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Gift Giving Etiquette: |
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In life, it is customary to celebrate joyful events with the exchange or giving of gifts. There are certain unspoken rules of etiquette that should be followed; however, gift etiquette is a subject not covered in high school or college classes, but it is a skill that you’ll need to use during the rest of your life. Gift etiquette starts with choosing a gift, but also extends to include how much you spend, how to give the gift, and when to give a gift at all. If these topics confuse you, you can use these guidelines as a helpful tool to finding that perfect gift according to gift etiquette, no matter what the occasion may be.
Hostess Gifts:
While a gift in this situation isn’t generally thought of as “necessary”, bringing a gift to your host or hostess is considered proper etiquette, not to mention polite.
A bottle of wine, a candle or flowers are considered an appropriate hostess gift. If you decide on flowers, send them ahead for two reasons. First, if you bring them when you arrive, your host will feel pressured to put them in a vase so they don't wilt, which will put her behind schedule, making her unable to greet her guests properly. Second, if she receives them a day or a few hours early, she can use them as a centerpiece or decorative display.
Housewarming Gifts:
It is proper etiquette to give the new homeowner a thoughtful gift. The appropriate time to give a gift is either when you first visit or else have something delivered to the new house once the owners have settled in.
Gifts for your Assistant:
Your assistant takes care of you uncomplainingly day in and day out. It's time to show him/her your appreciation. Who among us can't use a little friendly incentive to keep up the good work! Whether for the holidays, a project successfully completed or for simple gratitude, there are a few gift possibilities, candy, personalized stationery or a gift certificate. A gift card should be $50.00 or more. The value should reflect the position in the company as well as how long they have been your assistant. Avoid perfume or clothing.
Mothers-in-Law:
We all want to please our mother-in-law, so what gift to buy can be a daunting and difficult task. You want it to reflect her style, personality, and décor. A sure-fire, win-win gift for any mother-in-law is a beautifully framed portrait of you and her darling son (or of her grandchildren), which she can display for all to admire.
Birthdays:
The appropriateness of the birthday gift you give a friend rests entirely on the relationship. If you are extremely close, the nature of the gift would be different than what you would give an acquaintance. You never want to give a lavish gift that obligates your friend to reciprocate when your birthday rolls around.
Co-workers & bosses, it's all or nothing:
At most companies it's not expected that you buy gifts for everyone with whom you work. You can if you want to, but don't spend much, get everyone the same thing, and don't expect a gift in return. If your boss buys a gift for everyone who reports to him or her, you're not expected to reciprocate. But if the entire staff wants to pool their money to buy the boss a return gift, that's fine.
Weddings:
Engagement parties: Engagement gifts have never been obligatory and are not expected from casual friends and acquaintances. But they are becoming customary in some parts of the country, usually given to the couple by family members and close friends.
Engagement party hosts: Whether the host is a family member, friend or the bride-to-be, consider sending a beautiful bouquet of flowers to them after the party with your thank you.
Wedding Shower: A guest invited to a shower should bring a gift. After all, gifts are the purpose of a shower. If an invited guest can't attend, it is not obligatory to send a gift; however, a close friend or family member sometimes chooses to send a gift regardless. If a guest is invited to two – or more – showers, she is not expected to bring gifts to both.
Weddings: Guests invited to the wedding have an obligation to send a gift, whether they are attending or not. Is there a formula for figuring out how much to spend on a wedding gift? Yes – the amount spent on the gift should be based on your affection for and relationship with the couple – or their families – as well as your budget. Appropriate wedding gifts run the gamut from fine china and small household appliances, to gardening tools, camping equipment, money and gift certificates. Selecting a gift should be an enjoyable process. But for the "shopping-challenged" among us, bridal registries simplify the process of finding the right gift. Generally, wedding gifts should be delivered to the bride's home or to the home of her parents before the wedding, addressed to the bride. When gifts are sent after the wedding, they are sent to the couple at their new address.
Babysitter:
Giving a gift to a babysitter shouldn’t be too difficult. You can give cash or gift equal to one or two nights of sitting. An appropriate gift would be something they wouldn’t buy for themselves like a new handbag. Avoid kid related gifts.
Hairstylest:
Infrequent customers: The gift should be double your usual tip.
Regular customers: Gift a tip or gift equal to your usual visit charge. Wine, baked goods, crystal or silver make nice gifts.
Daycare:
You should tip or give a gift up to the amount of $20.00. It can be in the form of cash or a gift certificate. Make the gift personal with a personalized card.
Teacher:
A handwritten thank-you note or a small gift costing less than $25.00. Gifts are less common in middle school and high school. Thank-you notes are teachers favorite gift, edible treats are less desirable. Try a good coffee maker and a nice blend of beans.
Etiquette for "Please, No Gifts":
It is polite and appropriate to respect the host's request if you've been invited to a gathering but asked not to bring a gift. This applies to a birthday party, graduation party, anniversary celebration, wedding, or any gift giving occasion where the invitation specifically reads: "No Gifts, Please". If you must bring "something", try a card or some other very small sentiment, or give to a charitable organization in the recipient's name.
Is money an appropriate gift?
It is appropriate to give money in a few (sparse) situations, like when a teen-ager asks for it. But try to avoid giving money. It's more thoughtful to give a gift certificate or gift card, but only if you take the time to consider the appropriate store or restaurant. Pick something that will be enjoyable and/or useful for the gift recipient.
Regifting etiquette:
The gift must be brand new and in its original package. The gift should be something the recipient would love. It should not be something the original giver took great care to select or make for you. Regifting a nice bottle of wine to a wine lover is fine. Regifting a crystal vase that your mother gave you is not.
Gift Suggestions For Woman From Men:
Splurge on a holiday at a spa resort or a few hours of massage and relaxation for her. Women love being pampered and looking like a million dollars at the end of it. Female is synonymous with luxurious pampering.
Buy her a potted plant such as a bonsai. While flowers are traditionally the gift of choice for both sexes and most people love them, a potted plant suggests commitment and longevity. She will enjoy it as she nurtures it and watches it flourish. Ensure that the plant is not too high maintenance, lest your unique gift become added stress for her.
Personalized gifts are a great idea. Women are sentimental creatures. Put her name on it, or better yet, a short, sweet message from you. You’ve got gratitude for life! Anything that includes a photo of the two of you is also a very good idea.
And lastly, the you-can-never-go-wrong-with-this-gift: Jewelry, of course! Pearls or diamonds, earrings or pendants, a bracelet, necklace, large, small, new or antique, expensive or not so expensive – it’s all welcome.
Gift Suggestions For Men From Women:
The latest in electronic innovation that you can find on the market. A cell phone, PDA, DVD player – the more complicated it is to figure out, the more he’ll love it.
Season tickets to the NBA games for him and his male buddy. This is guaranteed to make you the woman in his life and him, the envy of every male he knows.
Another really popular gift with men is stock. There are online websites, which actually allow you to choose a company and the number of stocks you want to buy. It’s a great gift that keeps on giving because it can grow in value over time.
Other Gift Giving Hints:
Don't give loud toys to children.
Don't give things that YOU want.
Always try to wrap a gift. If the time (or skill) to make it look nice isn't available, spend a dollar on a gift bag and some tissue paper.
Include a card with the gift, and actually write a personal note in it.
When you're struggling for a great gift idea - whether for a birthday, anniversary, Christmas or just because - gift baskets are almost always a sure bet. Sooner or later in life, everyone needs to buy a gift. But not everyone can come up with unique, cool, or even practical gift ideas. So when you're not sure what kind of gift to buy, gift baskets are a safe and sensible choice. The beauty of gift baskets is their universal appeal. Gift baskets can be given to men, women and children.
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