Best Advice: Gift Giving

Welcome back to my on-going Best Advice series. In this installment of the series I’m going to talk about the ever complicated topic of gift giving. Gift giving is a heart-pounding, fear-inducing, fright fest that can strike fear into the most stalewart of people. However, after you read this guide, you never have to live in fear of buying some a gift ever again. I’ve come up with 3 ways you can win at gift giving and how to execute each one perfectly.

Method A: the gift card

Although this is often seen as impersonal by some social circles, the gift card is a great opportunity to gift someone something from a specific store or as a store of cash. It is also easy to give and many can be despatched online. You can even give gift cards for airline tickets on certain carriers. This makes for easy gift giving and great in a pinch. If you are worried about seeming like you didn’t put in any thought make sure to get it for a specific store or website that you know they like and use a classy card to deliver it. You could even send it with permanent balloons of some glitter confetti to dress it up and make it seem even more special. All the personality and none of the hassle.

Method B: the tangible gift

This is the hardest of gifts to purchase because not only does it take shopping but it also takes an intimate knowledge of the person. If a tangible gift is best the fastest way is to look for their Amazon wish list. That, like a bridal registry, is one of the best ways to get them exactly what they want in the size, color, brand, and kind that they are looking for. If you are stuck on your own then your powers of observation and listening are key. For example, you might find out that they like anything crafty, and therefore could look for something like stained glass beginner kits as a nice gift for them.You can also talk to mutual friends or relatives to help nail down the gift. A nice gift bag is great. Choose a nice bag available at most stores and color coordinate the tissue paper wrapping (blue bag, blue paper).

Method C: cash

Nothing beats cold, hard, cash but I find cash to be a little impersonal. It’s also not really suitable for people older than 25 or so. However, this is often an appreciated gift to offset the expenses of a wedding or to help fund a honeymoon. I would recommend that if you are just going to give money it is best to have it in the form of a check and make sure to dress it up in a nice envelope or card to mark the occasion. For birthdays it can be a fun tradition to give the amount of money according to their age. My Nana likes to do that and I always thought it was a neat idea and I’m passing it on.

Weddings, births, funerals 

When it comes to gifts for weddings and births, it is best to follow the registry. This is not a moment to get creative with gift giving. Just follow the registry it saves everyone time and heartache. There is also often some question about what to get for a second (third, fourth etc.) wedding. On the first wedding when people are young and need to make their home, gifts for the home are common. On a second or third marriage it can be helpful to be more useful and give something that helps create an experience. If they do not register, you can contact them and ask what the gift giving policy is for the event. It has become a tradition not to bother with gifts on a second marriage. It is always best to follow the wishes of the couple. If however, you are like me and can’t bear to go empty-handed a simple hard with a gift card for a restaurant or experience is best. If there is not table, make sure to give it to the couple privately during a receiving or during a casual moment during the reception.

Funerals are not often places for the giving of gifts for obvious reasons, however, if the family is having trouble covering expenses or there is a call for donations don’t make a big show of helping out. Tuck your gift in an envelope and slip it to a trustworthy family member in a quiet moment. If you can give it to them before the service or in advance of the funeral that is great as well. You can also contact the funeral home and see if you can help out with the expense directly. Don’t make a show of it and don’t draw attention to it. Just contribute quietly and respectfully. It can also be great if some of the family needs to travel and you can help them come to the funeral by assisting with travel expenses. This is a great way to help the bereaved.

A Few Things to Remember

Getting a gift right can be a wonderful way to acknowledge someone’s major life event. Getting the gift right is tremendous social credit. However, getting a gift wrong can turn your gift into a story they tell to friends on every occasion for years to come. The best part is that with a few tips you can become a master of gift-giving.

Getting gift giving right

• Don’t be first
• Be a useful gift
• Do your homework, investigate, and observe 
• Follow the lead of others or use the registry
• Embrace the gift bag, wrapping is nice but not necessary