One of life’s greatest pleasures is exchanging gifts. Almost every culture has traditions and etiquette related to receiving and giving gifts. Giving a gift is one way of expressing love, gratitude, appreciation and recognising special occasions and achievements. A gift isn’t necessarily about the object itself, but more about the emotion and sentiment behind it. There are always questions about what could be the right gift. With so many choices, how does one choose the right gift?
To begin with, think about the recipient, the occasion and your budget. You’ll also want to consider whether your gift should be temporary or lasting, and how personal it can be.
Temporary gifts usually mean flowers, sweets, wine and champagne. Hampers of toiletries or cosmetics and liquor are ideal for the host who “has it all”. Also in this category are magazine subscriptions and tickets to special shows, wherein the memories are lasting.
Gifts that last range from books and decorative items for the home to furniture and utensils. The nature of the occasion will help you make a choice. For example, a silver spoon or bowl engraved with the baby’s name makes a great gift for a naming ceremony.
Perfume, clothes and jewellery are personal, and usually given to the spouse or significant other, family members and close friends. Think carefully about your relationship with the recipient and how your gift will be received. Giving personal gifts at the workplace is usually inappropriate.
Whenever you choose a gift, be respectful of your own budget. It’s nice to be generous, but giving a gift that you can afford will always give you more pleasure. An extravagant gift can be both overwhelming and embarrassing for the recipient. Sometimes, the nicest gifts don’t cost money — like spending time with someone at the hospital, babysitting a neighbour’s child, or even cooking a simple meal for someone.
Food, wine, spirits and flowers are almost always a hit, even though they are not long-lasting. Chocolates are a universal favourite, but usually avoidable during hot weather.
A good bottle of wine, champagne or sparkling wine will cover most occasions. Liqueurs and single malts are great only if you know the receiver is a fan.
Flowers can be given to anyone almost anywhere. However, certain flowers are symbolic of emotions such as love or grief. Roses are romantic while chrysanthemums are for funerals.
In the case of gift certificates or gift cards, some find them impersonal, while it gives others the freedom of choice. Money, too, is quite popular for weddings and birthdays.
Here are a few suggestions to simplify giving.
Keep a running gift list throughout the year. Make a list of things that friends mention they would like to buy. Be on the lookout for them when shopping or going through catalogues. Trust your judgement, and if you think the recipient will like it, go ahead and buy it.
Stick to your budget. If you buy anything that is beyond your means, it makes both you and the receiver uncomfortable.
There are times when we go looking for gifts and can’t find one easily. To avoid this, if you find something that someone may like or want, buy it even if there is no occasion. It will come in handy at a later date.
Keep a few emergency gifts at home always. Just make sure you do not end up recycling the same one.
