It's my birthday and I'll sigh if I want to...

It gets harder and harder every year to think of something fun to do on this date in history.

It's my birthday and I will sigh and eye roll if I want to.
Also, my book is free today to celebrate, grab your copy here.

Almost everyone hits an age where birthdays turn on them.

For some, it happens early, right after 21, when they realize there's not much point in counting any more milestones.

For others, it happens after 29 or 39, when they don't want to tell anyone about depressing milestones.

But whenever it happens, there is usually a distinct lack of  presents.

Buying gifts for an adult is hard. I understand that, and I sympathize. Gift giving for children is a piece of cake. It requires very little effort. That is part of what makes it fun.

That also doesn't mean we should stop trying. Sure, there's always the reliable gift card/cash/voucher type of present, where the recipient is appreciative, Hardly overwhelmed with delight and wonder, but appreciative. I don't suggest you stop giving those gifts, for some of us, that may be our food budget for a month or three, or our heating bill, or our overdue student loan payment.

What if I told you we could make gift buying/giving/receiving fun again for those old enough to rent a car? Because gifts like cash and cards almost always end up being spent on something mundane. No less vital to our survival, but decimating to our sense of fun.

With that in mind, a few simple suggestions, fresh from:

~Non-Steader Philosophy~

1: If you have to/want to/need to give a monetary equivalent* gift-
(*Note: this includes all forms of cash, card or paper voucher type of presents, things which come in envelopes, things you can hand the person and usually require no ribbon or festive paper)

These gifts are always appreciated. In most cases, the recipient feels joy and gratitude. Often the recipient is broke, desperate or has a payment of some kind due, and this gift saves their bacon.

These gifts are important, please keep them coming! Consider some alternatives. Wouldn't taking them to dinner be more personal? If you are giving them cash and you know they will use it on a bill, you probably know the person pretty well. Why not offer to just pay a specific bill for them and then give them something small to actually open?

Any of these would make you stand head and shoulders above anyone else who remembers their birthday.

2: If you have no idea what to get the person or they are hard to buy for-

This can be tough, I know. The first thing: what do they enjoy; second thing: what they do with their time. Do not think this means you can buy your mistress/significant other/spouse a toaster or other appliances, that* always ends badly.
(*Unless they asked for it specifically. That's a whole separate blog post.)

What if they are addicted to Netflix and never leave the house unless it's on fire? Maybe they could use a fluffy place to put their feet up and a place for their drink. If they have to walk to work maybe they need a really perfect umbrella. In England, they call those "brollies". As it should be. These gifts are useful, classic, well-made and on the pricey side.

Try to focus on what they might need, not just what they don't want. You will often hear this adult saying things like "I don't need anything" or "I just don't want another golf glove" or "I have enough polo shirts!"

For these people I always suggest a movie night. You pay a month of their favorite streaming service, bring whatever snacks/drinks/alcohol they might desire and make a fun sleepover-type thing out of it. Alternatively, you can buy a month of their service, maybe offer to babysit their kids for a night (if they have any), and then just give them all the stuff, gift-wrapped and hand-picked. Maybe they would rather be alone, or would like to spend it with someone special. Either way, they have something to open and something to be excited about. It's a win.

3: If they are into a specific hobby, game, TV show, movie, anything with merchandising-

Do. NOT. Buy. Merchandise. Ever. Unless you have specifically heard from this person that they want nothing more than a Bob's Burgers t-shirt, or a Game of Thrones replica tiny sword. That is the only exception. If there is something they really want, and it is affordable, sure, get that. Do not let your relatives just leap on the "Get anything from American Dad" bandwagon.

There are only so many pieces of memorabilia! Even a super-fan has limits. I would love a vintage Emma Peel Lotus Elan model car, but you can't say to people "The Avengers" and expect to get the right stuff. I buy those kind of collectible/specialized/specific objets d'art myself, because I know exactly what I'm looking for; because I'm the fan.

Don't do this to your loved ones, unless they ask. If they ask, pay attention. Listen for specific instructions. There is a huge difference between Sherlock and Elementary. Not all Sherlocks are equal!

4: If they don't even know what they want or you are broke, destitute, poor-

You want to do something amazing but it would require funds. Funds you do not have. Well, you can't spell funds without fun! There is a surprising amount of stuff that is fun and cheap/free.

Hit these websites, sign your friend up a week or two in advance (some require it at least 7 days before the big day), make sure to use their name (a lot of them check ID to prevent fraud). But use your address or a dummy email (you don't want them to get spammed for their birthday/ruin the surprise!). Then let the fun/travel begin! Plan out your day of free things, based on what's in your town, what's available, what's open, etc.

This works for those "difficult to buy for" people as well, since those are the type of people who usually adhere to the "Events and Experiences are always better than things" part of the Non-Steading Philosophy. If they want actual gifts but really don't know what they want, you can always turn it into a scavenger hunt. Pick the best free things you think they will enjoy, make small boxes with the clues inside, wrap them and dole them out over the day. They get to open stuff and get free things!

Non-Steader ProTip: Keep an eye out for "purchase necessary" scams. You only want the freebies!

5: If they gave you anything in a mason jar*, ever, at any point in history, for any birthday-
(*Note: this includes jams, jellies, mixes, pancake batter, homemade glitter, anything but does not cover if you said "I'd love your homemade apple butter for my birthday" that's on you.)

This person is dead to you now. Just walk away.

Websites from #4:
http://thefrugalgirls.com/birthday-freebies
http://www.buzzfeed.com/alannaokun/free-things-you-can-get-on-your-birthday#.beoLDo8r
http://www.thepennyhoarder.com/100-places-will-give-free-stuff-birthday/

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