The Top 7 Gift Ideas for INFPs
Are you searching for the perfect gift for an INFP in your life? Gift-giving can be a daunting task, especially when you’re purchasing for someone who is far different than you are! If I bought an ESTJ something I would love as an INFJ they may be less than impressed (thankfully, the ESTJs I know have always been extremely gracious when receiving gifts). Different personalities are often attracted to different gifts. For example, I just spoke with several INTJs who LOVED getting gift cards. This week I spoke with INFPs, and they (usually) weren’t too fond of gift cards. I spoke with over 150 INFPs in groups, forums, and in real life for this post, and I hope my research helps to make your holiday gift-hunting a little easier!
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The INFPs Relationship with Gifts
INFPs are one of the least materialistic personality types out there. Many of the gifts they prefer are not extravagant or expensive, but symbolic and heartfelt. Often they’d prefer a special experience together over a store-bought item. Many INFPs mentioned that they feel shy receiving gifts and prefer giving over receiving. The important aspect of a gift to an INFP is that it shows that you pay attention to their passions and interests. The gift could be something as simple as a wildflower picked on the side of a road if you thought of them when you picked it or if it had a symbolic meaning.
The Top 7 Gift Ideas for INFPs:
- A Book
INFPs are richly imaginative and love being able to escape into the pages of a new book. While most INFPs preferred physical books they could flip through (and smell!), they were also happy with Kindle Unlimited subscriptions or audiobooks. Most INFPs preferred fiction or poetry over non-fiction books (but this can vary, so try to get some insight from the INFP in your life).
- An Experience
INFPs are inspired by the outer world and by memorable moments and discoveries. Their auxiliary Extraverted Intuition (Ne) gives them a love for new landscapes, cultures, and adventures. While they can often enjoy long periods of solitude (especially with a good book), INFPs also tend to have a dash of wanderlust due to their Ne and their love of novelty. The experiences they mentioned included walking through the woods, camping, going on a vacation (preferably to a secluded, undiscovered part of the world), or even just going out for coffee!
- A Donation to Their Favorite Charity/Cause
INFPs are altruistic souls, and they are driven by a desire to improve the world they live in. Many INFPs mentioned that instead of a gift they’d enjoy knowing that someone gave to a cause of their choice under their name.
- A Mix Tape or CD
Music is a source of deep inspiration for INFPs. Music taps into their rich emotions and intuition to give them solidarity, encouragement, new ideas, or motivation. Pick out a collection of songs that make you think of the INFP in your life. This is an easy, fun, and heartfelt gift they’re sure to love!
- A Heartfelt Letter
The gifts that mean the most in life are usually not found in a store. I’ve seen this repeatedly as people from all personality types have mentioned wanting a heartfelt letter over any material gift. INFPs are greatly affected by words, especially words they can read time and time again. Take the time to really delve into what you appreciate about the INFP in your life, or recount favorite experiences over again for them to enjoy. A letter is a gift that lasts long after it is given!
- Something Symbolic
Intuitives, especially Dreamers (NF personality types) are greatly affected by symbolism. They tend to think in terms of symbols and images, and they love gifts that tap into that. Rocks, plants, artisan jewelry, crystals, photographs, all these things could evoke a memory or an impression of something significant and inspirational to the INFP. Extra points if your symbolic gift is handmade!
- Pets (or something for a pet!)
Personality types with dominant Introverted Feeling (Fi) tend to be especially fond of animals. Numerous INFPs mentioned that they would love to have a pet for Christmas, or if not a real, live pet, a gift for the pet they already have.
What Do You Think?
Do you agree with this list? What are your suggestions? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear from you!
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Other Articles You Might Enjoy:
10 Things You Should Never Say to an INFP
10 Surprising Truths About INFPs
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A great list! Spot on! As an INFP I’d say my favorite gifts of all time are on the list you provided. The list of my favorites is lengthy as I’m 65 but I can name each special gift I’ve been given over the years.
I appreciate your blog but I think you know that.
how about a good pen and pencil set? or a journal. i loved when i got those. being a writer i love when i geta good pen set. infps are writers too dont forget that.
My friend, a fellow INFP, bought me a tiny cedarwood pendant on a plain rope. We’ve both been wearing them as sort of amulets since.
Yes, you nailed it with this list. The only thing I asked for this year on my family Christmas list was for charitable donations to be made.
I decided to drop by this one as having the Healer (INFP) personality myself I was curious to see how well this might match up with my interest/preferences. Also I find it interesting that most people with this personality type are not too fond of gift cards. Personally I don’t mind gift cards. In fact I was thinking a couple of days ago that gift cards might be a perfect gift for me, especially ones that are focus on casual eateries/restaurants since I seem to have this thing for food that I consider to be weakness when it comes to budgeting, as well as for book or gamin stores since I’m a gamer who also loves to read (although concerning books I have come to accept that I don’t have as much space for physical books sadly).
Speaking of which concerning the relationship towards gifts I have been feeling similar to what you mention in recent years. I don’t feel as compel to write a Christmas lists to my parents and sister as I use to (though I feel it’s due to that I feel awkward doing it now that I am an adult with a job), and I do love giving gifts as it feels me with joy that someone is happy of what I give them. I also due seem to get a bit shy around Christmas day when I go through the gifts I receive. I don’t know it’s like I want to hang on to the mystery of the gift or something.
1. This comes as no surprise as from what I’ve read it seems that a lot of people of this type like to read. Also, like most people of this type I do prefer physical books over digital ones for the same reason you mention (including the smell), but as mention before due to having limited space I am thinking of getting a kindle. Ideally one that has color and display comics (although that already might be a given and I’m just not entirely aware of it). As for fiction and non-fiction I do have a stronger preference for fiction, but I don’t mind reading non-fiction so as long as it’s focus around topics or people I’m interested in. As for poetry I’m…indifferent I guess. I don’t read a lot of poetry.
2. I do know I want to go this botanical garden in the capital of Virginia that is during their annual Christmas event in which the entire area is decorated with Christmas lights. I need to get on that.
3. Interesting! This reminds me of one of those cases in which during birthdays the person having their birthday celebrated would use this time to give their gifts to charity. As for me personally I can do something like that myself instead of having someone else do it on my behalf. I already gave some to a few charities for this year.
4. Assuming if everyone knew me well enough to compile a soundtrack about me which so far that has not been the case. I sometimes think if my parents, or the people at their home church, were to pick out music that was suppose to reflect who I was or relates to me their own bias would get in the way and it would result in a soundtrack that has absolutely nothing to do with me. With that said I do like the idea of giving music as a gift. Plus I have notice music does have an affect on me and how I feel as well as how I go about thinking.
5. I would so love if someone did write a letter to me (especially if written in stationary). There is sentimental quality to letters, and I enjoy reading what nice things my family and friends say about me. But it’s something I not expecting to get. I can, however, at least attempt something like that to others instead.
6. SYMBOLISM!!! But in all seriousness that’s another gift I won’t be expecting to get. Not many people I know think on those terms.
7. So do I! Liking animals that is. When I was a child I wanted a dog, and I still would like to have one, but that is something I would save when I get my own house one day. In the meantime my sister currently has a cat that is living with else, and I like her (her affection is kind of similar to a dog). With that said I never thought of wanting a pet for Christmas, but I have thought about buying a gift for my dog if I have one. Maybe I would get something for my sister’s cat instead.
This was interesting overall. Thank you once again for sharing this.
Super accurate, except I would never put a book as my most preferred item… I think I’m unusual in that I’m less of a stay indoors with a book kinda person and I like to do stuff. Unless that book is very beautiful (outside or inside.) So although I’m not matrealistic, I like pretty things.
That makes sense! I think you can be very affected and moved by beauty and not be materialistic 🙂
i like hand drawn cards with personal letters.Any surprise makes me feel special.I agree with your list ,an INFP-T
I would say that pets shouldn’t be gifts.
Sometimes I wonder if I am really INFP, because all articles say this type is not materialistic at all. Meanwhile I don’t know what to do with all the trinkets and knickknacks I’ve collected over the years. Heh.
But it’s true that meaning is everything. I appreciate a beautiful and elegant gift as much as the next person. But when someone actually thought about what sort of interests I have or who I am, that means a lot, even if the gift is small. As someone else pointed out, donating to charity, making a mixtape, or making a craft project can backfire when someone projects their bias onto who I am. More often than not, donations are made to the gift giver’s favorite charity, not ones own. Songs are chosen that reflect the giver’s tastes, and it can be very awkward accepting a handmade gift that doesn’t match the receiver’s tastes (like someone who wears a lot of black receiving a bright yellow scarf). And while all the INFPs I know are very caring people who are good with animals, it’s usually best not to surprise someone with a pet; maybe talk it out with them and help them pick one, and treat them to everything they need to make their new animal buddy comfortable. And honestly I don’t mind gift cards, and would rather have those than a gift that was given thoughtlessly. Also I could always use the money, because I’m poor. XP
Being an older an INFP, I find that I just want peace and quiet, someone to vacuum my blinds, maybe a back or foot massage, ethnic food and then the biggie for me would be supporting my favorite causes.
I actually do love gift cards! I have incredibly specific taste, so anything where there’s taste involved, don’t even go there. Also, I wish I were unmaterialistic but….. ‘fraid not