Most people will not admit to this, but coming up with the perfect gift for your Monito or Monita can be harder than practicing for your Christmas party presentation. Admit it, there are times when you’d rather do a throwback Macarena performance followed by a Christmas jigs medley than scour crowded malls in search of the perfect gift.

Tempting as it may be, do not give in to handing out nicely wrapped bath towels and mugs just to get this activity out of the way. We know, it’s the safest, but it’s also forgettable.

If your Monito or Monita doesn’t have a wish list, there are creative ways to find out what their most wanted gifts are. Here are 6 steps to nailing that best gift they’d want to thank you for, for like, forever:

1. Start listening

This is the first step to officially starting your Christmas gift spying. Start “listening” to hints on what your Monito or Monita is actually into (if you don’t already know!). Since most name lotteries for exchange gifts happen in December, you will have very limited time to “listen”, so you might as well use tools that are accessible to you, such as looking through his or her #Goals on Instagram, or lurking through his or her Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Best practice: Getting through to his or her online window-shopping history.

2. Closely monitor

Now that you have at least an idea about what your Monito or Monita wants, go deeper into your spying mode. Start monitoring your Monito or Monita’s activities. What you may have listened to (see item number 1) may not necessarily translate to extreme want, so you might end up buying something he or she may have liked for a while. Monitor closely if your Monito or Monita’s tremendous fondness for canvas bags is just this month’s fad–nothing more, nothing less. If that’s the case, buying it as a Christmas gift may not be wise at all.

Best practice: Greet your Monito/Monita every morning and ask politely about how things are going. It’s sneaky, but you’re going to get a ton of information from this little routine.

3. Do a survey

The people closest to your Monito or Monita are a goldmine of information that may not necessarily surface while doing steps 1 and 2. Start asking around what your Monito or Monita is into or currently doing. They’d have tidbits of information ready to share you with you—just make sure you sign a confidentiality agreement with them. We’re thinking “pinky swear” and “cross my heart, hope to die” types of agreements.

Best practice: Befriend the BFF! Do a solemn pinky swear to make sure all gathered information are accurate and secure.

4. Research–more!

By this time you will likely be 70 percent certain (hopefully!) about what you want to give your Monito or Monita. It is then imperative to do research on the item you have in mind. There are a number of factors to consider before locking down a particular item. You have to think about –

Suggested retail price as of December
Available sizes/colours/variants/units/models, etc.
Availability of the item during the holiday season

Basically, doing research will prevent stress-inducing holiday mayhems, such as getting the wrong size, purchasing the item at its peak seasonal price, or going to the mall and finding out that the item won’t be available in the next three months. Really, the probability of things like these happening is high during the Christmas rush, and you know you want to save yourself from all the unnecessary Christmas fuss. Also, doing research opens up other gift ideas for you! Your gift doesn’t have to come in a box. It could be a sumptuous lunch or dinner treat, a tower of cupcakes, or even a salon blowout! The possibilities are endless—just as long as it fits on your Monito or Monita’s profile (see items 1, 2, and 3).

Best practice: Go online and check listings from the official store or brand websites.

5. Ask yourself: W.I.E.W.T.F.M? (Would I Even Want This For Myself?)

Before you start wrapping the item or voucher you’ve selected, make one final check and ask yourself, truly, W.I.E.W.T.F.M? Is it something you yourself would be thrilled to receive? If yes, congratulations. You now have the perfect gift, ready to be handed over. If no, then you might have to go back to drawing board! Don’t give a gift that practically screams “pwede na.” It’s lazy.

Best practice: When in doubt, seek approval from the BFFs.

6. Go all out

Pick the finest Christmas wrapping paper, the most splendid ribbon, and the most kick-ass personalized tag you can use to glam up your present. Even if it’s in the form of gift card or vouchers, wrap them still! The goal here is to blow away your Monito or Monita with an elegantly wrapped gift that’s so thoughtful he or she will brag about it until January next year.

Best practice: Wrap your gifts in Christmas colours such as red, green, and gold—or whatever is the “in” color of the season!’

Yes it’s true: in gift-giving, it’s really the thought that counts. Research has proven that people who receive gifts put more value on the thought and effort that come with the item. But of course, it just becomes doubly magical when Christmas gifts have more meaning. And that’s what makes exchange gifts extra special.

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