We do not know about you, but we love birthdays—especially in the summer. So we have to get birthday gift ideas. During birthdays, people will jump at the chance to be around friends and loved ones just to celebrate their existence. No matter how busy you get, it is important to make time to make friends feel loved on their special day.
However, life can get in the way sometimes. Day-to-day tasks, such as work and school, can start to add up, and all of a sudden, a birthday arrives and you find yourself unprepared. For those times, it is helpful to have some low-key birthday gift ideas in your back pocket.
Read on for our top five low-stress birthday gift ideas to give your friends when you are too busy or simply don’t have enough time to go to the store.
A yummy treat
No matter how old you get, you are never too old to get an edible gift. Whether you’re swinging by the store on the way to the party or sending treats from afar, food is almost always appreciated. And it’s so easy to tailor this gift to your specific friend! For the busy friend who never has time to cook, a food delivery gift card could be extremely useful. If you want to add a personal touch instead, baking a cake or a few cookies might be perfect.
Bubbles (the adult kind)
Another foolproof gift for a friend is a good old-fashioned bottle of bubbles. It’s a party after all! Bringing over a bottle of champagne or wine is always a classy move and one that doesn’t take much forethought. This is a great gift for a newer friend you may not know much about, as it is celebratory but not very personal. Of course, if your friend doesn’t drink (or isn’t of age), this wouldn’t be the right birthday gift ideas for them, so use your best judgment.
Florals and greenery – Birthday Gift Ideas
Flowers are great for almost any occasion. For a quick and pretty gift, happy birthday flowers are a perfect way to show your love. If your friend has more of a green thumb, birthday plants might be more their style. With a houseplant, they can keep them around for longer and even propagate them to have even more plants. The best part of this low stress gift? Plants are relatively cheap, so you can bring a stellar present without breaking the bank.
Buy local
One of my favorite ways to show my friends love on their birthday is to hook them up with something cool from a local maker. Many local cafes and studios have nights where they feature artists and creators from the area. Often, you can find really cool pieces of art, fashion accessories, and other decorative trinkets that make great gifts. These gifts are cool for the creatives in your life who might appreciate something that is a little less traditional and more outside the box. Plus, you get to use your money to support your local community.
Self-care presents
During this time of uncertainty and isolation due to the ongoing pandemic, taking care of yourself is more important than ever. However, many of us know that self-care is sometimes easier to think about than it is to prioritize. For their birthday, why not show a friend you care about their self-care? Put together a sweet package with cute gifts like bath bombs, candles, and face masks, and take their next self-care day to the next level. Most of these items are easy to find, making it easy for you to lower your friend’s stress. That’s what we call a win-win!
Sometimes, shopping for a friend’s birthday gift can be stressful, but it definitely doesn’t have to be. Any one of these low-key gifts demonstrates your love for your friends without having to go above and beyond or spend a lot of money.