BIRTHDAY GIFT IDEAS FOR EVERY TYPE OF FRIEND: A THOUGHTFUL GIFT GUIDE
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Gift-giving is a love language, and birthdays are a great opportunity to celebrate your friends.
What makes it more special than giving a gift for any other milestone is that it’s a gift for a day that is solely about them.
It’s not influenced by a holiday or special achievement, but simply the celebration of their existence.
But sometimes, picking a gift can be challenging for the following reasons:
You don’t want to get something generic or meaningless
You think they have “everything”
You’re worried you’ll get something they won’t like
Well, worry no more!
This blog post will serve as your birthday gift guide to help you pick out something that tells your friend: I love you, I care about you, and I pay attention to you!
Birthday Gift Ideas For Friends
1| Gifts For Creative Friends
Check out these gift ideas for the friends in your life who enjoy making art.
Writer
Painter
Photographer/Videographer
Ring light
Musician
Music software subscription (like for a DJ – Serato, a music production software)
Crocheter
2| Gifts For Active Friends
Check out these gift ideas for the friends in your life who love to move their bodies!
Dancer
Massage gift card
Yogi/Pilates Enthusiast
Gym Girlie
Walker/Runner
Bicyclist
3| Gifts For Travel Friends
Check out these gift ideas for the friends in your life who love to explore the world.
Toiletry bag
Carry-on luggage
4| Gifts For Ambitious Friends
Check out these gift ideas for the friends in your life who are about their business!
FWI Note: You don’t see a planner listed because I bet your ambitious friend already has one! 😉
5| Gifts For Homebody Friends
Check out these gift ideas for the friends in your life who find solace in staying inside.
Candles/plug ins/wax melters/essential oils
Throw blanket and pillows
Coffee/tea/wine + cute matching cups
6| Gifts For Hobbyist Friends
Check out these gift ideas for the friends in your life who love to engage in their interests for fun and relaxation, and not as a profession or side-hustle.
Crafter
Gardener
Gamer
Baker
Sourdough starter kit
DIYer/Upcycler
7| Gifts For Friends In Their Soft Girl Era
Check out these gift ideas for the friends in your life who are embracing their version of a “soft life” and womanhood.
Self-care gift basket:
Lotions, oils, scrubs, body washes, loofas, shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, face masks (if you know what they use for their facial routine), face steamer, hair tools, hair accessories
Perfume
Dainty jewelry
Makeup
Gift certificate to get her hair or nails done
8| Gifts For Friends With Popular Interests
Check out these gift ideas for the friends in your life who like the things that most people enjoy.
Music
Headphones and a playlist of their favorite music
Books
Relevant Blog Post: How To Host A Book Club With Friends (Book Recommendations Included)
Movies
Art
Tickets to a museum or pop-up exhibition
Fashion
Technology
Cooking
Nonstick cookware or cast iron skillet
Influencer
5 Ways To Make Your Friend’s Birthday Gift Extra Special
Now that you’ve used this guide to brainstorm a few gift ideas, check out these five ways you can enhance the birthday gift for your friend.
1| Personalize the gift
Customizing a gift will always be a thoughtful touch that shows you don’t mind going the extra mile. It can be as simple as getting their name inscribed, getting the gift in their favorite color, or using a photo of them.
2| Give a complete gift
If you decide to give a gift that requires other things to be fully functional, purchase those items as well, or at least enough to get your friend started.
Like if the gift requires batteries, include them. Or if you buy a cake pan, throw in a box of cake mix.
3| Add in treats
Everyone loves food. Whether your friend is a health nut or has a sweet tooth, include their favorite snacks and treats that will put a big smile on their face.
4| Wrap the gift
We live in an internet age where we do a lot of online shopping, so oftentimes gifts are delivered in a brown box. Receiving a gift like that can feel, well, ordinary.
Taking the time to wrap it yourself, or having it wrapped through the website you ordered from, is such a small gesture that makes a big difference.
5| Include a card
A thoughtful card will never go out of style!
Tell your friends how you feel about them. Tell your friends why they are wonderful human beings. Tell your friends all the reasons their birthday is such a celebratory day!
You can do this in many formats: digital, video, or print. It doesn’t matter, but stop keeping your loving words to yourself and give them their roses
Relevant Blog Post: THE 5-PART FRIENDSHIP LOVE LETTER
Bonus Tip
Sometimes, the reason why gift-giving can feel especially challenging is that you are unsure of your friend’s interests.
People change, life gets busy, and we stop paying attention to the people we care about most.
Don’t feel bad, it happens!
Let this message serve as your friendship-awareness check.
Find out what your friend likes by looking into her more recent social media posts, what she shares in text messages or on phone calls.
Pay attention to what you can physically see she appreciates or what she’s always talking about.
And last but not least: ask. Engage in some good ole girl talk and take the time to ask questions about your friend’s current interests, likes, and dislikes.
You’ll never regret the quality time and the opportunity to learn something new about the friend you love. 💕
Picking a birthday gift for your friend doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little thoughtfulness and intentionality, you can get her something she will absolutely love!
Do you have any gift ideas that would fit any of these buckets? I’d love to hear your suggestions below!
Additional Relevant Blog Posts:
BEST FRIEND COUPONS: IDEAS FROM A TO Z
OPEN WHEN LETTERS FOR FRIENDS: THOUGHTFUL AND MEANINGFUL IDEAS
