There were many surprises when we polled the MaxSold community for the best gift they ever gave. Robin said the best gift she had ever given was a kidney to her daughter, but it doesn't have to be that extreme to make this list.
Here are our Top 6 tips from our MaxSold Online Auctions community
Tip 1: Give Personalized Gifts that Bring Back Memories
A whopping 45% of memorable gifts given were personalized, unique gifts - so don't just head down to the local mall to pickup that gift. Frances gave a 1930 Marconi radio he got from MaxSold Online Auctions for his 92 year old mother which brought back good memories. Bob gave his brother a vintage game they played as kid (Battling Tops). Also popular in this category are converting photos into a DVD (like Barbara did taking a 8mm film from 57 years ago!) or a simple photo album (like Jennifer did - going through all old family photos to select the best ones for her mom)
Tip 2: Give Gifts that Show that you Care
Rosa took this tip to the extreme and paid the last mortgage payment for her parents' house! Deborah took things a little less lighter (still showing that she cared) and sewed reflective fabric on all her mother’s clothes so she could walk after dark!
Tip 3: Gift to Show that you Notice Things
See what everyday things your loved ones do to make their lives easier. Becky got a lint lifter for her mom as hers had a broken handle (she was using a screwdriver for the handle!) - and getting a lint lifter was the most excited she’s ever seen her mom!
Tip 4: Trips can be Fun to Gift
25% of the best gifts ever given were trips. Trips to a sporting game or plays are fun. On the more expensive side, weekend getaways and beach vacations were popular choices. If you like surprises, maybe surprise someone? Peter impulsively bought a last-minute airline ticket for half-way across the country to surprise someone, and Kim surprised her grandparents by flying out to Missouri to see them at Christmas and seeing the surprise on their faces.
Tip 5: Totally Stuck for a Gift? Resort to giving your time!
Darcy gave her time to her mom to help prepare her house for the holiday season, and Lidia gave a "gift certificate" to be used, whenever, for a day doing whatever her family wanted her for!
Tip 6: Don’t forget the Charity... and it doesn't have to be cash
Susan, a receptionist at a Senior Citizen home, sent each of the 300 residents a hand written card with a candy cane attached. Kathryn gave dozens of scarves for people on the street and Robert gave five homeless kids a meal. Many MaxSold buyers buy and give things all year long to local causes: Karen buys kitchen items from MaxSold to put together care packages for fire victims. Tekla buys from MaxSold to give to a Nepal refugee resettlement program and Alex buys furniture to assist parents fleeing from abusive homes... there are easy (but high impact) ways to help out a cause you care about, and this would make the 'Best Gift You Ever Gave' category
See MaxSold 2016 Infographics
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