Next Monday is my brother Sam’s birthday, and I want to buy him a gift he will really use. Last year I gave him a T-shirt, but it was too big, so this time I decided to think more carefully. On Saturday morning, I took the bus into town with a short list of ideas in my bag.

First, I went to a sports shop because Sam loves basketball. I saw a black gym bag that looked perfect, but it cost more than I expected. After that, I visited a bookshop and looked at a travel guide, but then I remembered Sam rarely reads when he is busy.

Before going home, I stopped at a small electronics store near the market. There I found a pair of wireless headphones on sale. I asked the shop assistant a few questions, and she told me they had good sound and a long battery life. I checked some online reviews on my phone, and they were mostly positive.

In the end, I bought the headphones and asked for gift wrapping. I felt relieved because I had finally found something useful, practical, and still within my budget.