Shopping Maniac

Great products, Bargains and gift ideas


You are here: Home / Archives for Shopping / Gifts

Shopping for Christmas Gifts-Think Outside the Box

by






Choosing the right Christmas gifts for your friends and family members can be very challenging. Usually, if you can’t find the perfect gift that jumps out at you, or if you have that one friend or family member that has everything, you will end up choosing something basic, such as a picture, calendar or mug.

But sometimes, picking a great gift means taking some time and truly thinking about the person and their likes and dislikes, and then think outside the box.

Think of what they like.

Think really hard about the person you’re shopping for, and think about everything that interests them. Do they like animals? Do they like to cook? Do they like amusement parks, or do they love their job? It’s very important to think about these things and try and choose a gift from what you come up with. For example, if they love animals, you could always buy them an animal-themed gift. If they like to cook, get them cooking lessons. There are plenty of great ideas that can stem from thinking about what someone likes.

 

Think about who they are.

It’s a very good idea to also think about the person you’re shopping for and their traits and personality. For example, is the person always complaining about being cold? If so, make the gift humorous and get them a personal space heater or a heated blanket. Is the person always cracking jokes? Then sign them up for improv or an amateur comedy night at a local club. Both of these gifts show that you care and that you pay attention.

Peruse the Internet.

There are tons of retailers online, and by typing in a few basic keywords that resemble the interests or personality of your friend or family member, you may just find the perfect gift. Make sure to also peruse the Shopping section of Google, and always look on more than the first page of the search engine. If you find a great idea, you can also then use the Internet to try and find the best deals for the present.

Think of what they’ve always wanted.

Listen to the dreams, goals and desires that your friends and family members share when you’re with them. If there is something that they’ve always wanted to do or somewhere that they’ve always wanted to visit, center your gift around this. For example, if your friend or family member has always wanted to visit Italy, you may not be able to afford sending them there, but you can create an Italy-themed gift. Take them out to a nice Italian restaurant, have them serenaded by an Italian musician, and take a quaint boat ride. Though it may not be Italy, it’s the thought that counts.

You can also try to give them a gift by helping them do something they’ve always wanted to do. For example, if your friend or family member has always wanted to go skydiving, then get a group together and give skydiving as the gift. This is a great way to fulfill a dream of your friend or family member and give them a gift they’ll always truly remember.

Julie Myers works as a freelance writer.  As a devoted mother of four, she is always looking for new and exciting gift giving ideas for Christmas.






What to Buy a 7-11 year old Boy for Christmas

by

Getting that perfect gift for your friend or loved one becomes more difficult each year. The present you bought last year was perfect – so how can you improve on perfection? Well fear not, there’s so much available this year for kids. T-shirts, toys, books, whatever floats their boat is on the shelf for you to collect so what are you waiting for?

If he fancies himself as a bit of an action man, this novelty Power Popper is perfect. It’s a bit of harmless fun to let off some steam after a long day. Available for under £15, this gift is ideal for a friend who might let you borrow it if you’re lucky! In the past these poppers have been proven to entertain both children and adults alike and can be used both inside and outside making them perfect for an occasion such as Christmas!

Of course he might not be the hands on type. If he’s more a bookworm, perhaps take a look at author Lemony Snicket’s new offering “Who Could That Be At This Hour?” part of his new ‘All the Wrong Questions’ series. Previously, Snicket has delighted young audiences with his ‘Series of Unfortunate Events’ novels which proved so popular that the first three were turned into a film, starring Jim Carrey. Snicket enchants readers by speaking to them in a highly understandable manner and not condescending their youth by providing interesting and intriguing stories for those who have grown out of “babyish” stories and comes highly recommended by a generation of readers.

Staying on this tangent, another good idea would be to get the gift that keeps on giving. Boys of this age are often inclined to be huge fans of superheroes and a great way of fuelling this interest is to invest in a comic book subscription. The popularity of monthly comic books is increasing year in year out and it’s never been pimple to set up a simple subscription service for Batman, Superman, Spiderman or whatever tickles their fancy. Companies such as Forbidden Planet offer easy online subscriptions with the option to add or take away comic titles from your subscription plan. Imagine their face every month when they get a fresh, new comic through the post and it’s only cost you around £2 a month to get it sent, hassle free, on your behalf.

If you’re set on buying a present that can be open on the day however, you might want to consider a few other options. Source any gifts sold by their favourite football team, or team from any sport, to get them something you know they’ll really like. A replica shirt, logo emblazoned ball or room decorations make ideal gifts for the sports fanatic! Many clubs now offer ground tours that take you all around the stadium and make special trips into the dressing room and also go pitch side. These tours are reasonably inexpensive considering, and will provide them with a great day out, whilst extending the Christmas period for the lucky person who receives it.

From kids T-shirts to books, there are so many ideas for Christmas gifts this year it’s almost impossible to choose! With so much available, you’re bound to find the right gift for your friend or loved one, it’s just a matter of whittling it down to that perfect one.

Greg O’Hara is a freelance writer and professional blogger based in Bath, UK. He enjoys writing on a variety of topics from lifestyle to family, and has had work published on a number of websites.

Christmas Gift Ideas That You Can Use For Buying Gifts Suiting Different Age Groups

by

As Christmas approaches, you may find it necessary to try to buy some gifts for your loved ones. After all, the best thing about Christmas is receiving gifts! In many of such cases, you often need to get something that the recipient will appreciate in order to make a good impression. If you are not very good at getting presents, however, this often turns out to be a disaster since you may end up getting something that they do not like. However, based on a few variables such as their ages, you can come up with a few gift ideas that the individual you are going to gift to will definitely like.

Gifts for a baby

Well first off, when a child is very young (such as a neonate), you should consider a gift that is going to be practical to them. In many cases, the fact that they do not need much means that your options of what to get are very few, and this makes it much easier for you to buy the gift. Typically, the kinds of gifts you get for such an individual include bedding and clothes. When doing this, it is very important that you try to get items that are of high quality. For instance, the bedding needs to be made of a material that is going to be comfortable to the baby, and also non-irritating to the skin. You can also try to buy items such as toys for the baby, which include rattles. All in all, it is often very easy to get gifts for a baby, since they don’t really judge your gift that much!

What you can get for a preadolescent child

Though you may need to think a bit harder when trying to find a Christmas gift for a child who is not yet an adolescent, it is still not as hard as getting gifts for other kinds of people. Most of the time, you only need to consider the gender and the general mannerisms of the child in order to figure out what to get them. For instance, if they are male and love playing, you can get them some kind of action figure or video game console. However, if you are thinking of getting items such as video game consoles, you would need to find out if they do not have them in the first place. If they do, you can then buy other items such as a video game that is popular but which they do not have. For girls, items such as dresses may be all you need to get.

Gifts for teens

Most people find it difficult to get gifts for teens, mainly due to the fact that it is sometimes very difficult to gauge the personality of one. This can be attributed to the fact that they are in a stage of life that is very complex for them, and this means that they may be still struggling with their identity. However, you can leverage on facts such as the idea that most teens look to impress others when you are getting a gift for them. Most of them value material things, so a gift that is going to impress them most include things such as cell phones and other electronics. However, this is not a hard and fast rule; some teens (especially girls) may be happy to get items that are more sentimental, such as a cup with their names on it. To figure out what kind of gift to get them, it is often a good idea to try to find out what kind of personality they have.

Young adults

When you are thinking about getting a gift for someone who is just starting out in life, you will often find it very easy to impress them using items that are going to make their lives easier. For instance, if you are aware that such an individual has just moved out, you can get them a gift certificate that allows them to buy household items that they may need in their new houses.

Adults

Getting gifts for adults is not such a difficult thing to do. If you do not have any idea of what kind of personality they have, you can easily get them items such as ties (for guys) and perfumes (for ladies) and most of them will be happy with them. Personally, I think that the current trends are leaning towards gift vouchers so you can consider that too.

Remember, what you give does matter, but when it is gifted from your heart, that’s what matters the most!

Susie Chris the author of this article is a very creatives person. She is a part time worker at The House of Christmas, a place from where you can purchase the most beautiful and unique Christmas decorations things in town.

Personalised for your Partner or Loved One

by

Personalised gifts are growing increasingly popular; especially since many people own the same products and want to somehow personalise it to appear diverse and show thought to their loved ones.

Personalising a gift is also a great way to promote a business, since the items can be given freely at events or through telephone or email enquiries. A pen is especially effective, since they are likely to be kept and reused, unlike a leaflet or poster that is thrown away almost immediately.

The Perfect Gifts to Personalise

Online shops now provide a wonderful array of gifts, many of which can be personalised. If you have never before bought a personalised gift then the choice can be overwhelming. From t-shirts and mugs to jewellery and diaries, almost every popular item can be personalised. Mobile phones grow more popular year upon year, so buying your loved one a mobile phone skin is a perfect way to create uniqueness.

  • T-shirts and hoodies: Personalise an item of clothing with a name, logo or picture that you know your partner or loved one will cherish. Other items of clothing that can be personalised include dressing gowns, underwear and lingerie, and scarfs and hats.
  • Jewellery: Personalising jewellery is a great way to display affection for another. Even rings can be engraved to include initials, which provide a unique personalised gift. Jewellery boxes, trinket boxes, flukes, cufflinks, hip flasks, frames, wine stoppers, and pens are pleasant gifts to engrave.
  • Calendars: Include favourite animals, motorcars, holidays, space, football, sports, and romantic elements etc on a personalised calendar. For children and teens, they will love a personalised calendar of their favourite boy bands or celebs.
  • Protective cases and skins: Almost everyone now owns a mobile phone. There are so many designs, but the latest trends include touch-screen technology. The popularity of protective cases and skins makes this a lucrative way to personalise gifts.
  • Cards: There are cards to suit every occasion. Online retailers now provide the opportunity to create a personalised card. These cards may be a little more expensive than a card to suit a specific event, but are the perfect way to show a loved one that you care about his or her hobbies and interests. To wow a partner or loved one, why not write a poem.
  • Bags: Canvas bags are very popular, so why not personalise a bag as a gift, which will mean more to a loved one than a plain old canvas bag with the same picture or logo owned by millions of people worldwide.
  • Chocolate: A bar of chocolate is an especially funky way to personalise a gift and wow a partner or loved one.
  • Alcohol: Personalised alcoholic gifts often include a bottle of spirits or beer and an engraved glass. Hip flasks are especially popular.

Are Personalised Gifts Often More Expensive?

Personalised gifts are often included with the price of the product and include no extra charge, but each retailer is likely to offer a different option.

Promote a Business With Personalised Gifts

For businesses who want to promote a specific product, a personalised gift can be ordered in bulk and include the name of the company, address, phone number, website and email. Popular options include pens, t-shirts, mouse mats, posters, stress balls, and key rings. Be smart about choosing the correct products to personalise, since leaflets may be inexpensive to produce, but are more likely to be thrown away.

Buying personalised gifts for a partner or loved one is a great way to show that you care and it creates individuality in a gift that is priceless.

The Old Anniversary Favourites

by

Are you like me and struggle every time it gets to your anniversary? Buying those anniversary gifts is one thing, but getting it wrong can be a disaster!

My wife and I will often joke when it comes to our anniversary, often declaring the whole period of time as a time of regret. In truth, well at least on my part, I am still madly in love and am still enjoying almost every minute of my time with her.

I say “almost” because as with any relationship it has its ups and downs, that is married life. All being told though, it has been a good marriage thus far.

We have been together for eleven years now, though in truth it sometimes feels like twenty. Life is fairly good and we have a couple of beautiful but painfully testing children now who are both in primary school, which has given us both joy and stress all at the same time.

Anniversary Time Again!

The only problem I usually suffer with at this time of year is trying to decide what kind of anniversary gifts to get her. No matter what I get, it seems to be wrong.

I cannot get away with flowers and chocolates anymore, as much as I wish I could. I think if she saw me coming up the driveway with a bouquet and a box of chocolates, I would be made to eat the flowers and smell the chocolates…after she had trodden all over them.

This has led me to having quite a few dilemmas over the past few years, as I have never really been very creative when it comes to buying anniversary gifts. She already has loads of jewellery, her perfume collection is also massive and if I ever attempt to buy her clothes my fashion sense is way off.

Then if I try to buy her lingerie I get accused of buying something for myself rather than for her, which in many ways is actually true. She certainly is a fussy one!

However, I have since learnt that there are many sites online that specifically sell anniversary gifts, they have done the work for us, whilst being sweet and creative with their thoughts at the same time. You could opt for a romantic weekend away, an engraved locket or something simple such as a personalised bottle of bubbly.

A Smile…Result!

With our anniversary just gone I actually did opt for using one of these sites to get her some small anniversary gifts, which to be honest were not as expensive as I thought they might be. She was certainly much happier this year than last, which is my only true barometer; as long as I improve on the previous year I am doing well.

I actually got a kiss and a smile once I gave her a rather ingenious little anniversary message plate where I was actually allowed to customise it online before they delivered it to me. I simply gave them the date of our anniversary and how long we have been together, they then personalised it and added lots of cute little hand written messages. I added to this with an experience day that the site offers, I bought her a spa day where she can relax and take her mind of things. She can use this whenever she wants and simply has to call and let them know she is coming.

On top of that I bought personalized bubbly, took her out for a meal at a swanky restaurant and ended the night with a few hours snuggled up on the couch watching a romantic DVD. Ok that’s not really my ideal kind of movie, but whatever makers her happy!

She loved it all, each and every anniversary gift I bought her, so the whole day was a complete success. It has taken me over ten years of attempts but I have finally got it right on our anniversary. I just hope I can keep it going next year; I am already having new ideas already. One thing is for sure though, that site I used for the little personalised items has been safely bookmarked on my laptop.

So if you are struggling for anniversary gifts like me, hopefully you now have a good couple of ideas on how to be more successful in the future.

Meta

Pages