Research from crowd gifting app WhatWeWant revealed that more than half (53%) of UK consumers have received unwanted gifts at Christmas…. that’s a lot of wasted time and money, not to mention it’s impact on the environment!
An unwanted gift inevitably means widespread disappointment for recipients, with a shocking 43% admitting to taking their unwanted gifts to a local charity shop, while 41% used their unwanted presents as gifts for other people. But some unhappy recipients do not even bother to recycle their gifts, with one in five (20%) admitting to throwing their gifts straight in the bin.
Do you want to make sure your gift avoids such an unfortunate fate this festive season? Well, here are five top tips to ensure your presents are a resounding success:
Plan Ahead
We all lead very busy lives, and it’s too easy to leave your present purchases until the very last minute. However, planning ahead gives you plenty of time to do your research and find out exactly what your friend or family member wants.
Stick To A Budget
Did you know, 34% of gift-givers overcompensate for a lack of good idea by completely blowing their budget? Throwing money at a problem is not the solution; as much as your loved ones enjoy receiving presents, it’s unlikely they’d be happy with you going into debt for their sake. Buying something that is too expensive leaves both the giver and receiver in an awkward situation, so create a budget and stick to it.
Join Forces
They say two heads are better than one, but what about five or six? If you’re struggling for a gift idea, why not collaborate with other friends and family members. The benefits speak for themselves: nobody overspends and, most importantly, it allows you to buy someone something special that they’d never purchase for themselves. Win-win!
Don’t Be Shy, Just Ask
Perhaps the best way of avoiding giving an unwanted present is to actually ask the recipient what they want. With 50% of consumers dropping hints to loved ones in the run up to Christmas, asking them outright will make sure the perfect gift is not lost in translation.
Think Outside The Box
Heading straight to the usual online or high-street outlets might seem like a failsafe gift-giving option’ however, don’t be afraid to think a bit differently. With almost half (48%) of gift-givers preferring an experiential gift over material items, why not consider a spa treatment, restaurant voucher or gig tickets instead?