Their Christmas gifts-do you need help?

Christmas is a time for giving and receiving. There are those among us who do not necessarily want anything. Then there are those who seem to have everything, making it hard for you to pick something for them. So how do you make the gift shopping experience easier and fun?

When it comes to exchanging gifts, what matters most is the thought. A simple yet elegant and inexpensive gift can go a long way to warm the receiver’s heart. Esther Nyawira has worked in a gift centre for eleven years and says that contrary to popular belief, a gift need not be expensive. ‘From a funky looking handkerchief to a priceless Monalisa painting, a gift is a gift.’ She gives some tips on how to ‘gift-pick’ just right.

For the men
It could be your husband, brother, friend, co-worker or father. Selecting a gift for whoever it is will be easy if you know what he likes. Maybe you heard him make a comment about something, That sculpture looks beautiful,’ or ‘I have to start visiting the gym soon.’ In such a case, you already have a clue as to what interests them. In this case full year’s subscription to a reputable gym would be ideal.

Other gifts to present to a man include: Shaving kits, deodorants, sunglasses,personalized gifts such as a pen engraved with his name, ipods, pen stands and cards. If you know he is visiting a certain place, say Mombasa, going out of your way to get him a guide map to show him which interesting places to visit would be welcome. If he loves sport like football or cricket and a game is in the offing purchasing a ticket for, will make him adore you.

For the ladies
The person in mind could be your mother, sister, co-worker, friend or even a pregnant lady friend. Watches, jewellery, perfume, handbags, teddy bears, chocolate and office accessories are appreciated by most women. For the expectant friend, it would be thoughtful to buy something for the forthcoming baby such as diapers and baby clothes.

For a younger person
This could be your child, your younger brother or sister, nephew, niece, or even a friend’s child. When shopping for children, the tendency is to go for toys and clothes. For older youngsters (nine to 15 years old) you may find it best to buy clothes in the latest trends and fashion. Most shopping malls have introduced shopping vouchers and it would be gratifying to get one for a teenager; this way he will shop for himself and get exactly what he fancies.

Other memorable gifts to buy may include Christmas CDs and movies. According to Sarah Wambui, a book dealer, it would be a good idea to buy a book for that special person. A spiritual or motivational book is appropriate to present to someone as a Christmas present. May be your loved one did not have a fulfilled year and a motivational book will uplift him and give him renewed energy to find reason to be happy. Sarah recommends Impossible is Possible by John Mason and The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.

Do

• Wrap the present attractively and remember to use themed wrap paper, in this case Christmas wrapping. Remember that everyone likes the excitement of tearing open the wrapping to take out the gift. It is also thoughtful to go the extra mile as you package the gift, by tying it with a ribbon or a bow.
• Attach a card to your gift telling the receiver how much you appreciate them.
• Give a shopping voucher so that your loved one can do the buying themselves. They will probably appreciate this gesture more.

Do not
• Include the receipt of your purchase. Remember to keep the receipt away before presenting the gift. The price of the gift may be taken to reflect how much or less you value your intended recipient.
• Buy clothes and shoes without adequate information. In case you decide to buy clothes, ensure you know the size and the taste of the receiver to make the gift more meaningful.

END: BL18/70-71

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