Hopefully you've perfected your creasing and folding technique. People value nicely-wrapped gifts more than poorly-prepped presents--even if the box contains the same thing, shows a study from Southern Methodist University.
Compared to an unwrapped bicycle seat, gussying up the same gift in fancy paper increased people's approval of the seat by 18 percent. And a separate SMU study found people prefer gifts concealed in colorful, decorative wrapping more than those hidden beneath plain brown paper--Ã la your weird uncle's grocery bag-wrapping jobs.
Because bright paper, ribbon, and those sticky-bottomed bows jog your memory for fond childhood holidays and birthdays, you have a reflexive attraction to nicely wrapped gifts, says study author Daniel Howard, Ph.D.
Now that you've got the presentation covered, here are five more tips for selecting the perfect gift:
Expensive gifts aren't worth it. People don't appreciate pricier presents any more than humble gifts, finds a Stanford University study. (They found this result even when they assessed engagement rings.) It sounds cliché, but "it's the thought that counts," the study authors say. So how much should you spend? Aim to drop the same amount your gift recipient would spend if she bought the item for herself, the research suggests.
Act like Santa Clause. Five separate experiments from Harvard and Stanford found people most value the gifts they explicitly asked for. Pro tip: If there's something you really want, you'll be more likely to get it if you only mention that item when asked, as opposed to offering up several gift ideas, the research shows.
Make them work for it. Your friends and family especially like gifts that require some effort, finds a recent study from the University of Miami. So long as that effort yields a positive outcome, they'll see the gift-related work as a benefit, the research shows. Cooking classes, language software, or anything else that calls for a little work will go over well.
Give experiences, not stuff. New adventures provide more lasting satisfaction than items like jewelry or clothes, says a study from San Francisco State University. Through your memories, you can relive experiences over and over again, while your enjoyment of a new gadget or object tends to wear off within 24 hours, the study authors found. Spend your dough on a weekend getaway or concert, and the recipient will never forget it. If you're out of ideas, give restaurant or movie theater gift certificates--or both. These two items--both of which happen to be experiences, hint hint--were rated most desirable in a survey study from Yale University.
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