Finding Cool Birthday Gifts You’ll Want to Keep

The best gifts are often the ones that you wish you could keep for yourself. When it comes to buying birthday presents, it’s not always easy finding something thoughtful that anyone would love to receive, but also that you wish you could just hold onto and enjoy. So what are the secrets to tracking down presents so cool that you’ll actually want to steal them back?

Here are some ideas and tips:

Focus on Quality and CreativityHigh quality, one-of-a-kind items with creative designs are the kind of gifts that will appeal both to the recipient and to your own sensibilities. Things like artisanal chocolate, fancy cocktail mixers, ornate journals, or unique tech gadgets are great examples. You’ll want them to experience these special finds - but they also just might tempt you to take them back for keeps.

Find Shared InterestsThink about what hobbies, passions or interests you perhaps have in common with the birthday person. Use this insight to discover gifts in these same areas that match both their tastes and your own. For a wine lover, an elegant decanter or a subscription wine club are classic choices. The outdoorsy type? Gift them fancy hiking gear you wish you had. Now you can subtly share these interests together through enviable gifts.

Research One-of-a-Kind ProductsTake the time to uncover well-crafted, even exotic products that most people may not be familiar with. Sites like Etsy or specialized merchants for your niche interests are full of rare, quirky finds. It might be a handcrafted chef’s knife from a renowned Japanese maker, or a digital camera geared for astrophotography. Their uniqueness will intrigue both parties.

Splurge on Shared Dream ItemsFinally, don’t be afraid to splurge a little on bigger ticket items you both would covet. Maybe you’ve always wanted matching designer watches, or the latest hot new gaming console. It shows how much you care when you spend a bit more for something you know they’ll appreciate and cherish - even if you secretly wouldn’t mind keeping it. Just make sure it’s within your comfortable budget.

Give ExperiencesInstead of a material thing, gift them a memorable experience. This could be skydiving, a wine & painting night, concert tickets or a hot air balloon ride. You’ll likely wish you could tag along and partake as well with these thrilling and Instagram-worthy events. The memories and stories they’ll recount later will be almost as good.

Steal Gift Ideas From Their Wish ListsPeruse their own Amazon, Pinterest or other wish lists and registries. Chances are some of their saved ideas will grab your attention too. Let their favorites guide you towards presents so special, you just might pick up a little something similar for yourself while you’re at it.

When seeking out prime birthday presents, use these tips to find gifts with that perfect balance of ideal for them and desirable for your own tastes too. Just try not to get caught keeping one or two - though the receiver surely won’t complain if you accidentally buy them something extra because you can’t resist wanting your own. With such cool finds, who could blame you?