Holiday Gift Giving – Tricky Situations Made Simple

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You may need to decline some holiday party invitations. Remember, unless you are specifically told not to in the invitation, it is common practice to bring host/hostess gifts to a party.

Set a budget and stick to it. If you speak with one of your friends and you decide to spend $25 on each other, don’t spend $50 because you just had to get that extra little something. Your friend will feel bad when the gifts are exchanged, and after all, this is SUPPOSED to be a pleasant occasion, not a stressful or uncomfortable one.

Start shopping earlier in the year. Sure, we all don’t like to see Christmas tree displays at the end of September, but during the year, if you see something a particular person on your list will love to have, pick it up when your checkbook isn’t so strapped. Not only will you have more cash flow come holiday time, but you’ll also be saving yourself the stress of trying to get all your presents in the month of December.

Regifting – It’s really not that bad.
Okay, you’re probably thinking that we’ve gone completely crazy. How can regifting EVER be acceptable? Well, in certain situations, it is.

If you receive a duplicate item, it’s okay to regift it.
Don’t regift a hand made item or one that the original giver obviously took a long time to pick out.
Only regift an item if it is brand new, all the parts are working and in one piece (not broken), it should be in the original packaging and the packaging should be intact. Never regift a broken or malfunctioning item. There’s a good chance your recipient will ask for the receipt to return it. If that happens, good luck explaining. Your gig is up.
Only regift an item if you know the recipient will really like it.
Regifting is tacky when you simply don’t want to buy for a person, don’t know what to give a person, or don’t want to take time out to select an appropriate gift for that person.
Let’s face it, it’s often easier to regift that sweater with the embroidered poodles across the chest than to explain to the giver that you think it’s the ugliest thing you’ve ever seen and you’d like the receipt so that you can take it back and get something that you’ll actually wear. Ouch. Come to think of it, Mary at the switchboard has a poodle toy collection doesn’t she? It looks like that sweater just might fit. REGIFT!

In the Office
Don’t know who to give to or who not to give to? It can be a little tricky, here’s some sage advice.