**Note this post was written in early Feb but posted now
Its that time of the year… Valentines, Easter, Navroz, March madness. No this post isn’t about the best sports tournament in the world (I will save for its own couple of post) but rather the madness of everyone in my family being born in March and the gift buying procedure combined with the general gift expectation for Vday, Navroz, Easter, and all the other holidays. This is a post I’ve wanted to write this post at most major holidays and gift giving times but never really got around to it so here it is….
Gifts are a way of showing someone that you care. No matter what the media and shops and whoever decides when the gifts are to be exchanged… in the end gifts are to show you care. When selecting gift it is vital for you to remember this.
So how do you choose a gift for someone? Rule #1 never get them something they don’t do or
like. If they don’t read then don’t get them a book. It doesn’t matter how meaningful that book could be, doesn’t matter if the book is about something they like, in the end they don’t read get some them something they will like. When choosing a gift for someone it is pretty easy if they tell you what they want. If they tell you what they want, get it for them. Its pretty simple, as long as its in your budget and your effort range, get it. Don’t try to push your values or the things you like on someone as a gift. Ex: If you like golf and you want your wife to play, don’t buy her golf clubs if she hasn’t shown interest in it before. Golf clubs would be you pushing something you want on her, rather than getting her something she wants. Which is really what its all about.
Gift Certificates:
Some people think this might be impersonal and in some way it can be. Rule #2 A gift certificate, which someone will use, is much better than a crappy gift! Some good examples of when gift certificates should be used is when you don’t really know the person, you know the person enjoys a certain thing but you aren’t sure what specifically they don’t already have or what size/style they would enjoy. Ex: if someone is athletic and loves basketball but you don’t know what their favorite team is… a sports stores gift certificate would be appropriate over buying them something of a team they dislike. The more you know about a person the more specific the gift card should be, as in if you really know nothing about someone then go with a mall gift card as if offers a variety of things they can pick, and if you know someone well then go with a specific store. Gift Cards work especially well when you are sending the gift long distance (via mail). Keep the receipt though in case the card get demagnetized.
Food gift cards can also be good gifts, if you know someone loves Starbucks coffee but only buys it on special occasions and buys Tims coffee otherwise. A Starbucks gift card for them to indulge would be an awesome gift. A Tim’s card however, probably wouldn’t be as appreciated.
Also note that it is important not to give someone a gift from a store they have you a gift card for. Especially if the amount of the gift is less than the amount of gift certificate which they gave you. Example, someone gives you $50 gift card for store X and then you buy them something from that store worth $20. Not only is this bad in terms of regifting it is also obvious in terms of money value.
Money value when giving gift certificates, can be complicated. Usually they come in standard amounts $15, $20, $25, $50, $100…etc. It really is up to you how much you spend; everyone had a different budget. It should be noted however that a $15 Holt Renfrew gift card would be ridicules in the same way a $100 McDonald gift card would be. Keep in mind what you hope the person would get from the gift certificate and the general prices of things in that store.
Gift Effort:
It is obvious to see that some gifts take more effort than others. Whether that effort is actually the time to find something really specific, or if you have to physically make it. Rule # 3: It is important when you think of your budget that you also think of the effort needed to give this gift. For example, if you’re planning to order something online note that potentially American credit cards are only accepted, or that you will need extra time for it to get to the person in time or that if its something specific it won’t actually be what you wanted. If you are physically making something, try to ensure that you start it early enough to have it completed by the time you want to give it as a gift. Usually people are good with understanding things take time and that potentially have stalls along the way but sometimes it just seems like there is a lack of effort, usually if this is with a closer friend or family member.
Gift Teasing:
If you know someone would really love something which might be out of their range or is just something that they haven’t gotten around to getting and you were planning to get it for them but some complication happened, Do not tell them about it! Rule # 4: People don’t want to hear about the amazing gift you tried to get them but couldn’t. It’s a tease, its hurtful and it overall rude. I don’t really know why people do this, or what about telling you what they were trying to get will make you feel better about the shitty gift you just got. I don’t really understand it. I’ve had many people do and say this to me and it really just hurts and probably effects my willingness to gift them later on. I know there are things in life which are complicated and expensive, just the same as you do, so don’t tell me you wanted to get something expensive or complicated and then give me something you know I will just return. Also on that note; Rule #5: If you say you’re getting someone something make sure you follow through. False promises suck, even if its months before a bday or an occasion to get a gift for someone, if you say you will buy X for them on Christmas, you better suck it up and buy X no matter what that means in terms of money and effort.
Gift Returns:
Many people think different things on this issue but this is how I see it; if you won’t use or appreciate a gift then return it and get something you want. There is no use to announce this to the person but do try to let them know that you’re not really interested in X. This must be done in a professional way. There is no use to tell someone you love their gift of X when you really don’t. This is especially important for people who have allergies and such.
Some gifts cannot be returned easily and so the regifting issue arises. This can be another stick situation and there are several things to consider, would someone you know appreciate the gift or are you just getting rid of it and is this a personalized gift where it really only meant for you. Please look at the gift certificate note for gifting someone something that you’ve received a gift certificate for. I really don’t see a problem with regifting as long as you remember Rule #1.
Happy Gifting All
Its that time of the year… Valentines, Easter, Navroz, March madness. No this post isn’t about the best sports tournament in the world (I will save for its own couple of post) but rather the madness of everyone in my family being born in March and the gift buying procedure combined with the general gift expectation for Vday, Navroz, Easter, and all the other holidays. This is a post I’ve wanted to write this post at most major holidays and gift giving times but never really got around to it so here it is….
Gifts are a way of showing someone that you care. No matter what the media and shops and whoever decides when the gifts are to be exchanged… in the end gifts are to show you care. When selecting gift it is vital for you to remember this.
So how do you choose a gift for someone? Rule #1 never get them something they don’t do or
like. If they don’t read then don’t get them a book. It doesn’t matter how meaningful that book could be, doesn’t matter if the book is about something they like, in the end they don’t read get some them something they will like. When choosing a gift for someone it is pretty easy if they tell you what they want. If they tell you what they want, get it for them. Its pretty simple, as long as its in your budget and your effort range, get it. Don’t try to push your values or the things you like on someone as a gift. Ex: If you like golf and you want your wife to play, don’t buy her golf clubs if she hasn’t shown interest in it before. Golf clubs would be you pushing something you want on her, rather than getting her something she wants. Which is really what its all about.Gift Certificates:
Some people think this might be impersonal and in some way it can be. Rule #2 A gift certificate, which someone will use, is much better than a crappy gift! Some good examples of when gift certificates should be used is when you don’t really know the person, you know the person enjoys a certain thing but you aren’t sure what specifically they don’t already have or what size/style they would enjoy. Ex: if someone is athletic and loves basketball but you don’t know what their favorite team is… a sports stores gift certificate would be appropriate over buying them something of a team they dislike. The more you know about a person the more specific the gift card should be, as in if you really know nothing about someone then go with a mall gift card as if offers a variety of things they can pick, and if you know someone well then go with a specific store. Gift Cards work especially well when you are sending the gift long distance (via mail). Keep the receipt though in case the card get demagnetized.Food gift cards can also be good gifts, if you know someone loves Starbucks coffee but only buys it on special occasions and buys Tims coffee otherwise. A Starbucks gift card for them to indulge would be an awesome gift. A Tim’s card however, probably wouldn’t be as appreciated.
Also note that it is important not to give someone a gift from a store they have you a gift card for. Especially if the amount of the gift is less than the amount of gift certificate which they gave you. Example, someone gives you $50 gift card for store X and then you buy them something from that store worth $20. Not only is this bad in terms of regifting it is also obvious in terms of money value.
Money value when giving gift certificates, can be complicated. Usually they come in standard amounts $15, $20, $25, $50, $100…etc. It really is up to you how much you spend; everyone had a different budget. It should be noted however that a $15 Holt Renfrew gift card would be ridicules in the same way a $100 McDonald gift card would be. Keep in mind what you hope the person would get from the gift certificate and the general prices of things in that store.
Gift Effort:
It is obvious to see that some gifts take more effort than others. Whether that effort is actually the time to find something really specific, or if you have to physically make it. Rule # 3: It is important when you think of your budget that you also think of the effort needed to give this gift. For example, if you’re planning to order something online note that potentially American credit cards are only accepted, or that you will need extra time for it to get to the person in time or that if its something specific it won’t actually be what you wanted. If you are physically making something, try to ensure that you start it early enough to have it completed by the time you want to give it as a gift. Usually people are good with understanding things take time and that potentially have stalls along the way but sometimes it just seems like there is a lack of effort, usually if this is with a closer friend or family member.
Gift Teasing:
If you know someone would really love something which might be out of their range or is just something that they haven’t gotten around to getting and you were planning to get it for them but some complication happened, Do not tell them about it! Rule # 4: People don’t want to hear about the amazing gift you tried to get them but couldn’t. It’s a tease, its hurtful and it overall rude. I don’t really know why people do this, or what about telling you what they were trying to get will make you feel better about the shitty gift you just got. I don’t really understand it. I’ve had many people do and say this to me and it really just hurts and probably effects my willingness to gift them later on. I know there are things in life which are complicated and expensive, just the same as you do, so don’t tell me you wanted to get something expensive or complicated and then give me something you know I will just return. Also on that note; Rule #5: If you say you’re getting someone something make sure you follow through. False promises suck, even if its months before a bday or an occasion to get a gift for someone, if you say you will buy X for them on Christmas, you better suck it up and buy X no matter what that means in terms of money and effort.
Gift Returns:
Many people think different things on this issue but this is how I see it; if you won’t use or appreciate a gift then return it and get something you want. There is no use to announce this to the person but do try to let them know that you’re not really interested in X. This must be done in a professional way. There is no use to tell someone you love their gift of X when you really don’t. This is especially important for people who have allergies and such.
Some gifts cannot be returned easily and so the regifting issue arises. This can be another stick situation and there are several things to consider, would someone you know appreciate the gift or are you just getting rid of it and is this a personalized gift where it really only meant for you. Please look at the gift certificate note for gifting someone something that you’ve received a gift certificate for. I really don’t see a problem with regifting as long as you remember Rule #1.
Happy Gifting All
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