In an ideal world, all of our nearest and dearest friends and family members would live within walking distance of our homes. Alas, that’s rarely the case. According to one study, most Britons live more than 100 miles from where they grew up, which means there’s a high chance that many of your friends and family members live far away (or that you yourself moved far away).
And while you’d like to be there in person to celebrate everyone’s birthdays, it’s not always realistic. Thankfully, the convenience of the modern world means that it’s still possible to send a thoughtful, valued gift. In this post, we’ll run through some of the best gift ideas for sending to distant friends and family members. We’re sure they’ll love them!
Digital Gift Card
Do your friends and family live really far away? If you or they decided to move to Australia while everyone else remained in the UK, then the answer will be an unequivocal yes.
In that scenario, it’ll be digital gift cards that come to your rescue. These allow you to send a thoughtful present in an instant, regardless of how far away the recipient lives. All they’ll need to do is check their email inbox, and hey presto, the gift will be there.
As to what type of digital gift card to send, well, that entirely depends on you and their interests. A restaurant, spa, or store gift card usually goes down well.
Flowers
People have been giving flowers for thousands of years — and in all likelihood, they’ll still be doing the same thousands of years into the future. After all, who doesn’t love receiving a special bouquet of flowers on their birthday? If you can’t be there in person, look at using a flower delivery service to ensure their special gift arrives safely and on time. It’s a tried and tested, aesthetically pleasing way to show your loved one that you’re thinking of them even though you’re many miles away.
Charity Donation
Since you don’t live near your distant friends or family members, it can be difficult to know what they already have or even like. That information usually comes from spending time in their homes, which isn’t possible if they live on the other side of the planet. In that case, one thoughtful option can be to make a donation to a charity in their name. That’s easy to organise, will make the recipient feel good, and makes a positive impact in the world — and that’s much better than buying them an item that they may not like/need/want.
Relaxing Gifts
Finally, when in doubt, look at sending your far-flung relative something relaxing and indulging. There’s much to love about presents that allow people to create their own at-home spa experience, such as bath/shower bombs, face masks, or essential oils. Throw in a luxury candle and a box of delicious chocolates, and you’ll be helping them to have a birthday experience that they’ll positively love, even though you can’t be there in person.
This is a contributed post which may contain affiliate links
