'Mirroring' is the simple trick to always giving a great gift - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Life ‘ Mirroring’ is the simple trick to always giving a great gift By You Magazine - October 31, 2018 As the old saying goes, ‘it is in giving that we receive’ – but more often than not, giving is also really tricky. Whether it’s a colleague or acquaintance that you don’t know very well, or a close loved one that you’ve simply exhausted all ideas for, it’s easy to get stumped when you’re searching for a truly great gift. Shopping expert Thi Dinh, however, doesn’t face such dilemmas, as she’s discovered a very clever trick called ‘mirroring’ which uses people’s previous presents to you as guidance for buying their own. ‘It can sometimes be difficult to know what to get someone, or how much to spend,’ Thi, the manager of the Spirit of Christmas Fair at London’s Kensington Olympia, explains. Getty Images ‘Mirroring is a helpful method to getting on track for gift-giving at the right budget. Has the person you’re shopping for has given you a gift in the past? You can use this as a guide — finding a gift of a similar kind and value to get you out of that Christmas-shopping rut.’ It’s a theory that’s simple, but can be very effective – and can be used for any level of present, from small Secret Santa trinkets to the grandest of gestures. However, if you’re really not sure, Thi adds, it makes sense to go consumable. Getty Images ‘Whether you’re thinking of a gift for a co-worker, or a family friend, you can always express thoughtfulness around the holidays. Rather than chance an item that may end up in the unwanted Christmas gift clutter, opt for a consumable present. These might include a nice bottle of wine, elegant chocolates, or a candle in their favourite scent.’ This means that no matter what you buy, the recipient is likely to actually use the gift, rather than letting it gather dust in a drawer. ‘Practical gifts go a long way,’ Thi adds. ‘If someone you know has recently moved or perhaps started a new job, they’ll appreciate a gift card to put toward what they need. That could mean shopping at their favourite home goods store or design studio, or possibly freshening up their work wardrobe. Practical gifts aren’t uncreative, they’re classic.’ You heard the lady – and with the Christmas season fast approaching, there’s never been a better time to put these tips into practice… RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Everything we know about The Crown season 5 Aldi s exercise equipment is on sale with up to 50% off The best Halloween events for 2022 across the UK Popular in Life The You magazine team reveal their New Year s resolutions December 31, 2021 Susannah Taylor The TLC tools your body will love January 23, 2022 How to stop living in fear February 6, 2022 Susannah Taylor My pick of the fittest leggings February 27, 2022 Women’ s Prize for Fiction 2022 winner announced June 17, 2022 These BBC dramas are returning for a second series June 30, 2022 Susannah Taylor gives the lowdown on nature s little helper – CBD April 17, 2022 The baby names that are banned across the world April 27, 2022 The Queen has released her own emojis May 26, 2022 Sally Brompton horoscopes 27th June-3rd July 2022 June 26, 2022 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved