Proper Gift Giving Etiquette
Giving someone a gift is not really all that tough but you would think it was rocket science on occasion. Some people are just not blessed with the gift giving gene I guess. Giving a good gift requires that we think outside of ourselves, so I guess that can trip some folks up occasionally. Also, some people just don’t have the creative mind that it takes to come up with something truly unique and exciting.
These mistakes of gift giving are generally understood, but some gift giving mistakes are simply rude. How do we navigate the waters of giving out gifts without offending? Are there rules? Here are a few tips to help you out:
Re-gifting is okay...sometimes
If you receive a gift from your Aunt Samantha in Chicago and you decide your friend in Los Angeles would like it better, go right ahead and re-gift. The key here is to make absolutely certain that your re-gifting can’t be discovered. Hurting someone in that way is unnecessary and cruel.
A late gift is better than no gift
Gifts are optional expressions of gratitude or celebrations. You are not obligated to do anything at all, but generally speaking we should gift at appropriate moments. Many people find themselves in situations where they are unable to give a gift at a given time. This leads to avoidance behavior and other stupid mistakes. Instead, apologize and send your gift later. Friends will understand and those that don’t are really not someone you need in your life anyway.
Gift cards are okay...but not supreme options
Generally speaking gift cards work just fine these days as gifts. There are some notable exceptions...the Weight Watchers gift card to your uncle who has put on a few pounds and didn’t notice yet for example. Gift Cards are awesome when you are unsure what to get, but a personal gift that you picked out yourself is always better.
Keep in mind that the receiver is the one that should be happy...not you
It is a natural instinct to inject our own thoughts and opinions when we are gift buying. Imagine you are shopping for someone that loves country music and you love metal. That would be hard to shop without your own biases sneaking in. The key is to completely turn off that part of our brain and focus entirely on what you would want if you were them. What you like doesn’t matter.
Include the gift receipt
Re-gifting happens because people get things they would never use. Why not give them the option of getting something else if they don’t like it? The key is to put the receipt in with the gift and not to make a point of identifying it. Many people point out that it is in there and it comes out wrong. Just put the receipt in there and let them do as they may.
Never give with an agenda
There are those out there that still give gifts with an agenda or an expectation of something in return. This is so tacky and it always ends up in disappointment either for the gift giver or the gift receiver. If you have an agenda, you should save your money and simply give them a hug. Agenda givers are always obvious to the receiver and it is the ultimate insult to many.
Proper gift giving etiquette is really all about considering the person you are buying for, leaving your feelings at the door and giving with a pure heart. If you do these things with regularity, the blessings will come back to you a million times over.
