We understand that gifts should be meaningful. But who says they can't be fun? In this post, we will share 4 scientifically proven tips on how to choose the best and most unconventional gifts a recipient will cherish forever. No eye-rolling. No letdowns. We promise.
To strike on the perfect gift ideas, you have to know the recipient through and through. This is critical if you want your gift to convey the message that you genuinely care about the recipient. After all, the purpose of gifting is to express feelings and appreciation for the recipient. Impractical gifts, on the other hand, tend to take away this feeling. Put yourself in the shoes of someone who is swamped with work and gifted a food coupon for an exquisite restaurant that is far away. He might abandon the idea of even visiting the restaurant, let alone redeeming the coupon to dine there.
The same person can now be impressed with a food coupon for a less expensive restaurant nearby. This would be a practical gift for him, bringing him joy without adding to his problems. Ryan T. Howell, a psychologist at San Francisco State University opines the same. In a nutshell, givers must not overly focus on how desirable a gift should be. Instead, they must keep in mind how useful it would be, especially to the one who is going to keep it.
The act of gifting, according to Allison Pugh, a sociologist at the University of Virginia who studies consumption behavior, is primarily about knowing the recipient and what they want. However, even if you know the recipient inside and out, store-bought doesn't always cut it. In such cases, homemade and personalized gifts come to the rescue. According to a 2015 research paper published in the Journal of Marketing, machine-made products may be better and cheaper than their homemade counterparts. However, they lack the most important ingredient - love.
In fact, the majority of participants in the aforementioned study were willing to pay up to 17% more for handmade gifts versus factory-pumped items. Customized stuff is believed to carry ‘contained love,’ which is the maker’s care transmitted into the product itself.
Some gifts have a symbolic value that store-bought gifts cannot match. Gifts passed down through generations are more treasured, even if their monetary value isn't particularly high. This fact was revealed in a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research. Family heirlooms carry stories, lore, and legends, which are fascinating for those associated with them. Receiving one as a gift entails taking on the role of its keeper until the next generation is ready. The recipient gets the impression they are contributing to a bigger purpose.
The goal of gifting is to make the recipient happy, whether they are a tech-obsessed nerd, a nature lover, a globetrotter, or a bookworm. Fun gifts do not have to be the most unique pieces, but they should make the recipient laugh. Luckily, weird gifts are in plenty. If not, you can make the most common present weird by making use of your creativity. Assume you're looking for gifts for a technology enthusiast who also happens to be a Marvel fan. A talking Deadpool head would undoubtedly amuse him. Similarly, give a plant stroller to a gardening enthusiast and watch them laugh their heads off.
Such gifts may not solve a problem, but they will not exacerbate it. They may lack your personal touch, but they will still delight the recipient. They aren't family heirlooms, but we're sure the recipient will be proud of them. Give the recipient a reason to laugh out loud in this stressful world. Even this is science-backed because the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services once published a research paper on humor as therapy. Give it to people who need it most and let the medium be funny gifts!