8 Of The Biggest Birthday Gift Mistakes To Avoid

Buying a birthday gift is a chance to unleash your creativity, while showing how much you care about the recipient. Make sure your choice hits the spot by steering clear of these 8 birthday gift mistakes.

1.Spending too much

Before you splash the cash, be careful that you aren't simply overspending as a result of not knowing quite what to buy. This is a common mistake amongst people buying gifts for acquaintances or co-workers.

If you're eager to impress through the cost of a gift alone, you could end up feeing disillusioned when what you buy doesn't get the desired result, set a budget and stick to it.

2. Buying something inappropriate

Many gifts might seem totally inoffensive, yet to some recipients they could be considered inappropriate. Be sure to respect everyone's boundaries when you're purchasing, as gifting personal care items in particular (such as underwear, toiletries and such) or culturally-insensitive gifts are sometimes misinterpreted. Save these kinds of gifts for people you know won't be offended by the present itself and otherwise, play it safe with something less intimate.

3. Giving 'helpful' gifts

Some gifts can be interpreted the wrong way, despite the best of intentions when you buy them. Getting items meant for personal grooming or even certain household goods can all be misinterpreted as a backhanded way of telling someone they need to smarten up, tidy up or otherwise change their way of life. Unless the recipient has specifically asked for self-improvement-style gifts, its best to steer clear of anything under this umbrella.

4. Buying something inconvenient

You might think that enormous television or large painting looks wonderful and suits the person you're buying for down to the ground. However, they might have very different ideas! Anything which will take up too much room is a bad idea for a birthday present, unless it's something you've discussed and agreed to previously.

5. Gifting the same gift

If you know someone who is particularly hard to buy for, it’s easy to settle into a particular niche of gift you know they'll like, with little-to-no wiggle room. In rare cases, you could even find yourself buying them the same item, over and over. Try and avoid this approach to help keep your gifts fresh and relevant.

6. Choosing misplaced humorous gifts

Different people have different styles of humour, so if you know a person well, selecting a birthday gift which makes them laugh is a fantastic way to add some extra value. However, if you aren't so sure, it's best to stay away from 'funny' presents until you know they'll be appreciated in the way you intended.

7. Forgetting about presentation

Even the most thoughtful gift can be ruined by poor presentation. We all love the feeling of unwrapping a gift, as it adds anticipation and added thrill to the experience.

Focus on gift-wrapping which works for the present you are offering – and be aware of potential pitfalls - such as failure to acknowledge that something might need wrapping carefully (to avoid breakages). You should also be cautious about ensuring your wrapping doesn't accidentally reveal what you've bought.

8. Opting for 'experience' gifts they'll never use

We're assuming you know a little about the preferences of the person you're buying for, so it probably goes without saying that buying an experiential gift they'll never use might not be the best plan.

If the recipient has never expressed an interest in the activity or experience covered by the gift, then stay away as you risk making them feel unkind for not using it. Keep it simple, and keep the interests of the individual as your top priority.

BoutiqueGifts Best Selling Ranges

If you are looking for a personalised gift for someone in your life we will always recommend our extensive range of gifts. Take a look at our best selling ranges below.

• Engraved Pens from Cross, Parker and Waterman
• Personalised Teddy Bears
• Personalised Mugs for all occasions