Have you ever bought a gift for someone for an occasion and then as that occasion gets closer and closer you suddenly feel like your gift is inadequate? You think you need to buy something else because your gift isn’t good enough or that you didn’t spend enough? This is what I like to call gift giving guilt. I am here to share with you tips on how to avoid gift giving guilt.
No Buyer’s Remorse
Above anything else the worst type of gift giving guilt comes in the form of buyer’s remorse. When you spend too much money, you inevitably start to feel uneasy. This uneasy feeling can be caused by several things: you’re going to be in debt that you’re unable to pay off immediately, you didn’t budget for the purchase; you would have preferred to have put the money to better use; the list goes on and on. Don’t spend a lot of money on a gift just because. Spend within your means.
Thoughtfulness Over Cost
You may be thinking, well if I don’t spend a lot, how can I give a good gift? Gift giving should never be about the cost. Regardless of if you can afford it, gifts are good because of the thought that goes into them. Get someone their favorite flowers or candy. Make a reservation at their favorite restaurant. Buy something you think could make their life easier. I always appreciate a thoughtful gift no matter what the cost is.
Put in Effort
Along with thoughtfulness, people appreciate gifts that show you put in a good amount of effort. For example, one of my friends makes a 3-course meal for her significant other for Valentine’s Day with a homemade menu rather than making a reservation somewhere. How sweet is that!? The creativity, the time and the effort of a gift like this is better than spending a lot on a gift just to say you spent a lot.
Be Present
In today’s world that is plagued by the constant need to document and show off every little thing you do, sometimes a great gift is as simple and being present. Turn off or put away all your tech items (phones, computers, TVs) and just spend some quality time together. Truly listen to each other, have good and meaningful conversation, play a board game, take a walk, make a meal together, etc. It’s so easy to get distracted by social media and text messages and emails, so by keeping all these things out of reach, you’re able to truly focus on each other.
The point of all of this is that money should not be the leading factor in gift giving. Just because a gift is more expensive does not mean it is a better gift. When you are buying gifts, you will never feel guilty about how “little” you spent as long as your gift is from the heart.
