By Vlada Rauner, Staff Writer
When it comes to getting friends and family the perfect holiday gift, the pressure is on. But buying a present that is sure to dazzle that special someone is even more stressful. Not to mention, if you’re on a budget, finding a gift that won’t break the bank is quite the challenge, and having to the deal with the holiday rush during this time of year is overwhelming.
Between all the Black Friday and Pre-Christmas sales, it’s hard to know which places will genuinely give you more bang for your buck. But it doesn’t have to be that complicated. Here are some tips and tricks to getting the best gift at the lowest price.
First of all, you need to really know who you are spending your money on, and asking some of their friends and family goes a lot farther than internet stalking. So do your research. Also, because this is your significant other, there are always some choice gifts that will never go unappreciated. Chocolate, or their favorite candy is a nice additive to go along with any holiday present.The next thing you need to worry about is quality. Finding a gift for a great price is awesome but make sure the deal is really a steal by checking for damage before you make the final purchase. Online sites such as ebay, and amazon, have relatively accurate pictures if you are getting the product from a name brand. If you are purchasing from an independent seller, make sure to follow up with the owner on any questions and more pictures. The more detailed the better.
On another note, what stage of the relationship you are in can really dictate what type of gift is appropriate. Honeymoon phase is definitely an excuse to give chocolate and teddy bears.
If you and your special someone have been together longer, you might want to think about skipping the surprise element and asking them what they could actually use.
Senior Bailey Little, has been in a relationship for a little over a year with fellow senior Lance Mercy.
“We like to wear our PJ’s and watch movies together to relax” she says. As far as high school relationships go, they have been together for quite a long time. But no gift goes further than “something sentimental” Bailey explains.
Another long term member of a relationship, Andrew Hoffmeister, explains simply “the longer you’ve been with the person, the more money should be spent”. Despite his role in a healthy long term relationship, he doesn’t consider himself a relationship expert.
“For people my age, i’m on the better end, but not an expert by any means”.
Granted, it is common knowledge that the longer the relationship, the more expensive the gift. But this isn’t always true. Especially for the holiday season, doing something festive together will be more cherished by your significant other than any lavish present. Going to their favorite restaurant, a christmas light show, ice skating, holiday baking, making a gingerbread house, and even sledding can bring two love birds even closer together. So don’t sweat it, doing something simple and inexpensive can bring both members of the party more holiday joy than you expect.