Is This You?

October rolls around, and you confidently decide to wrap up all your holiday shopping by Black Friday. But then, the whirlwind of Black Friday and Cyber Monday arrives, and instead of crossing gifts off your list, your cart ends up filled with things you didn’t need. Suddenly, it’s the weekend before Christmas, and you’re in a panic, hunting for those perfect gifts that show your loved ones how much they mean to you. You feel the rush, the guilt, and finally, that sheepish grin when handing over last-minute finds. Sound familiar?

All is not lost—there’s still time to turn things around. At Minerva, we follow a streamlined process to tackle holiday shopping effectively (though we’ll admit it still takes some effort). Here's a peek into how we do it, and how long to budget for the various steps:

1. Make a List of Recipients
   Keeping things organized is the first step. Write down everyone you plan to shop for. [30 minutes]

2. Decide on a Budget
   Group your gift recipients into budget categories—low, medium, and high—based on your relationship or priority. This helps you estimate costs and prevents decision fatigue. [30 minutes]

3. Focus on Their Interests or Needs
   Think about hobbies, favorite activities, or something they’ve mentioned wanting. Personalization makes all the difference. [1.5 hours]

4. Browse Gift Guides or Wishlists for Inspiration
   Hunting for tailored, thoughtful gifts can take time. For a creative edge, we love leveraging LLMs (large language models) to generate unique ideas. [4+ hours]
   🌟 Pro Tip: Include local experiences like show tickets, a subscription, or a gift card for a favorite activity for a memorable touch.

5. Find Versatile Backup Gifts
   Stock up on 3-4 universal items for surprise exchanges. [30 minutes]

6. Price Shop
   Compare prices to ensure you’re getting the best deals—especially for larger family lists. [1–2 hours]

7. Buy/Find Wrapping Supplies
   Seasonal paper, gift tags, and blank cards add a personal touch. Sustainable options like children’s drawings, newspapers, or recyclable wrapping paper are excellent alternatives. [30 minutes]

8. Wrap the Gifts
   Add thoughtful details to give your presents a polished and special finish. [1–2 hours]

We help our customers offload over 80% of the work involved in finding thoughtful gifts.

To make your holiday season even smoother, we’re sharing a free planning template and gift guide to get you organized and started (covering steps 1–4). It’s our way of spreading a little extra joy and ease this year.

Want to share the planning template and gift guide with your friends? Just sh

Happy gifting! 🎁