Sometimes, we have people over and / or go to see friends, family (you know the drill) - Sometimes they will present me or us with a gift and I have nothing to present to them. I feel like a jackass accepting the gift, but I would look bad refusing too. This HAD to have happened to a handful of you - what happened? Do you go and get them something and try to ease your guilt, or what?
2006-12-08 04:49:29 · 12 answers · asked by paisan_7 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Buy a couple of small inexpensive things have them wrapped and ready to go. Keep them under the tree or in the car. So if you go to somone's house and they give you something say thanks let me run out to the car and get yours.
2006-12-08 04:56:22 · answer #1 · answered by sassssy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How well do you know the person? If you see them once in a while and don't really know them, I don't think it's a big deal to not reciprocate. But! send a thank you note.
Does that person tend to give out presents to anyone for any reason? They probably weren't expecting anything anyway. Still, send a thank you note.
Was the gift thoughtful? As in, geared towards you? If so, you better buy something, WITH a thank you note.
Finally, how expensive was the gift? Anything above 20 dollars, and you're on the hook for something, with a thank you note (of course).
At the absolute very, very least, no matter how little you know this person, you *should* send a thank you note. They're cheap at your local pharmacy (rite aid, CVS, etc.)
2006-12-08 04:54:12 · answer #2 · answered by Prakash V 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always buy extra chocolates, or wine or some of the gift sets of liquor (with glasses) or a coffee sampler to have on hand just in case I have unexpectedly missed someone! If I am put in a situation where someone gives me a gift and I dont have one for them, I just try to be gracious...buying them something as an afterthought only lets them know that that is exactly what they are
2006-12-08 05:00:19 · answer #3 · answered by Lyn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the gift graciously and don't feel bad. Of course, if you want to avoid this feeling altogether, buy some extra gift certificates or gift cards and keep them on hand. If you end up with a few cards at the end of the season, you can always go out with them.
2006-12-08 04:58:48 · answer #4 · answered by JoninCT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gifts are for giving and receiving - don't feel bad if someone gifts you and only gift back if you WANT to give this person a gift. Gift are from the heart - and not everyone feels the same. Do not gift out of guilt...that's the worst!!
2006-12-08 04:53:49 · answer #5 · answered by Maple S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Do you go and get them something and try to ease your guilt, or what?"
No, I think that is tacky and obvious to the person. It's probably best to graciously accept the gift and don't worry about. A thank you card in the mail will show them that you appreciate that they thought of you.
2006-12-08 17:05:31 · answer #6 · answered by plebes02 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always buy a few generic gifts. I have some scarves for women and candy jars for men. They are already wrapped with gift tags on them that just need names written on them. They are not very thoughtful, but they are nice gifts. People don't think that you totally forgot them. They are also nice for the people you actually did forget, there is always someone.
2006-12-08 04:59:05 · answer #7 · answered by Jinny E 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please don't feel that way. If your friends, or family went out of their way to give you a gift, then it was from the heart, and hopefully they didn't buy you the gift just to get something in return. That's not what it's about. If so then oh well. It isn't gift swapping. I'm sure that you're not getting gifts because you're like, " oh *** them" I don't give, I receive. Maybe you're not the shopping type. I'm not. I give gift cards....after the occasion. I don't really think about things like that. Hell, I hardly shop for myself.
2006-12-08 04:57:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sure, it's bad karma but only a tiny bit. Just be grateful. It sounds hackneyed but it is the thought that counts. You can always respond with some equally thoughtful gesture like buying them a cup of coffee (or lunch) and listening to their life story.
2006-12-08 04:52:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I write a nice thank you note later and mail it to them, or I send them flowers to ease my guilt.
2006-12-08 04:56:52 · answer #10 · answered by katzchen75 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋