Buying gifts for people who say they don’t want anything is always challenging. You never quite know what you should do. Part of you thinks they don’t mean it, while the other part thinks they’re just being polite.
Fortunately, if you find yourself in this situation, this post is here to help. We look at some of the strategies you can use to deal with pesky individuals who say they don’t want anything, and how to find something they will love in the end.
Ask Them In A Different Way
The simplest technique is essentially to ask the person whether they want a gift differently. Changing your tone can be an excellent approach.
The trick here is to find a more tangential avenue to probe them for gift ideas. Many people will state “I don’t want anything” reactively, without really thinking about whether they could benefit from a gift.
Another way you could ask might be “If you had to choose a gift what would it be?” or “Is there anything that you really need at the moment?”
Usually, you will find if you ask the questions in this way, you get a better response. It changes the framing, helping you find out what they really want.
Give Them Something That Makes Their Lives More Convenient
Another option is to give them something that makes their life more convenient. Busy people are always on the lookout for this sort of thing.
When you ask people what they want for Christmas, they will usually think you’re asking them what new physical object they want you to give them to clutter up their home.
But when you give them convenience, you’re doing something that makes a tremendous difference in how they live their lives.
For example, a meal delivery service can be a lifesaver for city-dwellers with demanding jobs. These provide them with all the food they need in a simple box, allowing them to cook fresh food without the hassle of going to the supermarket or writing down recipes. Everything’s there for them.
This convenience approach works because it is thoughtful and saves your loved one time and effort they don’t want to expend. While it isn’t foolproof, it’s usually a good option because it enables them to spend more time on the things they really enjoy.
Try Getting Something Small
A lot of times, people don’t want you buying them gifts because they don’t want to have to splurge on you in return. That’s why going small and thoughtful can be helpful.
For example, buying them a card and a scented candle is a great combination. It’s straightforward and doesn’t make them think “Oh my God, I also need to get them something expensive.”
Furthermore, this approach doesn’t feel overwhelming. It’s easy on an emotional level simply to receive something simple.
Give Time
If that doesn’t work, you could also try giving some of your time. Handing over a few hours can be an excellent way to make someone feel appreciated.
For example, let’s say that they’re having trouble preparing all the food over the festive season. You could butt in and help with this, providing your services and helping them with their menus.
The more time you give, the stronger your connection might be. Giving them something valuable over the winter break, like helping them clear the snow, provides an opening for a bigger gift next year.
Get Them A Subscription
Another option is to get them a subscription. Signing them up for a service that delivers enjoyment over time is an excellent idea.
Meal kits would fall into this category but there are plenty of other options. For example, you could give them a coffee subscription so they can try fresh new blends shipped from places like Kenya or Costa Rica. You could also sign them up for a streaming service so they can watch their favorite movies whenever they want.
The great thing about subscription services is that they are largely immaterial. What’s more, they provide enjoyment for many months or years after the initial purchase, keeping the spirit of Christmas going.
If you want to present this to them in a way that looks fancier, rather than just saying what you have done, then we recommend looking into getting a card and writing out what you want to say. You can stick a picture of the confirmation in if you want, and then a few words to express how much you love them. It’s worth looking into all kinds of cards such as asian cards, animal cards, joke cards, or whatever it is you think they would like the best.
Think Practical And Useful
When someone really doesn’t want you to get them a gift, practicality is something that often rides to the rescue. If they can see the immediate benefit of what you buy them, they are more likely to find it acceptable.
This might sound trite, but you’d be amazed by how psychologically powerful it is for many people. Practical items can get around the idea that Christmas is all “about consumerism” and make a lot of individuals feel happy at this time of year.
To make this gift stand out, observe your intended giftee’s life and see what they are having trouble with. Understanding their pain points–to borrow a term from marketing–is incredibly useful.
For example, you could:
- Get them a chopping tool for the kitchen to save them from slaving away on prep before every meal
- Buy them some thermal socks if they are always complaining about their feet being cold
- Purchase a gadget that helps them aerate their lawn so it doesn’t wind up looking so tired at the end of every winter
Practical gifts work well because they prove you’re considering their daily needs. It means you’ve taken the time to ask what they could benefit from the most and acted on it.
Support A Good Cause For Them
Another innovative approach is to support a good cause on their behalf. If they really don’t want anything because they’re an environmentalist, you could put some money into a conservation project every month on their behalf.
The great thing about this gift is that it is incredibly simple to tailor to the special person in your life. All you need to do is find out what they want to support in casual conversation, and that’s it. Then, on Christmas, you can say that you donated on their behalf in lieu of their usual gift.
The reason this gift idea works is because it allows them to have a broader impact and do what they want to do anyway. You have a stronger relationship with them because you can demonstrate that your values align and that you want to work with them.
Make It Personal
If all else fails, you can make it personal. Unique gifts are ideal for the person in your life who seems to have everything. For example, they might have photo calendars, but do they have any with custom engraving? Probably not.
Personal items work because you can almost always use them to displace their existing solution. Whatever it is, having one with their name on it or a special message is usually better.
It also shows that you put in some extra effort to provide them with something meaningful. You didn’t take the lazy option and purchase a box of chocolates.
Opt For A Consumable
Consumables are another great option for people who say they don’t want anything over the festive season. Instead of buying them a durable object, purchasing something ephemeral can often get around their psychological barriers.
Ideally, you want something “here today, gone tomorrow.” For example, getting them a bottle of their favorite wine with Christmas dinner is a good idea. Usually, it won’t last the day.
You can also do things like purchasing homemade festive treats. These add a special layer to the day and, again, are usually gone by dinner time.
When you buy someone a consumable, you show you know that they want to “live for the moment.” It avoids purchasing them something, like a carriage clock, that will just sit around for years in the attic collecting dust.
Provide An Experience
Finally, the ultimate gift for people who say they don’t want anything is an experience. Paying for them to do something or go somewhere is a way of helping them live their lives to the fullest. Plus, if you know anything about them, it is easy to personalize.
For example, you could get them concert tickets if they like their music, or send them off for a spa day for pampering. You could also buy them a ride on a steam train or pay an expert tour guide to help them hike through their local mountains.
The wonderful thing about experience gifts is that the range of options is limitless. There’s just so much you can do with this concept.
Again, experiences don’t add clutter to their lives. Usually, they are relatively self-contained. Yes, they may need to buy some kit, but that only comes after they’ve had the experience and decide that they want to do it again.
Once they’ve had an experience, the memories last a lifetime. Many people will only do new things if others pay for it-it isn’t something they will try on their own initiative.
So there you have it: how to buy gifts for people who say they don’t want anything this year. Which of these ideas will you try?
