Is it the thought that counts or should one spend time finding something special?
If you’ve heard about love languages* you will know that gift giving is not just a formality, it is the way in which some people give and receive love. Therefore, figuring out what to gift someone you care about is important, and doing it well is key. And as it turns out, research has shown that giving a good gift can help strengthen bonds, but giving bad gifts can be interpreted as not knowing the person or not caring, and they might end up questioning the future potential of the relationship.
It is not about how much money you spend. Firstly, one should never feel obliged to gift something that is above one’s means and research actually shows that spending more is not co-related with the level of appreciation the recipient feels; it in fact has more to do with the value they get from it. So how do you get around spending a large sum of money and still leaving a long-lasting impression?
By following the below Golden Rules
A good gift is:
- Useful And by useful I don’t mean practical like tupperware, but something that will make a difference in a person’s life. Useful gifts are those that solve a problem or ease a pain point. Finding useful gifts requires understanding what the person is going through in their life and anticipating their needs. Not easy at times I agree, but therein lies the key.
- Directed at the person this means something that caters to the persons’ likes, hobbies or ambitions as opposed to something generic like chocolates or flowers. Ask yourself what makes them happy, what they like to do in their spare time, or what goals they are trying to achieve. Special points if these are things you have in common and bond you.
- Nicely presented Again it does not have to do with how much you spend on packaging but more with neatness and/or creativity. After all, first impressions do count and according to some studies presentation serves as a cue of the relationship rather than the gift itself. A good gift wrap for example enhances the anticipation, excitement and gift-receiving experience. And handwritten note makes the gift more personal.
Keeping these 3 rules in mind is a sure-fire way of becoming a better gift-giver over time and impressing even the pickiest of recipients.
* Chapman, G. D. (2010). The five love languages. Walker Large Print.