How do you decide on a birthday gift?
By DJ
@Daljinder (23236)
Bangalore, India
June 9, 2016 9:47am CST
Do you ask the person what they want for their birthday? Or do you just assume and buy what you think is the best present?
Sometimes I would sneakily get them to tell me what they want. I like to see their face lit up when they open the gifts they really wanted. When I know a person well enough, I will try my best to make it more sentimental with a personal touch. I often like to give things to family and friends, sometimes total stranger. 
I am a weirdo! 
Do you like to be asked what you want? Or do you like to be surprised?
Ah! Difficult one to answer it myself. Depends on the gifts. 
The main thing I don't like is when people forget about my birthday especially when they expect me to remember theirs. It's not that I like to make a big production of my birthday. In reality, I myself forget my birthday often. My family reminds me! LOL! 
So, what about you?
(Photo by Pixabay)
I am a weirdo!
Do you like to be asked what you want? Or do you like to be surprised?
Ah! Difficult one to answer it myself. Depends on the gifts.
The main thing I don't like is when people forget about my birthday especially when they expect me to remember theirs. It's not that I like to make a big production of my birthday. In reality, I myself forget my birthday often. My family reminds me! LOL!
So, what about you?
(Photo by Pixabay)9 people like this
12 responses
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Jun 16
First I consider if the birthday is of a male or a female. Next the relationship. And then, I walk into the shop / store and buy the first thing that I find interesting.
As for my preference of gifts on my birthday... well I havent celebrated in years and I dont have that interest any more. Maybe, I am growing Old
3 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
9 Jun 16
@thesids LOL!
You will be celebrating your little one's birthday in couple of months. 
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@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Jun 16
@Daljinder Yes, Dec 13th. The first one this year. Too young to buy her anything long lasting. This years gift(s) for her will be tough finding.... 
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@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
10 Jun 16
@thesids LOL! She is a baby. Why would it be tough?
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
10 Jun 16
@jaboUK Nah! I don't think it is impersonal rather more practical and sensible. We do that here too. My maternal aunt always gives vouchers or cash and asks to buy whatever you want. She says it saves the gift from going to waste in case the receiver doesn't like what he/she got. Or have no use of it.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
10 Jun 16
@Daljinder Your aunt thinks in exactly the same way as me.
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@hora_fugit (5862)
• India
9 Jun 16
I ask only for jest. Ultimately it's me who decides what to give. And can't remember when I gifted someone anything, someone who is not family (my big nuclear family )... Generally my gifts are not off mark...lol
I was always asked what I wanted as birthday gift, and my parents used to buy that then and there in front of me. I was not particularly happy about the lack of surprise... and pretty much confused too about what I wanted if I wanted anything at all. Surprise part was restored by my siblings. And later on parents joined the wagon.
So far so good... you see I am more of a taker than a giver! 
)... Generally my gifts are not off mark...lol
I was always asked what I wanted as birthday gift, and my parents used to buy that then and there in front of me. I was not particularly happy about the lack of surprise... and pretty much confused too about what I wanted if I wanted anything at all. Surprise part was restored by my siblings. And later on parents joined the wagon.
So far so good... you see I am more of a taker than a giver! 3 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
10 Jun 16
@hora_fugit Are you the youngest in the family? 
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100249)
• India
10 Jun 16
It is a difficult thing to decide. Sometimes people want something and feel it is unnecessary when they look at their budgets. That small desire is hard to identify and fulfill, especially when you are not close. Net lets us choose, but what we may choose may again not be what the person would have preferred. So with me it is always cash. I always give cash. That way, the person chooses what he or she wants. Very rarely, I select what the person would like. But that does not have to be any special day at all.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100249)
• India
10 Jun 16
@Daljinder .. Cash is sensible for national economy as well. It prevents wastage of money on things that do not have demand and encouraging industries that are unlikely to survive on long term. I wish more people would opt for cash gifts because of this reason, even though it seems too dry a reason. lol.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
10 Jun 16
@vandana7 I agree! Nowadays pretty much everyone is opting for cash. One of the reason (beside what you stated) is that they don't want to go through the hassle of finding a gift. LOL! Fair enough because gift hunting is not an easy affair. (especially when someone like me has the tendency to get distracted by other things at the shop. 
) It takes a LOT of time too. 
So, cash is sensible.
) It takes a LOT of time too.
So, cash is sensible.1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (14351)
• West Haven, Connecticut
9 Jun 16
Im horrible when it comes to gifting, I usually ask someone close to them so I can buy something they are interested in
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@BACONSTRIPSXXX (14351)
• West Haven, Connecticut
10 Jun 16
@vandana7 yeah that can happen as well lol
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@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
10 Jun 16
@BACONSTRIPSXXX Damn! What about when it comes to your wife? Do you struggle or you know what to get?
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
4 Aug 16
@Daljinder I always do ask first in case there is something they want but if they give me an answer like "I don't know" or "Don't get me anything" then it's their loss because I will go out and find something on my own. They had a chance to tell me!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
6 Aug 16
@Daljinder My dad, Andrew and Byron are the only ones who have thought of things on some occasions. Only because I think they know I am going to get something anyway so they might as well just give me some ideas.
I know what you mean though. I get uncomfortable too when people ask me. And as for your last question....well um um....sorry I'm losing my eye sight a little....can't see the question.
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@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
6 Aug 16
@VivaLaDani13 Knew you will be pain in the butt regarding that question!
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@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
5 Aug 16
@VivaLaDani13 You are the first and the only one to say that you ask upfront. Do they really tell you what they want? From my experience, I will never get the answer and I don't expect them to because honestly if they asked me the same question, I wouldn't just blurt it out. It seems too much like I am demanding that get me this for my birthday. And that's kind of makes me uncomfortable.
What about you? If I ask you "Dani what do you want for your birthday?" Watcha gonna say now? 
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
10 Jun 16
@Marcyaz LOL! I love tricking them into telling me what they wished for and couldn't get it for some reason.
@just4him (317040)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
9 Jun 16
I have older grandchildren now, so I ask, so I get a general idea what they like. If all else fails, a gift card works every time. For myself, I really don't like people to forget it's my birthday. I guess it's the idea that I've been forgotten, rejected, and left behind in so much of my life, that I like people to pay attention and wish me a Happy Birthday if nothing else. And that is good enough for me. It makes me feel special when they remember.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317040)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
10 Jun 16
@Daljinder My kids don't seem to know when my birthday is, though I always tell them well ahead of time. So when they don't say anything, I feel disheartened.
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@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
10 Jun 16
@just4him Same here! Not from my family but there are friends that gave me that feeling of abandoned and forgotten.
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@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
10 Jun 16
@JudyEv Yeah! No one wants to give something that other already has given.
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@ChildofGod81 (504)
• United States
9 Aug 16
The best thing that I've found that works is to ask the person for 3-4 different things that he or she wants, all in different price brackets. That way you can buy what you can afford, without spoiling the surprise, and also getting something the person wants. If it's a regular thing like a birthday that you buy for every year, take note throughout the year of what the person buys himself or herself. That will clue you in on other ways to surprise as well. Did she just buy a really nice journal? Get her a set of really nice gel pens. Did he just buy that awesome Harley he's been eyeing for 10 years? Get him a gift card to the Harley store.
These are obviously just suggestions, but I hope they make my point :) Have a fantastic day!
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@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
9 Aug 16
@ChildofGod81 Hey! They are awesome ideas. I like them! 
Thank you for sharing them. Have a nice day!
Thank you for sharing them. Have a nice day!1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
10 Jun 16
@zap_81 And how do you go gift shopping for others?
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@zap_81 (1019)
•
10 Jun 16
@Daljinder Well if I know a person well it would be easy to find out or else I will just ask directly. If I dont know the person well then I do not see a need to gift that person :)
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