The Giftcard

So, giftcards can be OK in some circumstances... despite the fact that they shout, "I don't know you well enough to pick out a present for you," or perhaps, "I didn't feel like taking the time or energy to find something meaningful so I'm giving you money but you have to use it here."

Yes, a giftcard allows you to go ahead and choose your own gift. It also eliminates a potential return or exchange. But what about the excitement of tearing open paper to reveal something substantial? That's gone right out the window!



In essence, giftcards are "the easy way out" because they allow the gift giver to:
1. Make it look like they put thought into it by driving to a store to turn their green bills into a little plastic card of equal value.
2. Avoid browsing through stores.
3. Get something quick and simple.

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Buying a gift for someone should be an enjoyable and thoughtful experience... duh!

And if it's a small amount, doesn't it irk you to know how much money seemed reasonable to the giver? A giftcard of $10 buys you absolutely nothing. Yes, it's a gift... but what could I possibly buy with a lousy $10 in today's economy?!

If you insist on giving monetary gifts... just stick with the cash ("Give me the money!"). Then, you can avoid the effort of getting the giftcard in the first place and allow the recipient to buy something of their choice anywhere they want (not like the restriction of a giftcard) or even put the money in the bank (Gasp, who would've thought?).

5 Rules of Gift Giving: Who You Should Give Gifts to

1. Parents
They gave birth to you! It's as simple as that. Therefore, no matter what, they deserve to get some appreciation.

2. Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles
We all have that aunt of grandma who spoils you rotten with anything your little heart desires and so much more. Shouldn't they get something cute-sy and heartfelt in return?

3. Siblings and Cousins
Just because you may fight with them, go through phases of wanting nothing to do with eachother or simply have some awkward interactions, doesn't mean you shouldn't give them gifts. Most likely they're the closest family members in age, so shouldn't you have a general idea of what your peers like?

4. Friends and Roommates
This is a no-brainer. If you are friends with someone, you exchange gifts! Forgetting a friend at Christmas-time or at his or her birthday leaves tension in the air with a hint of "maybe we really aren't that close..."

5. Teachers, Co-workers, Bosses
People you look up to, admire or work under should know how you feel! (Or maybe in the case of a boss... they shouldn't) So get them something that says, "You are great!" or something like it.

The Gift That's Two Sizes Too Small

Nothing is more discouraging than receiving a shirt or sweatshirt (or any item of clothing for that matter) that doesn't fit you. Maybe it's that aunt who lives across the country and has a little trouble keeping up with how fast you're growing... so she buys you clothes you probably would've worn two years ago. Maybe it's the penny-pincher of the family, buying you T-shirts that "you'll grow into."



Either way, undersized or oversized outfits are only cool if you intend them to be cool... but these gifts pretty much always are not. Is it really that hard to call someone up and ask them how tall their child is? Or maybe look at some recent pictures?

Clothes that are the perfect color or have a neat design somehow manage not to score the perfect score when they could fit someone half your size.

The Gift in Disguise

We are all familiar with the gifts that are given not only for the benefit of the recipient: the husband who buys a large screen television for his wife, the girlfriend who bakes a cake for her boyfriend for Valentine's Day.

But I'm sure that you've never heard of a mother giving this to her ten year old son for his birthday:

A blender and a hairdryer.

"What?!" That's the first thing that went through my mind when I heard this as I let out a little laugh. This is the most extreme "gift in disguise" that I have heard about. Clearly, no little boy is going to have any use for these unless he is a budding chef with long hair. Needless to say, this gift was barely disguised!

Unless it is a gift that is made to be mutually used and enjoyed, such as that big TV or yummy chocolate cake, these gifts aren't really gifts. They also completely go against the idea of giving as a means of giving of one's self and feeling happy by pleasing others. Buying things for yourself isn't bad, but when you need to use the cover of a gift for someone else, it's pretty heartless.