There can be no greater gift than the one of being to able to pick exactly the right present for someone, one that captures their best side or appeals on a personal, practical or sentimental level.
Having any amount of cash does not actually help much either. In fact some of the best gifts we receive are those which cost very little but where thought and originality have played the biggest part.
Funnily enough it is the people that mean the most to us that are often the hardest to choose for. The best thing is to think outside the box and search anywhere you are likely to find something striking. Sometimes people don't know what they want till they have it.
Congratulations to the siblings whose parents had been worrying about being unable to renovate their living room themselves. Inspired no doubt by TV's reality home-transformation programmes, they whisked their parents off on a pre-Christmas day out and returned to join one or two professionals in giving the room a mini make-over themselves; Christmas decorations indeed.
Family should be the easiest to buy for. You have more chance to pick up on their hints, however lightly they are dropped. Listen carefully to any remarks about colour schemes, scents, jewellery, whether they are running out of this and that, or want to see some up-coming films or theatre productions.
If you're giving vouchers for restaurants, theatres, spas or mini breaks, including an offer or arrangements for childcare during the treat will really give you star gift kudos.
But what about when you open a divinely wrapped present for which the words: 'you really shouldn't have', are all too apt? You can see the donor is delighted with their choice and probably put a huge amount of thought and effort into obtaining it but ... oh help. Now might a good time to practise the right present opening skills.
Dr Simon Moore, a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society, says fake happiness is quite hard to spot and at about 60% of people manage to pull it off very successfully.
To convince someone you are happy with their gift. Lean towards it or hold it close. Limit loud exclamations of gratitude and reward the giver with a kiss or a hug and a quick 'thank you soooo much'. That will be enough. And remember, unless you know for sure that a hostile sister-in-law is deliberately palming you off with a festive flagon of out-of-date designer vinegar, try and see every present as the treat its giver generously intended it to be.
And to avoid tears and a total meltdown do not, even in the spirit of yuletide irony, fall back on any of the suggestions below; all of which have, not surprisingly, been someone's worst present ever.
Imagine the disappointment of the child who found a bed bug stuffed toy had apparently got onto its wish list. And spare a thought for the wives /budding chefs who could receive a mushroom washing brush. Jewellery should be romantic, not made from precious metal and ...teeth! There is nothing festive about a shower curtain splattered with a sinister blood-stained effect; or a glow-in-the-dark toilet seat. A DNA testing kit is unlikely to be welcome and, not matter how long after Christmas you want a gift to be useful do not even think of a plot in a cemetery.
In fact, the safest choice to make is probably a voucher. They are available for practically anything these days and a perfect way to ensure everyone will get something they've always wanted.