If you want to use an app to find a gift for someone... just give them cash.
This may be particularly hard to gift women, but it can be done. You dont need to gift GCs to women when clothes will do. Just keep the gift receipt and include it just in case. You will get wonderful smiles when she says "I'm going to wear the X you got me today"
I follow my own advice and havent bought one in forever. At least a decade.
This has caused me to be late with at least 1 gift, because sometimes bdays creep on you at the absolutely worst time and life happens...so weight that too. Sometimes a crutch may be necessary
Ahhh, 'gifting people'. Very American-speak.
Some context - We make decent money, but we are distinctly middle-upper class by the standards of the avg SF/Singa/London/Dubai/NYC/Bern household. However, I've noticed (accidentally) that immediate family & friends think of us as wealthy. The word rich has been thrown around by little kids.
The most valuable resource I have now, is time. So I decided that's what I would spend for the people in my life.
RE: culture... I've been personally criticized for following the rule steadfastly. Usually this is from people that value perception by others (in particularly, gifting early or on time), vs the meaning of gifting itself. I'm not sure what is right, but there are some people out there that feel that a bday gift that is a day late is a huge insult, even if its a wonderful, well-thought out gift.
Not cultural, just personality trait.
My family are farmers. I got a PhD in physics, switched to startups and have one successful exit. However family is still a BIG value for me.
I think a lot about the opportunity cost of time and I spent a lot of holidays trying to be thoughtful in the search of a good gift.
A lot of my family realizes the fortunate position we are in. So I have thought a lot about how to share generously, but also authentically, with a keen eye on the fact that time is our only non-renewable resource.
This is why I have focused on gifts as a search/efficiency problem so I can actually spend real time with the people in my life.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Alas, I butchered the english language - with very amusing results.
- Usefulness (can I do something with it?) - Versatility (can I do a variety of things with it?) - Quality (is it well made/going to last?) - Stuff they've asked for (did I actually say I want this?)
I've been gifting cash for a little while now, and the reaction has almost always been better / more fun than with a more traditional gift. I do so this with an extra fun (retro) package though [2] which does add to the fun. (disclaimer, I own this website).
[1] https://www.willpatrick.co.uk/articles/how-to-buy-gifts-that...
Plus, I have young kids who love birthdays/Christmas and the excitement of watching them watch someone else open a gift is WAY less if it's just an envelope with cash or a gift card! Lol
https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2011/02/15/131934618/the-...