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Gift giving is a tradition which is highly developed in many societies. The customs of giving and receiving
gifts indicate the level of social and communal development and reflect the prosperity of both the gift givers
and receivers.
Choosing Christmas gifts for family, friends, and business associates can be an annual chore to be dreaded
and feared, or - with a little advanced planning and ingenuity- can be a most satisfying experience.
Some people have a natural instinct for choosing the right gift for the right person, but even if
you aren’t one of those people you can cultivate ways to develop this skill.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
Plan ahead. It is never too early to make a gift list or even to purchase gifts
well in advance of Christmas or other holidays. Get into the habit of collecting Christmas gift
ideas all year round. A sure recipe for disaster is leaving gift purchasing to the last few weeks
before Christmas. Last minute buying leads to overspending, confusion, duplication of efforts,
and a depersonalization of what should be a positive experience.
Keep a personal ‘gift’ notebook.
Keep a confidential notebook or card index to record gift ideas as well as names, birthdays,
ages, previous gifts given and received, and shopping sources and prices. Using a PC program
to maintain an up-to-date contact list is obvious and essential, but you should keep a separat
e confidential “gift” notebook or card file dedicated to gift giving.
Budget. The right gift is not a matter of price paid, so resist the urge to choose gifts by their
price category. Set a budget and stick to it but don’t purchase bulk items such as scarves or
billfolds because they fall into a ‘business gift category’. An inexpensive but meaningful gift is
much more appreciated than “the usual holiday scarf” that the entire office staff receives every year.
Personalize gifts. Giving a gift with the recipient’s own name or initials imprinted or embossed on it shows
that you’ve given personal attention and thought to choosing his or her gift. In most cases, personalizing
gifts does not add significantly to their cost IF you plan ahead and order in advance. Often, personalizing
the gift wrapping or adding a handwritten note or photograph will make a simple item into an intimate
and heartwarming gift of love.
Use the Internet and gift catalogs. Become familiar with Internet shopping sites which are reliable and
value worthy. Becoming a regular and loyal customer of a few quality websites or gift catalogs can lead
to discounts and special services (such as customizing gifts) which save time and money in the long term.
Recycle. If your job puts you in the position of receiving many small gifts around the holidays there is nothing
wrong with saving duplicate items and recycling them to others, but “re-gifting” can be embarrassing if
you do not keep accurate records of gifts given and received. Always completely unwrap gifts received
and acknowledge them with a thank you note before passing them on. Be sure there are no commercial imprints or
personalized makings or notes attached before re-wrapping.
Use Digital Photographs.Carry a small digital camera in your briefcase or purse and use it to record gift
ideas when you come across them. Taking frequent candid photographs of friends and family and uploading them to
your personal online albums is an excellent way to store images which you can later have printed and use as very
personal gifts for family and special friends. Don’t forget that adding a photograph of someone’s child or pet is
the all-time favorite way to really personalize a gift.
To be sure that the Christmas gift that someone you love receives from you delivers the message you want it to,
plan ahead and personalize, and you will find that choosing Christmas gifts will become one of your greatest
holiday pleasures.
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