ALT-5 The value of Presents its the Thought that Counts
How many times have you been tempted to pick up that pre-wrapped gift conveniently located in the aisle of the department store? You have very little time, and the gift is right there and ready to be handed over with minimal effort.
If this is how someone chooses a gift for me, I would rather receive no gift at all. I take pride in giving gifts to people, and put a lot of thought into picking out something that represents their personality, as well as complements their lifestyle. I want the gift to communicate a message: "you are important to me, and I am giving you this because I genuinely think you will like it."
When you are thinking of what to give someone when a gift-giving occasion arises, use these guidelines:1. Has this person mentioned a specific item that he or she wants? Even if you can't afford the item itself, it may lead you to ideas about related items that fit your spending budget.2. Is there something the person has recently purchased for himself/herself that you might be able to buy something to go with it? (Example: a special cookbook for someone who just bought a bread machine).3. Think outside the box. Put together a basket of items like snacks and a bottle of wine. People often like gifts that "go away" so they are not overwhelmed with "stuff" to find places for.4. Where is their favorite restaurant? Do they like going to the movies? Sometimes a gift card is actually thoughtful if it is specific to the person's individual taste.5. Do not buy gifts that might be insulting. If you want to buy someone clothes - be careful! Sizes are very tricky, and you might offend someone by giving them a size too large! Most people like to pick out and try on their own clothes. Don't buy a messy person a book on how to get organized. Don't buy an exercise video for an overweight person. Don't buy someone a teeth-whitening kit. You get the idea...6. If it is appropriate, check with friends or family to see what they are giving. You might be all able to chip in on a large-ticket gift that you may not be able to afford individually.7. Do not underestimate the appreciation of the "homemade" gift items. If you take time to make something yourself it communicates an entirely different level of caring. Even if you just make the card!8. Add a special touch when gift wrapping. I often purchase silk flowers from dollar stores and pull off individual blossoms to put in the bows, or "sprinkle" around in tissue paper. Use the person's favorite comic strip, magazine pages of their favorite celebrity, or even print their name on computer paper and make it into wrapping paper.9. Don't worry so much about spending a certain amount. I once purchased a great wedding gift in an on-line auction for $9. It was worth about $80, and the couple loved it. Sometimes we are compelled to spend a certain amount and that somehow makes us feel like we fulfilled our "task". It's all about the thought, not the dollars!10. Make a list of ideas before you even walk into the store. If you have ideas you won't be locked into the first thing that grabs your eye.
If you are totally and completely clueless on what to get someone, go with the fail-safe of getting a gift that you yourself would like. If nothing else, that communicates that you put some thought into it.
One more tip - try to be with the person when they open the gift, and perhaps tell them a little about how you came to decide on the particular gift. People like to hear that you were thinking and trying to please them, even if the gift actually fell short.
