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Take note of simple information about the person. Remember the person's preferences. Check out their social media profiles. Find out if the person does any online shopping. Go to the mall with them and see what they look at. Listen to see if they mention anything they want. Ask for help amongst your mutual friends. Ask the person's parent, sibling or other relative.
Mentally note: The person's gender Their age Whether they live at alone or with family Whether they're in school or have graduated Think about things that they like or talk about, whether it's music, movies, art or sports. Think about any skills, talents or hobbies they may have. Try to remember anything they've mentioned wanting in the past weeks, or anything they've had their eye on. Dig deeper. If you know that they like painting, try to find out if they have a preference: acrylic, gouache, oil, or watercolor. They may have posted things that they've got their eye on or gadgets that they think are cool. Social media profiles can also give a better picture of their interests. Take a look at their social media posts. If they post a lot of Harry Potter or Star Wars memes, then it's safe to say that they like Harry Potter or Star Wars. They may have a wishlist on a shopping site, which will make gifting easier. You can comb through their registry and find something they've already selected for themselves. If they do shop online, ask if you can look over their shoulder and see what they're shopping for. If you really want to surprise them, you could have the gift sent directly to their house. It would be even better if there is a gift wrapping option! If they're considering buying an item but decide against it, make a mental note of it as a potential present. Take note of why they decide to go against the item. Is it because it is too expensive? Or just not in their taste? If your friend decided against an item that was too expensive, then they might appreciate getting it for their birthday. If your friend decided against something that wasn't in their taste after all, then there is no point in getting it for them--they chose not to buy it because they didn't want it. You may overhear them talking about items they'd like to have while they're around friends or coworkers. Take note of the things they post on social media too. For example, if your friend posts an image of a specific makeup kit, and mentions how she wished she had it, consider getting it for her! They may have some ideas, and be willing to help. Ask if they've ever given the person a gift in the past, how they reacted to it. This may give you a good idea of what to give them (and what hasn't gone over well). This is an especially good idea if the gift is very expensive or a gag gift. If you aren't sure how your friend will react to it, definitely ask mutual friends. They probably know them very well, and can give some advice. They'll have more intuition about things that the person has been wanting lately.