At some point in your life, someone will have a special occasion, and you’ll need to gift them a present. However, gift-giving isn’t just handing off an item—there’s a lot more to it than that. So, be the best friend you can be by learning the proper etiquette for giving a gift.
It’s for Them
The biggest trick to giving the best gift and following proper etiquette is remembering that the gift is for them. Don’t give them something just because you find it interesting or cool; it should be a gift that they’ll like.
Watch and Learn
The first thing that you should do is learn what that person might enjoy or like as a present. Find out their favorite shows or books, learn about their hobbies, and come up with a gift from that information. It’s the best way to give a gift that they’ll appreciate.
Buy From Their List
If you can’t figure out something, there’s nothing to worry about. Most people have some form of online wish list that tells you exactly what they want. There’s nothing wrong with pulling a gift off of this list and giving it to them, as they know what they want best.
Watch Your Message
A gift is more than just an item you hand over; it carries a deeper meaning. You can use these deeper meanings to make smaller gifts have huge impacts. But you should keep these meanings in mind when picking your gift, or else you might send the wrong message. Handing over money might seem like a good idea, but it implies that you don’t know that person well. Giving ornate jewelry can be fine, but it might send the message that you have romantic feelings for that person. You need to think carefully about the message you’re sending when you gift a present.
Don’t Give Work
The last piece of advice is to never give a gift that requires a lot of work on the recipient’s part unless it’s on their list. Self-improvement books or furniture they need to put together might seem like a good idea in the store, but it’ll most likely collect dust, as they don’t want to take the time to use these gifts.
If you’re going to take just one thing away about the proper etiquette for giving a gift, it should be that the gift is for them. In the end, the gift you give is something the recipient should enjoy, and any gift idea that doesn’t take them into account is bound to be a bad gift.
