Hey, hope you had an awesome weekend!
What did you guys think of Leo's Thanksgiving special? I'm just sliding this chapter in before I head out to visit family myself.
Since for a lot of folks this is a quiet week at work, with the holidays around the corner, let’s talk about gift giving.
Picking the perfect gift without overspending can be a real challenge, especially when you’re juggling multiple recipients and a tight budget. That’s where AI can step in to make things easier.
From finding budget-friendly ideas to tracking sales and even creating unique gifts, AI can help you give thoughtfully without breaking the bank.
You'd be surprised at the kind of gift ideas it can come up with.
TRUE STORY
Meet my cousin Sarah, who found herself overwhelmed during the holiday season last year. She wanted to get thoughtful gifts for her family and friends but was struggling to stay within her budget. After a lot of frustration with overpriced options, she turned to AI for help. Using AI tools, Sarah was able to discover creative, budget-friendly gift ideas, set price alerts for sales, and even design personalized gifts that felt meaningful. This year, Sarah is ahead of the game, stress-free, and her wallet’s in much better shape.
HOW?
Personalized Gift Recommendations
- AI tools like GiftAdvisor or even ChatGPT can generate tailored gift suggestions based on the recipient's preferences and your budget. By inputting details about the person—like their hobbies, age, or interests—you get a list of thoughtful options without spending hours searching.
Finding Deals and Tracking Prices
- Price-tracking tools like Honey and CamelCamelCamel use AI to monitor discounts and notify you when an item’s price drops. This helps you avoid overspending and ensures you’re getting the best deal possible.
Budget Management for Gift Lists
- Use apps like Trello or budget planners with AI integration to organize your gift list and set spending limits per person. AI can even recommend cost-effective alternatives for items that exceed your budget.
DIY and Customized Gifts
- Platforms like Canva offer AI-driven templates for creating personalized gifts like photo books, calendars, or custom art. These are not only thoughtful but also cost a fraction of store-bought customized items. One tip here though - don't just cheap out and have AI create it - spend some time and effort on it. AI can give you ideas, but you should be the creator.
Gift Optimization Across Retailers
- AI shopping assistants like Google Shopping compare prices across multiple retailers, helping you find the best deals on the same product. They can also suggest alternative gifts if the original is out of stock or too expensive.
Let's see what our favorite chatbot has to say about all this...
YOU: Hey, I’ve got a lot of gifts to buy this year, but my budget is tight. How can AI really help me with this?
AI: Totally get it—gift shopping can get overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to stick to a budget. AI can help by narrowing down options, tracking sales, and even finding creative ways to give meaningful gifts without overspending. Let’s start with your list. Do you have a specific budget or certain people in mind?
YOU: Yeah, I’ve got about ten people to buy for, and I’d like to keep the total under $300. I want the gifts to feel personal, but that doesn’t leave a lot of room per person.
AI: That’s a solid budget! Let’s break it down. For more personal and meaningful gifts, we can look into DIY options like custom calendars or framed photos. AI can help you create those in minutes with tools that design and format them for you. If you’d rather buy something, AI can recommend affordable options based on their interests. For example, if someone’s into coffee, we could find unique but inexpensive accessories, like a reusable travel mug or a sampler set of beans.
YOU: That sounds great. But what about making sure I’m not overpaying? Prices seem to jump around so much, especially online.
AI: You’re absolutely right—prices fluctuate a lot, especially during the holidays. AI can track the items you’re interested in and notify you when they go on sale. Some systems even predict when a price drop is likely, so you know the best time to buy. For now, make a list of items or categories you’re considering, and I can help you monitor their prices.
YOU: I like that. But what if I want to buy something unique? I don’t want my gifts to feel generic.
AI: AI can help with that too! It can suggest niche or less-common gift ideas based on the recipient’s interests. For example, instead of buying a basic cookbook for a foodie, AI might recommend a cooking class voucher or a locally sourced spice set. Another option is personalized DIY gifts—like printing a recipe book with their favorite meals or creating a custom playlist paired with headphones.
YOU: That’s really helpful. I hadn’t thought about vouchers or DIY options before.
AI: They’re often more memorable and budget-friendly. Plus, with AI to assist, creating something unique takes way less time than doing it all from scratch. Ready to start with your first few recipients? We can brainstorm ideas and get those checked off your list.
YOU: Yeah, let’s do it. This is making me feel way less stressed about the whole thing.
AI: Awesome! Let’s make this the easiest and most budget-friendly gift season yet. Just let me know who’s first, and we’ll find the perfect gift.
DON'T FORGET THE WRAP
AI can make gift giving not only more affordable but also more meaningful. By using tools to track sales, personalize gifts, and manage your budget, you can give thoughtfully while staying within your means.
Whether it’s finding niche gift ideas, creating DIY options, or optimizing your shopping strategy, AI saves you time, stress, and money.
Why not give it a try this season and see how much easier gift giving can be?
What do you have to lose? You might save a few bucks and come up with some really unique gifts you may not have thought of.
TALK BACK
What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to gift shopping? Have you tried using AI to help?
Drop your thoughts or experiences - my emails below —I’d love to hear from you!
PS: Let's expand the community! Send your friends to 10xYOU to sign up!