In Developing Countries;
- it is easier to come up with gift ideas,
- (if you have the funds for it),
- there are many things that people need
- but do not have; indeed
- cooked food was the gift that
- my mother dispatched
- (through us children)
- to neighbors, extended family, and friends
- as a sign of good will at Christmas time;
- my mother dispatched
- watches, shoes, garments, jewelry, dishes, sheets,
- pens, books, personal music player, TV, computers, toys, etc.
- are all also great gift ideas.

Photo by Michau0142 Ludwiczak on Pexels.com

Photo by Lukas Kloeppel on Pexels.com
In affluent societies like in the Western World
- coming up with the perfect gift at Christmas
- can be a challenge;
- because most people use
- their regular incomes or
- credit cards to buy what they
- need or use regularly.
- because most people use
- can be a challenge;
- One option is to buy
- high-end gifts or
- exotic and rare versions
- (which can be very pricey)
- of things people use on a regular basis.
- Regular folks therefore have to work harder to give the perfect gift;
- here are a few suggestions of how to give the perfect gift.

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com
The perfect gift takes time
- Start early, as early as September;
- listen to everyday conversations,
- listen to expressed desires and aspirations
- and make a note for gift ideas from those conversations.

Photo by Thibault Trillet on Pexels.com

Photo by Matthew Barra on Pexels.com
The perfect gift may be an ‘experience’
- Gift ideas do not have to be ‘things‘
- they can be
- a vacation, cruises, concert, a trip to a destination
- museum/zoo visits or theme park rides, air fare, special trips;
- time off work, housekeeping, or baby sitting;
- an offer of cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping;
- scholarship, tuition contribution, tutoring,
- a special radio station/you-tube, blog post announcement, etc.
- they can be

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com
The perfect gift should be personalized, customized or handmade;
- an autographed book/ticket/music/fan wear,
- (from the author or composer, or admired person)
- monogrammed items:
- a person’s name, initials or special message,
- can be inscribed on
- silverware, bathroom set, plaque, musical instrument;
- can be inscribed on
- a person’s name, initials or special message,
The perfect gift must fit the personality of the receiver

Photo by axecop on Pexels.com

Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com
- Some people want big
- (the amount spent is impressive)
- others look for small details
- (how rare, how much effort, how much thoughtfulness!)
- Some people are visual
-
- others are action oriented, still
- others are moved by sound, etc.
- Some people like things, others like ‘experiences.’

Photo by bruce mars on Pexels.com

Photo by bruce mars on Pexels.com
- Some people want to keep up with their peers
- (they get gifts that are popular)
- others want to know that ‘they’ are unique
- (they get gifts just for them);
- How do you know what is the perfect gift?
- People usually give the type of gift
- that THEY like to receive;
- use that to guide your gift giving
- TO THEM!
- not the other way around
- do not give what you cherish
- (I once gifted a hat to my wife
- that she has never used;
- it was something I fancied for myself!)
- (I once gifted a hat to my wife
- People usually give the type of gift

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Photo by jonas mohamadi on Pexels.com

Photo by Oleg Magni on Pexels.com
The perfect gift may be what someone tells you they want
- They tell you directly or respond if/when you ask.
- Some apps make it easy to create a registry for gift requests.
- PCmag.com has a list of popular apps.
- lifewire.com also has another list of Christmas gift apps.