There doesn't need to be a wedding or an anniversary coming up to start thinking about what you need to buy for a couple. Whether it's Christmas, Easter or you simply need a thank you gift of some kind to treat a couple who have helped you out in some way, a gift basket can be the best way of sending a message of thanks.

The first thing you need to think about is why you are sending the basket. This could influence the amount of money you want to spend on it, and therefore the kind of gift basket you will be able to get for your money. Does the situation warrant a large gift basket or are you simply sending a small token of thanks for some reason?

You will also need to consider the tastes of both people when you are trying to decide what gift basket to buy. Do the couple have similar tastes or are they at opposite ends of the culinary spectrum? If one person likes their food plain and simple while the other prefers exotic and unusual items then you will have a more complicated task on your hands!

If this is the case it might be better to start by thinking about the general style of the gift basket. If both people enjoy the occasional tipple then you could look for baskets that include bottles of wine. If it needs to be food based then you need to think about whether the recipients have a sweet tooth - in which case gift baskets designed around a selection of gourmet chocolates and sweet biscuits would go down well - or whether they would enjoy a more general food based gift basket more.

If you're thinking that one of these types of gift basket would be a little dull, think again. While some hampers contain staple food items in tins and jars that can be used to stock up a store cupboard or larder, the kinds of food based gift baskets available for couples to enjoy today are very different.

Instead of plain honey, think about vanilla bean honey. Instead of plain cheese and biscuits - ideal for sharing - think of cheese and onion biscuits topped off with a selection of cheeses from around the world. Today's range of food based gift baskets are far from being uninspiring, which is why they are a popular and well received gift by lots of couples all over the world.

The main point to remember is not to buy what you like the look of yourself. The more you know about the couple you are buying the more chance there is of getting just the right basket for the occasion. If you are a little stuck for ideas, try asking someone who knows them and who can keep a secret - you don't want the good news of the gift basket to be revealed until it turns up on their doorstep!

One final point - consider adding a personal note to your gift. It can make all the difference.