‘Tis the season to give.

Trying to find the perfect gift for a friend can be difficult, but there are simple tips to help make your gift even more special.

Every year during the holiday season, friends and family exchange gifts to one another. It may be hard to figure out exactly what a loved one may want, but it’s important to find a gift that suits them best. A gift is an important way to show your friends or family how much they are appreciated.

It’s much easier to shop for a christmas gift for a child; they usually love whatever toy they receive. However, once people get older, it can sometimes be a complicated process to pick out the perfect gift for a friend or family member. Sometimes people run into problems of getting someone a gift that they may already have. Friends can usually know their friends since of style and it is easier to get clothing or fashion accessories. Every time a gift is given, it is hoped that the person receiving the gift truly loves it.

Junior Ryley Ortega annually exchanges a gift with her friend for the holidays, but can sometimes run into problems when searching for the perfect gift. “Everytime I try to figure out what to buy my friend for christmas, she tells me that she doesn’t need anything. It can get aggravating to find her something she likes, because I want her to know how much she means to me through giving her a gift,” said Ortega. In the past Ortega has bought her friend fuzzy socks or cozy blankets. “I don’t want to give my friend the same type of gift every year. I want to switch up my style of gift, but I fear she might not enjoy it,” said Ortega. Ortega and her friend both agreed that their friendship is not made up of the gifts they give each other, but the memories that they make are what truly matters.

There are simple ways to give your friend a unique and creative gift for christmas. If you are tired of giving them a basic gift, you can switch up the style and make a DIY gift. DIY gifts are homemade gifts, and recently has become a trend that people take on for gift giving. “I feel like a DIY gift is more personal and creative, and can show the people I love just how much effort I put into making them smile,” said Ortega. A common website people use to brainstorm DIY gift ideas is Pinterest. Pinterest includes photographs of various gifts ideas, whether is it to a family member or friend.

Another way to find out how to achieve getting a special gift for a loved one is to not stress over going way over budget to please the person. A gift does not have to be expensive or a materialistic item for it to be special. A gift can be thoughtful and meaningful without having to spend an excessive amount of money. Friendship and family relationships come from the laughter and love spread throughout one another, so do not stress over getting the perfect gift. If a gift is made with love and thought, it will be appreciated for more than just the holiday season.