It can sometimes be a daunting task to find the perfect gift for someone. We've all been there, wondering to ourselves, "Will they like this?" while standing in the checkout line.
Plus, when you're trying to give gifts on a budget, it can often feel like you just don't have enough money to spend on "stuff" you think people will love. So researchers from Carnegie Mellon University set out to conduct a study to really understand whether those receiving gifts are truly getting what they want. And the answer is no, they're typically not. The study shows that when given the choice, those receiving gifts prefer something that is more sentimental—such as a framed photo or personalized wall decor, for example—over being gifted something more along the lines of superficial—such as a shirt from their favorite store. The research found that most people aren't sure whether something they give that has sentimental value would be appreciated and valued, but find themselves feeling confident that a more superficial gift that aligns with the recipients interests is a safer bet. "Essentially, givers seem to view sentimentally valuable gifts as having the potential to be either home runs or strikeouts, but they view preference-matching gifts as a sure single," says Julian Givi, lead author of the study. "Rather than risking a strikeout, they go for the sure thing, when what recipients truly desire are sentimentally valuable gifts." So basically, through multiple experiments within this study, researchers confirm that people should be giving more sentimentally valuable gifts.
So next time you dash out to your mom's favorite store to pick out a new blouse you think she might like, perhaps you might want to instead find her something that has a little more meaning behind it. Even if it's a framed photo of the two of you that has "I Love My Mom" engraved on the bottom of it, she'll likely cherish it way more than anything her favorite store has to offer.
Here's some ideas we found to jumpstart your sentimental gift giving:
Custom Handwriting Keychains
These cute little keychains can be customized with anyone's handwriting, from children to grandparents.
A Personalized Make-Up Bag
A personalized multi-functional small zippered bag could hold anything from make-up to school supplies.
A Personalized Wine Rack
If you know someone who likes wine, then a cute customized wine rack might be the perfect gift.
Fingerprint Jewelry
A Personalized Leather Money Clip
It can be so hard to find the perfect gift for the men in your life, but this personalized money clip is not only practical, but also affordable.
This story originally appeared on Don't Waste Your Money. Checkout Don't Waste Your Money for other great tips and ideas to make the most out of life.
