If your loved one has an upcoming birthday or anniversary, you might have already started thinking about what to get them. It takes time thinking of unique gifts for your friends and family. You want to give them something that they’ll love, but you want your gift to be extra special and thoughtful.
There is certainly no shortage of incredible gifts available in the store and online nowadays. But for those of you who are stuck for ideas on what to buy for your loved one’s special day, here is some inspiration!
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Wall Barometer
How often have you seen a wall barometer in someone’s house? Probably never! If you really want to get something unconventional for your loved one, consider getting them one of these amazing gifts. There are multiple varieties available, some of which can be hung up. They can place it in their living room cabinet or hang it on the wall to add a vintage touch to their home. This is an especially thoughtful gift for those who are enjoy predicting the weather, as this is exactly what a barometer is used for!
Customized Chocolate
Chocolate lovers out there are going to be over the moon with this one. There are lots of confectionary companies that offer the option to customize your chocolates. Maybe you want to write your friend’s name across a bar of white chocolate, or maybe your partner would appreciate a few caring words in their tray of truffles. The options are endless, so choose a flavor you know they would love and be creative with your customization!
Personal Training Sessions
Personal training sessions can be expensive. If your friend or a family member has been saying they want to get back into the gym for a while, the gift of a few PT sessions might be just the push they need to find their mojo. It usually works out cheaper to buy a batch of several lessons, but contact your local gym and see what training packages they offer. You may also wish to buy yourself some PT sessions too. That way, you and your loved one can work out together and keep each other motivated.
Customized Canvas
Is there a specific picture that pops to mind when you think of your friend or family member? Maybe it’s a snapshot of a memorable holiday with them or an image of a crazy event you both attended. Consider getting this picture printed onto a customized canvas. This way, the memories can live on forever. If you’re struggling to choose just one special photo, you can also get canvas prints with multiple photos.
Subscription Box
For a present that going to last for months to come, subscriptions are perfect. There are hundreds of companies that offer monthly subscription models whereby they send one or more of their products out to you each month for a small fee.
The most common option tends to be food deliveries, such as regular boxes of chocolates, or healthy meals and snacks, but subscription boxes are not exclusive to food. You can get magazines, flowers, health and fitness boxes, or makeup goodies sent to your door each month. An increasingly popular option are Japanese food subscription boxes, which contain treats like snacks, candies, and teas.
Animal Experience
If your loved one is an animal lover, they’re going to love this one. Your nearby zoo and farm may offer once-in-a-lifetime animal experiences and encounters. Get in touch with them and discuss what they offer so you can choose the perfect one for you and your loved one to enjoy. Some examples of amazing animal experiences include
- Feeding big cats
- Feeding penguins
- Interacting with farm animals
- Meeting exotic birds
- Reptile and bug encounters
Escape Room Tickets
This is not one for the faint-hearted! For those of your friends and family who love a thrill, consider gifting them tickets to the nearest escape room. Buy yourself a ticket too, so you can both figure your way out together. This is a great bonding opportunity and it’s a day neither of you will ever forget.
Customized Puzzle
There’s nothing more satisfying than completing a jigsaw puzzle. Another unconventional gift for your loved one is a customized puzzle where you can choose which photo you want the puzzle to be. Find a special image to bring to life and place your order in time for their special day. They are bound to have lots of fun piecing together their new custom puzzle!
Why give gifts to your loved one?
People give gifts to show their affection and love. However, there are many reasons to surprise that special someone in our lives with a present.
Show affection
When you give your loved one a gift outside a holiday or special occasion, you show them that you pay attention to their needs. If your partner wants to revive décor in their home, you can take the hint and buy a new throw pillow to contribute to the remodeling project.
Gifts that come out of the blue show your loved one that you love, appreciate, and listen to them. It’s the psychological equivalent of being able to breathe air. Your loved one feels affirmation and happiness, which can only help your relationship get stronger.
Gift the experience
An impromptu vacation, a trip to your favorite park, or a picnic in a fairy décor can become an unforgettable gift. You will spend excellent quality time with your loved ones and create memories that last for a lifetime.
More often than not, people wish to take a day off in the middle of the week and do something fun and exciting. When you go above and beyond to give your loved ones such a break from the stressful life, they will remember it for decades. Don’t forget to take photos and turn them into photo books, elegant mugs, or prints.
Help them change
People don’t realize that offering gifts can subtly affect and improve people’s behavior. When you give a gift, you can show your support for a government initiative, a brand, or a company, or even a cause that speaks to your heart.
For instance, you can buy customized tote bags or reusable tumblers from a company that uses ethically sourced materials. It’s a subtle way to help your loved one to become more aware of the environmental issues.
There are plenty of products (photo books, photo mugs, etc.) made with ethically sourced materials. The items last for decades and can help the receiver appreciate the conscious option to preserve memories.
Ask for forgiveness
We’re all humans and make mistakes from time to time. Nobody is entirely faultless. Most of the time, a balanced person won’t harm their loved one on purpose. Sometimes, it only takes a second of clumsiness, a difference in opinions, or a thoughtless comment to hurt your loved one.
Regardless of the issue, most of us have felt guilty about hurting the special someone in our lives. If you’re a person of few words, you might find it easier to let the actions speak louder than your words. Giving a gift is an excellent way to ask for forgiveness. Acting this way shows how remorseful you are about your actions or words. It also shows that you are ready to make an effort to make things right between you and your partner.
Mugs, pillows, personalized jewelry, and prints are some of the most popular apology gifts. When you offer personalized gifts, you can remind the hurt person of all the lovely times you have spent over the years.
Because you want to
When you give your loved one a gift out of the blue, the surprise will increase the joy and feeling of being loved. Gift-giving plays a significant role in people’s lives. It’s one way to express our feelings when words don’t do it anymore. You can always surprise your loved ones with a gift—it will make their day, for sure!
We get happy and excited only when imagining how the loved one will feel when we give them the gift. Turning their day from ordinary to one to remember will make them appreciate you and the relationship even more. Confusion will be replaced with delight and happiness. The smile and eyes will light up, whereas you will feel satisfied, giddy, and warm.
Many products work great as surprise gifts. From mugs to prints, t-shirts, and personalized items, you can find many gifts to choose from.
Reward a job well done
Humans are genetically wired to want praise and appreciation. Whether your partner finally got the promotion, a high score on a test, or won a contest, you can always acknowledge their performance. You will only make them happier than ever.
One thing to remember when giving a gift to recognize a job well done: make sure that the gift is specific. Even if it’s nice to hear “Congratulations!”, “Well done!” Or “Great job!”, offering a virtual gift or giving specific compliments will be more valuable.
If your loved one got an award for the club activities, don’t just tell them, “Keep up the good work!”. It will mean a lot more if you will complement their actions and give them a thoughtful gift. Now it’s a great time to provide them with a personalized t-shirt or a gym bag.
The rule of thumb is to always be specific with the gift when rewarding your loved one for a job well done. Another benefit of rewarding your loved ones for performances will help them continue to be detail-oriented in their day-to-day activities. Needless to say, it will benefit you and your relationship in the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s considered a sentimental gift?
Many people want to create a gift-giving experience that will never be forgotten. It’s why sentimental gifts are so unique. They invite the gift receiver into a nostalgic place that has the most particular meaning.
They say it’s better to give a gift than receive. Why so?
The latest psychology research reveals that people feel better about themselves for longer than when receiving a gift. Giving presents leads to more prolonged happiness from the act itself. The pleasure of making other people happy lasts longer. Hedonic adaptation is one reason why we cannot enjoy spending money on ourselves.
Is it selfish or wrong to expect gifts in a relationship?
The price tag shouldn’t matter at all when receiving gifts. If your loved one has access to free items and they bring it to you, you should be thankful and appreciate the gesture. In the end, offering a gift means that one cares and thinks of you and the relationship you have.
When is it appropriate to give gifts in a relationship?
If you’ve been dating exclusively for one to three months, you can begin giving gifts to your partner. However, how often you date is also essential. As a result, you don’t need to get them a gift if you have been on less than five dates. Also, if they’ve introduced you to their friends and family, it’s probably time to start offering gifts.
Should you buy expensive gifts?
Spending the extra buck on a gift doesn’t mean that your loved one will fully appreciate it. If you’re thinking about splurging to show your affection, you shouldn’t go shopping just yet. Research revealed that spending more doesn’t guarantee that your gift will be received with joy. One study found out that people giving expensive gifts have high expectations about the recipients’ reactions. You might want to take a good look at your wallet and your loved one—he/she might appreciate picking up a flower more than a $200 trip to a spa resort.
