before you start

Keep in mind gifts don't have to be expensive (at least informal ones). You can give off that "expensive/fancy" impression by the quality of the items you choose, but you shouldn't have to spend a fortune. Gifts are a form of love and appreciation meant to make the receiver happy and express your feelings towards them!!

my advice

In order to make gift giving as easy as possible, try to notice the persons' belongings and usage rate of things along your hang-outs. That's going to give you an idea of what to look for in the futureAlso, try to keep it general, unless you know the specifics of a certain product that a person needs. Don't go around buying something that might not be useful for them at all.

I think different types of gifts suit different people, taking into account age, occupation and personality

formalinformal
note bookphoto album
fancy penscard game (suitable for age)
photo framephone cases
(if they wear glasses) glasses case with something they'd like/isn't too specificmini containers for travel/travel bags
thermosheadphones

etc

Steps

1. Look into the persons' hobbies, interests, likes and dislikes. It's different for everybody and paying attention to that makes a gift mean so much more;

2. Depending on what they like, think of a couple of items they may need. Chances are they already have them, so see what items you can easily run out of. Eg.: One-time use gadgets/tools;

3. Think of things they use often. Again, differs from an individual to another, so it makes them feel special when they're noticed <3. Eg.: If someones uses their phone a lot (especially in their industry/field of work), you can try searching for phone accessories to ease their work;

Sophia

Age: 15
Likes: Pink, cats, studying, jewelry
Dislikes: Heat
Notes:
-She wears light makeup
-Wears glasses
-Curly hair
-Does ballet
-Older sister who lives abroad

What NOT to do

So, based on the information I have, I can come up with a few ideas as to what we could gift her:1. Because she has an older sister living in another country, she must travel to visit her. So I'm thinking she could use a travel bag.
When we met up earlier this year she told me she liked dolls growing up, so I figured she was a Barbie© doll fan. Next, i find a catchy travel bag with the Barbie© logo on it.2. Since she has a travel bag, I figure I can fill it up with small things so I don't spend too much on it, and she can still use the bag afterwards. On the topic of travel, I find 3 small containers with a printed cat design destined to put lotions in when travelling. Perfect!3. It's the middle of summer, and we all are experiencing the insufferable heat. You know what would help someone who despises hot summers? A mini-fan! To match the rest of the items I already bought, I search for a pink one and find a small kitty-eared one that can even fit in her bag.3. Sophia has incredibly clear skin, so it would be pointless to buy her any skincare products. Instead, to help her maintain her radiance and glow, I'm thinking of getting her a face mask, one that would fit the pink theme. Bought!

Do Not

- Especially for people with curly hair, do not buy hair products that they haven't tested/don't know if they work on the individuals' hair
- Don't buy make-up they don't use (Eg. if you haven't seen that person use foundation/eyeliner/mascara/any heavier product, do not buy it for them. They might not use it for a reason.
- If they practice a certain sport, you shouldn't buy specific required tools/equipment, as you don't know what they use/like.
- Even if that person previously liked something you gifted them, do not repeat the same items!