Have you ever sat with your family or friends at Christmas, only to watch the false smiles appear on their faces as you hand over a pair of socks and a box of chocolates for the third year running. If this sounds like you then you may just benefit reading my advice before it is too late.

Bad presents tend to fall into three categories, Thoughtless, Useless and Boring. If you have been unfortunate enough to receive any gift from that list then you should have an idea of an alternative which you would have been much happier with

Turn a thoughtless gift into a thoughtful gift:

One of the obvious signs of a thoughtless gift is the “rush” factor. Regardless of the cost, a gift that looks like it has been bought in a hurry screams a lake of thought and preparation. Even the most expensive bottle of champagne would not impress someone who is teetotal.

Taking your time and being organised is the key to making sure your gifts this year are your most thoughtful yet. The Internet is perfect for helping you discover some great unique presents. Many websites specialise in producing personalised gifts and do not charge extra for the personalisation.

Personalising a present is a clear indication that you have thought about the recipient. Nowadays the usual thoughtless gifts can become a present to treasure for years to come. If they are fond of a particular tipple you can now personalise a bottle of wine, all you do is type in the message you would like and it is delivered to your door. Even a calendar can become the highlight of Christmas day when the lucky recipient sees their name spelt out in a different image throughout the 12 months.

How to go from Useless to Useful:

Having received my fair share of useless gifts this area is a particular issue of mine. Who really needs a baseball cap with two can holders either side off it with a detachable straw, especially if you are a woman? We can all appreciate a humorous gift, but they don’t always have to be useless. Photo gifts have taken off in a big way and enable you to send an image via email and have it printed on to a range of accessories and household items. Whether it is a cushion for your sofa or a deck chair for the garden, these great gifts take your favourite photograph and turn it into a unique gift that looks good as well as being useful.

There are also some wonderful Christmas themed presents available that should be essential additions to your preparations for the big day. Personalised Christmas Stockings and Santa Sacks are perfect for making Christmas morning even more special and exciting and they are ideal for keeping all your gifts safe, away from prying eyes.

No more socks, make this Christmas one to remember:

There should be no excuse this year for you to give, or receive for that matter, a boring gift. With the option of both Cayman’s excellent shops and online shopping there has never been more choice for all your Christmas shopping needs. Retailers are gearing up for the festive season earlier each year with more interesting and exciting presents than ever before. To buy a boring gift this year would be inexcusable.

Don’t just leave all those water sport activities and adventures available here to the tourists. Buy one as a gift for a friend or loved one. Look at all these activities available here: Atlantis submarine, boat and jet ski rental, party boat cruise, kayaks, deep sea diving, reef diving, shore diving, wreck diving including the USS Kittiwake, snorkeling, dinner cruises, horseback riding, parasailing, Black pearl Park with its giant wave machine, fishing excursions, the Jolly Roger pirate cruise, the Turtle Farm and Boatswain’s Bay, and these are only what comes to my mind. Any of them are better than the i novelty
silk tie?

Why not surprise a loved one by naming their own star? A million miles away from a boring gift, you can now register a name of your choice on the intergalactic star database and even find the location of it with a poster of the star’s coordinates. Or take one giant leap in your Christmas shopping habits and purchase a genuine acre of the moon? A loophole in International Law resulted in American Dennis Law claiming ownership of the moon and its surrounding satellites which he then began to sell off acre by acre. Your friend may never actually manage to step foot on their acre but they will still have an official certificate from the Lunar Embassy to prove they are the rightful owners.