Who doesn’t love to give and receive gifts? Giving gifts is part of the fun of being human because of the joy it brings. There are many times when gifts are just wasted or become a burden to the recipient. Before buying another gift ask yourself the following 9 questions that will help you give gifts they will love:
1. Will the recipient actually use the gift?
If the answer is no, then don’t buy it. This is especially true for items that clutter up the home such as knickknacks, picture frames, candles, etc.
2. Does the recipient have room for the gift?
If the answer is no, then find a smaller gift that they will have room for.
3. Is the gift their style?
I think sometimes we see a cute item when we are out shopping and we really love it so we pass it on to someone even if it is not their style or taste. Be sure the gift you are buying is really the recipient’s style and not yours.
4. Does the store have a good return policy?
Even when we have the best of intentions there are times when we forget to get a gift receipt or place it in the gift bag. If that happens, will the recipient be allowed to exchange the item, return it or get store credit for it?
I once tried to return a gift my daughter was given. The store only allowed size exchanges and no store credit was given. Since we didn’t like the clothing we didn’t really want another one in a different size. Not only that, but we wasted our time going to the store.
Store return policies keep evolving to stop theft and it impacts all consumers. So be sure to check that the store you are purchasing from has a fair and not super restrictive return policy. Here’s a great list of stores with the 50 Best and Worst return policies.
5. Could the gift break easily?
If the answer is no, just do not buy it. I would rather buy one quality gift than a whole bunch of junk that will just clutter the house.
6. Will the gift annoy the parents?
I am a music teacher and I absolutely detest noisy gifts or out of tune instruments. If you think the sound the gift you give makes is annoying, imagine it at your home. At the very least, make the object has a switch to turn the sound down or off.
7. Would an outing or activity be better?
I think the best gift sometimes is time spent together. This is especially true for kids and older adults. Kids get so much stuff for their birthdays these days that maybe they would just enjoying spending time with you. You could do an inexpensive activity like a trip to the park and an ice cream date or more depending on your budget. I know when my grandmothers were alive they just wanted to visit with us. The time spent with them was way better than a gift we could have bought for them.
8. Would cash or a gift card be better?
If the answer is yes, then give cash or a gift card. Sometimes it is best to give someone a gift that allows them to pick out what they want. Let go of the stigma that cash or a gift card is a tacky or thoughtless gift, unless you know for a fact that would insult the recipient.
9. Is a charitable donation in their name a better option?
Many people get to a certain age or wealth level where they really don’t want or need a gift. Sometimes the better option is to make a donation in their name to a charity that they love. The money will be put to good use and it will make the recipient happy.
Gift giving is difficult, but no one wants a gift they will never use. No one wants a gift that will clutter their home or they will feel bad about getting rid of. So start off right by giving them a gift they will love.
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