Recently, my son had a birthday and as much as he was thrilled to get nothing but money and gift cards, I was sad for him. I was sad that he didn’t open a single present. I remember being a kid and the one thing I couldn’t wait for was to open my gifts. I always had to wait until the very end (didn’t you?) and I would watch that pile of gifts imagining what was in each box and salivating until that moment when I heard “Let’s open presents” My Mom didn’t have to say that twice! I remember all my friends sitting around my chair and ooooohhhhing and awwwwwwwing over each gift as I opened them. This year my son opened his cards with no one but our immediate family and all we did was count the money. There was little excitement.
Let’s be clear he was not ungrateful and I thought it was very nice of everyone that came to bring a gift. I’m just saying it’s sad that the anticipation isn’t the same. It’s become so much easier to throw money in a card or grab a couple gift certificates to use as presents while doing your weekly grocery shopping than to put a little thought or time into really getting someone something you think they may like.
I know, I know…we have been begging for cash and gift cards for years but the honest truth is, we have been begging for those types of gifts from people that are bad gift givers not from EVERYONE.
I can’t lie. I do give an occasional gift card or money when I completely forget one of my kids has a birthday party an hour after I remembered about the party or maybe I really don’t know the kid the party is for but if I do know the kid I put some effort into each gift.
This can take some discipline but I’ve made it very easy. I have go to gifts that I give for different occasions. Obviously I own a personalization business so customizing each gift is easier for me. For example I love giving fleece blankets with a kid’s name on it and a design of something that I know they are interested in. This is my go to gift.
http://www.personalizedpresents.com/personalized-fleece-blanket.html
I have to say…I always get compliments and people always over thank me for the gift and I swear it’s not because they wanted a fleece blanket so bad, it’s because it required thought. Maybe it was just a little bit of thought but they know I sat and thought about what color blanket their child would like, what sport they played, etc…
Another example would be wedding gifts. I remember hoping we would only receive money…we were young and broke and really needed it. I was so excited to see an empty gift table except for two lone gifts. When we opened the cards we were super thrilled. Then we opened the two gifts and one of the gifts was a clock with a card that said “time has just begun for the two of you” I have never forgotten that gift and how special I felt reading the card and knowing that thought went into the gift. Don’t get me wrong I almost always give money at weddings too, because the bride and groom DO need the money but I almost always give a gift with the money because I know it will be remembered unlike the money.
A gift card just won’t ever give that warm and fuzzy feeling to anyone for any occasion. That’s my issue with Gift Cards. I feel better now that I’ve gotten that out:)
Personalized Presents.com 