A birthday is always fun. Cake, visitors, flags, balloons, memories, family and music. In short: party! And people also expect something in return, namely a gift. But what do you give to someone you have only known for a week? Or for 30 years? And should you give a good friend something different than the neighbor? And how much should that cost? You probably noticed it yourself, choosing a gift is not that easy. This article will help you get started, and who knows, maybe you too will arrive at the front door with a nice gift!
To who?
The very first thing you should ask yourself is of course who the gift is for, i.e. what relationship you have with this person. Then you know in which direction you should look for a suitable gift. Then comes the hardest part, because what do you ultimately have to give? Sometimes it is better to make something yourself, because then you can see that real effort has been put into it. An expensive gift may also show that this person means a lot to you. Or not. Below are a number of categories in which your birthday boy or girl may find themselves. Did you find him? Then there is a list of what suitable gifts could be!
Categories birthday
Co-worker
The fact that you have been invited to your colleague’s birthday shows that you have a good bond with each other. However, it is not a good idea to show up with a homemade painting or knitting, because that can seem stingy. Moreover, it is often the case that colleagues know each other quite well, but they remain somewhat at a distance.
- An expensive bottle of wine, a compilation CD with music or a popular book are usually the solution.
- Would you like to keep it personal? Then think about memories you have of this colleague. Do you always joke about borrowing each other’s stapler? Then buy a new stapler as a gift. The above of course differs per work situation, because as a truck driver you are probably looking for a different gift than a tax advisor.
Hobby buddy
Do you know the birthday boy or girl from a hobby you have together? Then give him something that can be useful
- New knee pads if you play in the same volleyball team, a new stool if you fish for the same club or a new music clapper if you sing in the same choir.
- A magazine or book related to the hobby can also be a nice gift.
- Do you play matches together? Then register him or her for a tournament and give a ‘weekend away’ as a gift.
- Does the birthday boy or girl always pay for a round in the pub? Then make a voucher with 5 rounds that you will give.
Child
It is always difficult to think of what children want for their birthday. That will depend on the phase of life they are in at that moment. Playing with dolls and Lego, or was it with computer games and mobile phones?
- For children under 12 years old, it is a good idea to contact their parents. They usually have the best idea of what a child wants and is allowed to have.
- Older children and especially teenagers are often satisfied with a very boring envelope with money.
- Check with yourself to see if there are any other possible gifts. Perhaps the birthday boy or girl recently told you that his or her headphones or bicycle bell were broken. Or that they often think back to that delicious pear pie you made last year. A birthday is the time to bake another one!
Childhood friend
Well, what do you give to your best friend? You can’t arrive with a bottle of wine or a book voucher. It must be something personal. Photos, for example, are suitable for this.
- Choose a beautiful mouse pad, wine bottle, painting, tea cup or placemat and have it printed with a photo of you and the birthday boy or girl.
- Have you known each other really long? Then creating a timeline might be an idea. Find a photo from each year you have been friends and arrange them from past to present. Hang them around the room or bundle them in a photo book and you can visualize your own journey through time. Very suitable for birthdays of course!
- You can also do something with your friend’s name. Have it made into a street sign or printed on underpants.
- Maybe your girlfriend has been dreaming of going to Paris or Rome for a weekend for a long time? This is the perfect time to offer her that, with you there!
- A variant closer to home is a cooking course, sauna trip or a nice evening out for dinner.
- Is her favorite color pink? Make a ‘pink package’ with only pink gifts.
As you notice, there are plenty of options and it doesn’t really matter what you give, as long as you pay attention to it.
Knowledge
What should you say about the neighbor across the street or the new girlfriend of your former roommate? Keep it simple. Don’t make works of art or organize joint days out.
- A book or movie voucher is more appropriate here, as are tools for the home, garden and kitchen.
- Walking maps or cycling routes of the area are also an option.
All in all, keep it simple!
Family
- On a family member’s birthday, the rest of the family will also have to give a present, and that is why it is often decided to give a joint gift. Everyone contributes some money, which increases the total and allows a larger gift to be purchased. Usually the birthday boy/girl has already given a hint as to what this should be, and if this is not the case you could check with his or her family members. It would be a shame if a large or expensive gift were not appreciated.
- However, if you all want to give a separate gift, then a ‘weekend away’, day out or a voucher to go out for dinner together is a suitable option.
- Give a travel guide if the birthday boy or girl goes on holiday to a faraway country and a beautiful statue for the garden would also do well.
- Does it concern family members or grandparents? Then a homemade gift is a favorite. Write a poem, make an artistic painting or prepare a six-course meal. As long as it’s made with love!
Presentation
Once you have found a nice gift, it would be a shame to give it to the birthday boy/girl directly from a plastic bag. You have to make it something special so that it becomes a real surprise. That only makes giving and receiving gifts even more fun. Moreover, the packaging is usually what shows whether or not effort and time has been spent on a gift. But how do you turn it into a real work of art?
- Wrapping paper works wonders. This is usually printed with a motif, design or just a casual color. Use wrapping film for flowers and gifts that you want to remain visible.
- Gift bags have been designed for packers with two left hands. You can then easily close the whole thing with the adhesive strip on the side, thus avoiding messing with adhesive tape. Gift tins are also a solution for this, and these can also be used afterwards as a storage or cookie jar.
- Finally, you can use bows, feathers, decorative stickers, balloons and ribbons to liven it up even more. Please note that the costs for packaging are not higher than the costs of the gift itself.
Good luck finding a suitable gift, and enjoy all your birthdays!