4 Gift Rules You Never Should Break
Tips on Gift Etiquette
When it comes to gift giving, there's a certain amount of etiquette involved. After all, every gift should be appreciated but there are certain responsibilities the gift giver must follow if you want the recipient to live up to that part of the bargain. If you don't want to look like an oaf the next time you give a gift, here are four gift giving tips to live by.
Coupons Are Not Presents
You'd think I wouldn't have to say it, but unfortunately I do. Coupons are not gifts. They are free pieces of paper that get people discounts. They are NOT gifts. Do NOT give someone a coupon in a card (unless you're five years old and making mommy "pick up my room" coupons). No matter how much your gift recipient acts like it's okay, coupons do not make good gifts.
Wrap It For Goodness Sake!
I was at a party the other day when a hostess was presented with a gift -- in, of all things, a Wal-Mart bag. Not wrapped and put inside the bag, but in the bag just as it was bought. Come on! Wrap it! It takes five minutes and a few cents of wrapping paper. Never give a gift without wrapping it (and newspaper does not count as wrapping paper, regardless of what others may say).
Don't Announce a Re-Gift
Regifting is okay in some situations, but never announce a re-gift when you do it. That's just plain tacky. I've actually seen people do this and I'm sure it makes the gift recipient feel bad. How would you feel if someone didn't think enough of you to go out and buy a present but just gave you something they didn't want?
Put the Cash in a Card
If your gift is cash, that's great. I love getting cash (and if you want to know my birth date and where to send it, just ask). On a serious note, however, never just slip someone a ten or a twenty or even a hundred. Put it in a card. Unless you're grandpa slipping your grandchild money on the sly, always present your monetary presents in a card.
By keeping these four gift giving tips in mind, you'll always make the right impression when giving your gifts.