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A Gift-Giver’s Guide

Issues to consider when you buy a gift

Most of you have probably experienced buyer’s remorse—the feeling of regret that comes from buying something you didn’t really need or shouldn’t have bought. But what about buying a gift for someone else? Do the people who receive your gifts experience a similar feeling? You know, the disappointment when you open up a beautifully wrapped gift only to discover—oh, dear—it’s something you really don’t need or want. Here’s a gift-buyer’s guide to help you avoid buying gifts you should not have bought and other people probably don’t want!

 What is the real cost?

When choosing a gift, be mindful that the store price tag may not be the only cost. Some gifts require regular service or care. They not only cost a lot to maintain, but sometimes, these gifts require a lot of time and attention. Probably the worst surprise gift you can give is a pet. Do you really know if the person wants a pet, especially one that requires a lot of care, like a puppy? When I was young, my uncle gave me a puppy and my parents were furious! The food and medical bills for the puppy were astronomical, and she made a big mess all over the house. It was my responsibility to walk and feed her, but my mother ended up with a lot more work. My uncle meant well, but he probably should have considered a different gift.

 Where will they put it?

Here’s something else to consider: size. Sure, my sister would love some fancy new kitchen equipment, but her kitchen is the size of a closet. If I bought her an espresso coffee machine, where would she put it? She would probably have to store it on the top shelf of a closet down the hall. I’ll bet she would never use it because it would be too much trouble to get it out. When purchasing large or bulky items, think about where they are going to be kept. Is there enough space for your gift?

 How hard can it be?

Not everyone loves technology, so before buying that new gadget, think about the person who is going to use it. Will the person need an engineering degree just to figure out how to operate it? I got my mother a smart phone for her birthday last year. I set everything up for her, but she still had trouble understanding it. It was so frustrating that she hardly ever used it. A few weeks later, I returned the smart phone and replaced it with a much simpler one. If only I had thought about this before purchasing the fancy smart phone.

 Another thing people hate when they receive a gift is reading “some assembly required” on the box. Who wants a gift that is hard work? But sometimes there is no choice, especially with some furniture and equipment. So if you do buy a gift that will have to be assembled, here are two rules of thumb to follow:

1) All tools required for assembly should be included.

2) The product should not come in more than six pieces.

 Is it useful?

Finally, it’s important to consider how practical the gift is for the person receiving it. Let’s face it, it could be a great product, but it’s only a great gift if it gets used. But by next year, will it have just been gathering dust on a shelf or under a bed? A lot of products have gimmicks that look cool in the store but are not so great when you get them home. Will anyone ever use that alarm clock that sings opera or an electric toothbrush that tells jokes? Ask yourself if you would ever use it. If the answer is no, you probably shouldn’t have bought it.

Why should you consider costs before purchasing a gift?

Complete the sentences using the future perfect tense of the words in parentheses. DO NOT use contractions and do not place a period at the end.

Example: By tomorrow evening, Sarah __will have worked 60 hours without a day off.__ (work 60 hours without a day off)

By next year, Bill . (pay off credit cards)