR, OR SOMETHING UNIQUE?

It’s the giving season, and you want to find a gift that your loved ones will love. But what kind of gift? There are lots of options, and many can be great choices for different people.

• Give them what they want: If someone is important to you and does something nice for you, it’s only fair that you do something nice in return.
• Give them what they need: If there’s something specific on their wish list, why not give it to them? It might even make your life easier too!
• Give them what they don’t have yet: People often forget about certain things until they need it—but maybe gifting an item like this could save them time or money down the road! Just make sure whatever it is isn’t too extravagant if this person doesn’t know much about it yet…
• Give them something unique and special to them: A personalized gift shows thoughtfulness towards someone else while also being memorable (which means less stress during holiday shopping season). It also gives us an opportunity to reflect on our own desires as well as our relationships with others so we can better understand how these things fit into our lives overall.”

DOES IT FIT YOUR BUDGET?

Does it fit your budget? This is an important question to ask yourself, especially when buying gifts. Are you willing to spend a lot on this gift? Do you have a set budget for this gift and if so, how much do you want to spend on it? Is there an alternative option that is cheaper?

IS IT SOMETHING THAT THEY KNOW TO USE OR INTERESTED TO LEARN?

There are a few ways to determine if something is appropriate. For example, if they have already used it, or have seen it and are interested in learning how to use it, then go for it! If not, maybe think about something else.

Also consider whether they’re looking for something that will help them learn how to make the item themselves—like an espresso machine or sewing machine—or if they plan on repairing their own home improvement projects (like installing new doors).

WHAT IS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE GIFT?

It’s important to consider the main purpose of the gift. Is it something they can use? Do they want it or need it? Will they appreciate receiving this item, given its cost and practicality?

This question is especially important when buying gifts for loved ones who live far away. If you’re purchasing a large piece of furniture or an expensive gadget, you should make sure that your recipient will have space for the new addition in their home before making any purchases. Similarly, if the person already has multiple copies of the same item (e.g., books), then perhaps a different type of present would be more appropriate than another book on their shelf.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE RETURN POLICIES OF THE GIFT STORE YOU’RE SHOPPING AT?

It’s important to know that every store has different policies and that they may even change over time. So, be sure to keep an eye out for the store’s return policy on their website or in-store. This will come handy if there will be change of mind or other conflicts.

If you don’t see anything about returns in the store itself, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any—it just means the company hasn’t made their policy public yet! If this is the case, then ask some questions before making a purchase:

• Will I get my money back if I change my mind?
• How long do I have after purchasing an item before I can return it? (The answer will likely be different depending on what kind of product you bought.)
• What does “returnable within x days/weeks/months of purchase date” mean?

DOES THE GIFT STORE HAVE A TOP-NOTCH CUSTOMER SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST AND RECOMMEND?

• Does the gift store have a top-notch customer service you can trust and recommend?

When it comes to buying gifts, we all want to give something that will make someone happy. But if your recipient is unhappy with the gift due to poor quality or customer service problems, they won’t be able to appreciate its value as much as they otherwise would have. It’s important not only to ask around about what other people think of the store’s products, but also how well it handles returns or exchanges (if applicable). If you’re shopping online, check out its return policy so you know what kind of questions you should ask when ordering from this retailer in particular.

[OPTIONAL] WHAT IS THE OCCASION?

The occasion is the most important thing to consider when buying a gift. Most people have a few occasions that they consistently celebrate, but if you’re not sure which occasion it is, keep in mind the person’s birthday, anniversary and other life events.

Maybe you want to get something for your parents’ wedding anniversary. Or maybe it’s Mother’s Day and Father’s Day at the same time this year! Or perhaps it’s Valentine’s Day or Christmas and Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Ramadan are right around the corner too?

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS THAT YOU EXPECT FOR THE RECEIVER?

What are the benefits that you expect for the receiver?

This is a good question to ask yourself when considering buying your friend a gift. If the answer is “I’m not sure,” then it might be time to rethink your selection. With some thought, however, this can be an especially helpful question. Many people may not think about why they want to buy someone a particular item or what they expect will happen as a result of giving it (and receiving it). It’s also possible that your friend isn’t aware of what he’d like in terms of gifts — so having this conversation could lead him down an exciting path!

IS IT AN UPGRADE OF AN ITEM THEY HAD IN THE PAST?

Do they already have it?

Giving a gift that the recipient already has is always a bad idea, even though it may seem like you’re doing them a favor. If you want to be certain that your gift will cause excitement and intrigue, make sure it’s something new! If there’s an upgrade available for something they already own, go for it—but make sure it’s an upgrade worth getting excited about.

If there isn’t an upgrade available or if they have everything they need in their collection of things that are pretty similar but not exactly the same as what you’re thinking of giving them, then consider skipping this item entirely and focusing on something else instead!

WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO LIKE ABOUT IT?

To give them something they will like, you have to know what they like.

You can ask a friend or family member if they know the person’s favorite color, book, movie and song.

If you don’t know someone well enough to ask these questions then look at their social media posts or photos for clues. You can also ask other people who do know the person well.

IS IT SOMETHING YOU BOUGHT THEM BEFORE?

If you have bought this person a similar gift before, they might be expecting it. This can either be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how much they like the gift and whether you’ve already given it to them recently. For example, if someone is a big fan of Star Wars and you give them an X-Wing toy for Christmas every year (a classic gift for Star Wars fans), then chances are that they’ll expect it again in 2019. However, if someone has been asking for new glasses all year long but you never knew this until now, then giving them what they asked for would probably make them happy because no one else has gotten them anything yet!

CONCLUSION

That’s it! We hope that this list of questions can help you in your next gift-shopping experience. If you think of any more, feel free to leave us a comment below with your own suggestions for buying gifts. We look forward to hearing from you!