You don’t have to spend a ton of money on something for it to be a fantastic gift. It doesn't even have to give a physical gift. In fact, I'd argue the most meaningful gifts have nothing to do with the gift itself, but rather on how the gift is given.
Below are 15 ways to wrap and deliver your gift to make it mean so much more than just handing over the gift itself. Consider applying all of these this upcoming holiday season and watch people get stoked about your gift no matter what it is or how much you spent.
Now here we go!
Before You Buy
Before purchasing your gift, there are a few things you'll want to decide that will impact how your gift is received, wrapped, and delivered....
1. Think of the Person You're Gifting to
Before you decide what you're going to give someone, make sure you actually think of the person your gifting to. This is vital to how it will be received. Even if you make a mistake and get them something they don't really need or want, just putting in the effort to try and find out might make all the difference to show that you do truly care.
Do they have too much clutter already? If so, avoid any physical gift you aren't POSITIVE they actually need or want right now.
Do they have very little free time? Avoid any experiential gifts or event tickets that may cause more stress than joy.
Are they struggling with money right now? Make sure not to get them anything that costs them more money (like gas to get there or fees for continuing to use the gift)
Have they said anything that they explicitly want or don't want? Respect their wishes!
The biggest way you can show you care by listening to them. And the biggest way you can show you DON'T care, is by ignoring their direct requests or surprising them with something unwanted. And if you aren't sure, ASK! Which leads us to my next tip...
2. To Surprise or Not to Surprise?
Deciding to deliver your gift as a surprise or not makes a HUGE impact on how the person will receive it. For example, as most of us know, if you surprise someone with a puppy, that usually won't go well unless you already know they've been dying for one.
However, there are many other gifts we may think making a surprise doesn't matter, when it actually does. For example, if you're unsure if your uncle has time to go with you to a concert in 6 months or not, rather than assume since is so far out he must have the time, ASK. Or for example maybe you get your brother a new videogame. However, if you didn't ask, he might be disappointed because there is another game he's been DYING for, but now he is stuck with this new game he isn't really interested in.
Unless you know the person REALLY well, it's always better to ask what they want or run your gift idea by them before purchasing. You can use the next tip to deliver your gift to someone in a fun way before even purchasing it...
3. Wrap "Nothing"
If you aren't sure they'll want the gift, aren't sure they will be able to use the gift, can't wrap the gift because it's too big (like a car), or can't wrap the gift because it's not tangible (like telling them you'll wash the dishes for the next 2 months) than wrapping "nothing" is the perfect delivery method for you!
To give different effects, you can wrap your "nothing" gift in different sized boxes. For example, if you got them a car (or want to give them a car), you could wrap the biggest box you can find with pretty wrapping paper and then wrap a tiny box just big enough to put the car key (or the note saying you are going to buy them the car of their choice) in and then put that little box inside the big box. It will be a roller coaster of emotions until they see the car key/note and realize what the gift really is. Or if you got someone something intangible, you could wrap a tiny little box just small enough to shove a piece of paper inside that says what the gift is. You can of course also simply wrap a medium size box with a pretty card inside spelling out what the real gift is.
Make sure that the "nothing" gift is clearly explained by what you put in the box (or bag etc.) using a card, slip of paper, or a different but related item (like the car keys). And make sure to have a backup gift planned if they say they don't want/can't use the gift you say you'd like to purchase for them.
Try to avoid simply pulling them aside and telling them what you plan to buy or what the gift is. Wrapping something to hand them will also show you put a lot of thought into this gift even if you don't have something physical to gift them now.
Wrapping
Now we're ready to physically put packaging/wrapping on the gift. Let's go!
4. Wrap for them, not for you.
Just as it's important to keep the receiver in mind while picking their gift, it's important to keep the receiver in mind while wrapping their gift. You wouldn't wrap a 6-year-old boy's present in an expensive lacy gift bag, would you? Here's a few prompts to keep in mind when choosing how you'll wrap their gift.
Would they enjoy ripping off the paper?
Would they like to reuse the packaging again later?
Would they prefer something zero-waste (like a scarf) or nothing at all?
What style of wrapping would make them excited to open it?
What is their style?
What's something their into right now? (time to geek out!)
What's their favorite color?
Where will this gift be given and who will be there?
After thinking through these questions, wrap the gift in a way that would make the recipient the happiest (even if that means not wrapping it at all).
The following methods are different options you can choose from when wrapping your gift. You could even combine two or more methods to make things more exciting.
5. Create a Memory with Wrapping Paper
Probably the most common gift wrapping method is wrapping paper. You can wrap the gift itself in paper or put the gift in a box and then wrap that. This method is great for most gifts, especially for kids who love to rip that paper to smithereens! It's part of the experience.
HOW TO MAKE A MEMORY OUT OF IT: My grandma saves every scrap of wrapping paper to reuse later and my father and uncles often used to tease her about it. So one year she got them each the same gift (that came in a rather large box I might add) and painstakingly wrapped each one only using small scraps of wrapping paper she had previously saved. This is one of my fondest memories now and we all had quite a laugh that Christmas. And now no one can say Grandma's frugal antics don't help her save money. If you can wrap something in a unique way that makes a statement, that may create a fond memory that far outlives the gift itself.
BONUS TIP: You can wrap your gift in very large or small box for comedic effect as noted in tip 3 even if you have a physical gift.
6. Make it Simple & Elegant with a Gift Bag
Gift bags are probably the second most common method of gift wrapping. Grab a cute gift bag and some matching tissue paper from the local store and slip your gift inside. This is a great option for people who like to reuse wrapping materials (make sure to not write on the bag or get a bag that's too specific) or for older family members who'd rather not struggle with untying ribbons or ripping off wrapping paper.
7. Put your Gift in a Bag that is also a Gift!
For someone who doesn't already have a lot of reusable bags at home, getting them a cute reusable shopping bag and putting their gift inside that rather than a cheap gift bag might be just perfect. It's a gift within a gift! Speaking of that...
8. Gift within a Gift
You can get a gift to use as the packaging for your "real" gift. Do they need a new organizer bin? Fill that with some tissue paper and top with a bow and tuck your smaller gift inside. Or do they need some new canning jars? Fill the jars with their favorite candy and you can choose to wrap the jars with wrapping paper or just tuck them as they are among the other presents for a fun colorful gift that's not a surprise.
Get creative with this one, it's a whole lot of fun!
9. Scarf, blanket, towel, or other cloth material.
You can do this as a gift within a gift or simply wrap their gift in a scarf (or whatever pretty cloth item) of your own and let them know beforehand that the wrapping isn't part of the gift and that you are just trying to do your best this year to help the planet. That in itself will probably make them smile.
10. Wrapping Extra's
Tie on a piece of candy or another small gift with a ribbon, write a sweet message on the gift tag, or any other idea that your gift's recipient would love. Pinterest is a great source of inspiration on how to gift wrap in creative and beautiful ways. But remember, a Pinterest perfect wrapping job doesn't matter at all in comparison to keeping your recipient in mind and giving from the heart.
Delivery
Of course most of the time you'll probably just hand your wrapped gift to the recipient and enjoy watching them open it, but for those times when you want to give them their gift in a more exiting way, here are a few ideas...
11. Make it a Game
Make them guess the gift before their allowed to open it. You could play charades, pictionary, taboo, or a number of other games to accomplish this. Or you could play a game with the gift giving itself like a White Elephant Gift Exchange or Secret Santa.
There are all kinds of fun ways you can use to deliver your gift using a game. Sounds fun to me!
12. Scavenger Hunt
Instead of handing them their gift, hand them a note that leads them to their first clue. Then that clue will lead them to the next clue and so on until they find their present. You could make this as simple as 5 clues around the living room or as elaborate as a road trip across the country! (but remember to keep the recipient in mind, don't make it too long or complicated for them)
13. Choose Your Timing & Location Carefully
Depending on when and where you give them their gift, they may find it hilarious (slipping a gift card to toilet paper under the bathroom door on the morning of their birthday), exciting (showing them the concert tickets you got them while listening to that same artist's new album for the first time together), disappointing (passing them their gift 2 days after their birthday thinking that today's their birthday), or even horrifying (handing them a gift card to a tattoo parlor in front of their parent who doesn't approve).
So... choose wisely. The timing and location can be part of the gift too if you do it right!
Go In Prepared
Before you go to give them their gift in the wrapping you chose and via the delivery method decided, there are a few more things you'll want to have ready first...
14. Words Matter
No matter your gift or how you decide to deliver it, the most impactful thing of all is the words (and tone) you use while handing it to the recipient. Therefore, before you go to that birthday party, gift exchange, or Christmas with the family, make sure you decide what you'll say when giving each gift.
By "decide what you'll say", I don't mean to write a script to follow to the letter (please don't), what I mean is, know (1) why you are giving this gift to that person, (2) something positive about this person that relates to the gift, (3) how you feel giving them this gift, and (4) anything else practical they need to know.
For example, if you're giving your sister a season's pass to the local ski resort, maybe you could say, "I know you're a wonderful skier (2), so I got excited (3) thinking about all the fun you would have with a season's pass (1). The season starts next weekend so you could get going right away (4)! But of course do let me know if you won't be able to use it for any reason. There is a 30 day refund policy (4)." Compare that to, "I got you this season's pass because I know you like to ski. I hope you can use it?"
Looking at that example, here's a few more things to keep in mind:
Try not to sound worried they won't like it. Own your gift. And if you aren't sure you'll be able to give it with confidence, gift before purchasing using the "nothing" method mentioned in tip 3.
Pump yourself up about how much they will love it. If YOU are excited (or happy, nostalgic, etc.) about giving the gift than they are likely to feel that way about receiving it.
State right off the bat if there is any way they can exchange or get money back for the gift. If there is a gift receipt, give it to them. If you lead with this, they won't have to awkwardly ask later. Plus, when you say this (if you really took tip 1 to heart), they'll likely confirm that they love the gift and don't have any plans of returning it which will make YOU feel great and know for sure that they aren't just pretending to like your gift.
Also, no need to mention if the gift was last minute or not. It makes no difference to them as long as you chose it with them in mind.
15. Deliver with a Meaningful, Handmade Card
No matter how simple your gift, it can be made 1000x better with a meaningful card. Write out a poem, a list of "Top 10 Reasons Why You're Awesome", "Advice for You in the New Year", or draw them a picture. And if you don't know what to get them. This card in itself may be the perfect gift.
There are a million more ideas for wrapping and delivering gifts that you can come up with or find online. What more creative ideas can you come up with?
I decided to write this post because giving gifts that are not only thoughtfully chosen, but thoughtfully wrapped and delivered, helps us all to be more low-waste and clutter-free.
This holiday season (or at that next birthday party) keep in mind both your recipient, their peace of mind/home, and the planet.
If you enjoyed this post, I'd love for you to leave a comment below with the tip you found most useful!
Happy Gifting!
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