Different and exciting presents for this season
By Mercedes Deutscher, Staff Writer
Do you remember every Christmas present you’ve ever received? I don’t.
Material objects pass through and out of our lives as the years go by. I have very few of the gifts that I received 10 years ago. We lose things or have to get rid of items because we run out of room for them in our homes. Technology breaks and goes obsolete. Unless it holds some sort of sentimental value, it will likely be gone in a few years.
How do we prevent this from happening to the gifts we give to our loved ones? It’s simple; we think outside the gift box. Here are some tips on how to immortalize the presents you give to those you love.
First of all, don’t buy presents for every single friend. The longer your Christmas shopping list becomes, the lower quality gifts you can afford (or the less time you have to make them). If you have friends who you enjoy but aren’t overly close to, consider baking them some goodies, getting them some chocolate, or offering to take them on a coffee date. It still shows that you were thinking about them without hurting your wallet. As well, it may be a relief to your friend. After all, haven’t we all been in that awkward situation where we feel obligated to get someone a gift because they got us one?
When deciding on what to get who for Christmas, think about their interests, their needs, and your shared memories with them. For example, if your friend loves to paint, gift them some supplies; they’ll be sure to use them. Gift a framed picture of your favourite memory with Mom, or better yet, a photo album. If your cousin is a coffee fanatic but is stuck with a barely-functioning coffee pot, replace it with a French press.
While on the topic of memories, use Christmas as an opportunity to create more. Rather than something physical, treat a loved one to tickets to a concert or performance. It will leave you with memories and something to talk about. You could also help someone build their interests, such as paying for some guitar lessons for your rockstar sibling.
Quality will always beat out quantity. Instead of showering someone with four cheap knick-knacks, give them one present that they simply cannot forget.
It is those who think outside the gift box whose presents will last through the ages, whether it will be continually used or just talked about for years to come. Those are the gifts we will remember.
