I was recently asked if I could make a $50 gift feel more like $100. I thought this was an interesting challenge, because how do you create a 2x return on a gift without spending more?

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The answer is shifting how we think about gifting. It’s not about spending more, it’s about choosing better with more thoughtfulness and intention. Effort doesn’t have to be expensive, and a 2x return isn’t always financial, it’s about value.

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Money is scalable, but being thoughtful requires intention. You can always spend more money, but attention, presence and care are limited resources because they are all choices. Think about the last time you bought a $50 gift online in a hot second versus a gift you spent hours making or planning, inspired by a conversation or a shared memory. Chances are, you have more memories about buying online orders than the carefully planned gift. Choosing to be thoughtful is letting someone know that you cared enough to slow down and consider them. That emotional signal is more powerful in human relationships than people recognize.

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Because being thoughtful today is a scarcity, its perceived value has increased. We live in a world optimized for speed and revenue, where fast fashion, fast food, and fast content have been normalized as our default mode for consumerism. Speed has become the north star, often at the expense of quality, and I believe this mindset has also seeped into our relationships. It’s one of the many reasons why we feel less understood and less seen, and it’s why we place such high value on the people and brands that do see us.

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Thoughtfulness signals connection, attention, and care, things we’re deeply wired to value in one another, which is why gifting value is not just monetary, it’s the value of feeling seen.

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The most overlooked step in making $50 feel like $100? Start with better search.

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It may seem obvious, but better gifting starts with truly understanding your recipient, and is what takes the perceived value of a $50 gift to $100. Searching by generalities like “gift guides for him/her”, will yield easy and broad results, not necessarily one that actually resonates.

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Better search leads to better choices and more meaningful connections because it pushes us to think more critically and listen more closely. But you need specifics that make them feel seen and understood. My “him” and your “him” are not the same people. We’re all individuals with unique qualities, and we deserve systems that help us understand one another beyond being a customer order number.

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We have to ask ourselves the right questions to really understand someone:

• What’s their gifting style? (Do they prefer experiences over material goods?)
• What kind of lifestyle do they live? (Minimalist, slow living, city-centric, etc.)
• What do they already own? (Brands they love, kitchen gadgets, hobbies they’ve invested in.)

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And search results should come from people, not a PPC ad from the best ranked brands, but rather from real experiences and real recommendations. This is the process of gifting TERA is rebuilding because at its core, gifting is a human-to-human interaction.

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If it’s a common gift, personalization changes perceived value

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1. GIFT CARDS: Skip the generic big-box gift card and pick one from their favorite local boutique or café

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We all know the easy way to default on a gift is a gift card from a big-box store like Amazon, Best Buy, or Nordstroms. Yes, I think there’s a time and place for those types of gift cards. For example, if someone is saving up for a big purchase, contributing a gift card shows that you’ve listened and want to support them. It’s practical and thoughtful in that context. But if that’s not the case, and you know the person well and talk with them regularly, a gift card to their favorite local spot carries a kind of care that a big-box card never will. It says, I know you and I pay attention to what you love. That subtle attention is what takes a gift card from transactional to very thoughtful.

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How to do it: Next time you’re in conversation with them, just ask them their favorite local spots. Whether it’s a coffee shop, wine store, gourmet grocer, bagel / deli shop, or flower shop, you can add notes in their profile in TERA. It’s the simple act of listening and choosing something uniquely theirs that makes this gift more memorable.

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Because I’m a coffee enthusiast, I personally find coffee gift cards especially pleasant. I’m recommending a few of my favorites in New York: Variety Coffee Shop, Blank Street Coffee and L’Appartement 4F.

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Try to avoid gift cards to big coffee corporations like Starbucks and Peet’s coffee.

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2. CANDLES: Skip the standard scented candle, and pick a candle in their favorite scent or one that reflects a shared memory

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Candles definitely fall in the category of default gifts, unless you’re shopping for someone who truly loves them, like has a deep passion for them. I have a couple friends who are candle fiends who love a good Diptyque or Trudon. In general though, candles are not the most thoughtful gift on their own. If you find yourself gifting one, there’s a better way to add real value: choose their favorite scent or one that reflects a shared memory. It takes the candle from being decor to being personal.

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How to do it: See what types of candles they have in their home, or ask them the scents they typically are attracted to, like sandalwood, fig, or citrus. Or think about places tied to meaningful moments like a recent trip, a city they lived in or somewhere you experience together. Diptyque carries city-inspired candles and Literie carries specific memory scents like Brunch in West Village, Cherry Blossoms at the Capitol, or Afternoon In Central Park.

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3. WINE / LIQUOR: Skip the random bottle from the store and pick a bottle from a winery or region you know they love

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If you’re gifting someone who enjoys alcohol, try to remember their favorite region of wine/alcohol and then make sure to note it (again in TERA). If they’ve recently traveled, you can go one step further by choosing something from that place. A bottle of Côte du Rhône, Malbec or Mezcal can turn a simple bottle into a nice way to remind them that you were listening about their travels and wanted to get them something special.

How to do it: The next time you’re at their home, take a quick look at their bar and ask them about it. Or if you’re out to dinner, pay attention to their wine or drink choices. These small, curious questions make gifting later feel effortless and deeply personal.

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4. FLOWERS: Skip the supermarket flowers and make a personal bouquet for them

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You can never go wrong with flowers! (Seriously) But today a really nice bouquet can easily run $150+. One simple way to make flowers feel just as special without a heavy price tag is to create your own bouquet. I know that can sound daunting, but it’s really not!! Even if you don’t think you’re “good” at arranging flowers, there’s real beauty in imperfection. An unstructured bouquet can often feel more personal and romantic than something overly polished.

How to do it: There are so many cool creators online who share easy, approachable tips for building your own arrangements, like from content creators Ashley Paiige, emmy | EMTHURIUM and natsandoval12 (I like how many different varieties she makes from a few bouquets). You can buy flowers from places like Trader Joe’s, local flower shops, or wholesale flower markets if you live in a major city like New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles.

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5. HOME ACCESSORIES: Skip the generic desk or travel accessory and personalize it with their name, initials or personal message to really make it their own

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How to do it: This is super easy to do, it just requires a bit of planning. Engravings can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, so be sure to give yourself enough time. Many brands also offer options like embossing or simple personalization.

Gifting isn’t about how much you spend, it’s about showing that you see them by noticing, caring and remembering what matters the most to them. Small touches, like choosing a local favorite or a personal detail, can make a $50 gift feel more valuable because being thoughtful takes time and consideration.

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Join the Conversation on app.discovertera.com

If you’re into thinking differently about everyday gestures (especially gifting!), join TERA for curated gift ideas, create wishlists, and collaborate on gift ideas for others.

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