'Do you like buying gifts for other people?'

Join me in my journey in finding myself…

The simple response to this question is, yes, I love buying gifts for other people.

However, I do often find that it is difficult to buy gifts for others. For example, it is very hard for me to buy gifts for my mother. Her response to “What would you like for your birthday” is “Nothing. I just want to spend time with the family.” Of course, we naturally always spend time together as a family. Nevertheless, a screenshot of her wish-list printed in her brain would be amazing. An unwritten rule in our family currently is to give cash or gift cards to one another on our birthdays. Simply because no one knows what each other wants. In all honesty, I shouldn’t only be blaming my mother for not wanting anything. I am equally as guilty as her and do not know what I want as a gift. I would prefer food, I guess.

For my friends who are girls, I used to purchase cute stationery, jewellery, makeup, books, journals, and handbags. However, it feels monotonous and yet again our friend group mentioned considering gift cards as an alternative.

The problem I used to find with gift cards is that it may feel a bit insincere as we are not putting in the effort and time into purchasing any other gifts. However, after talking to family and friends, after you reach adulthood, you realise that gift cards are important as well.

Now when I am buying something for a family member or friend, I would give a gift card along with a little spontaneous gift. This would be very random and may not be useful as such to the other member but may provide a good laugh or smile on the face. For example, I bought an adult friend of mine a Winnie the Pooh sitting cushion. Hopefully it gives them comfort during their long hours at work. It definitely made me smile.

Do you find it difficult to buy gifts for others? If not, what gifts do you buy for others?

Written with sincerity,

Me.