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Proper Etiquette When Giving & Receiving Gifts

Some feel obligated to give gifts and thus don’t give thoughtful gifts.  Also, many are confused and do not know who they should give gifts to.  So, we should give gifts to only those with whom we want to give and consider the person’s preferences as we choose the gift.  This also means that we can and should keep our gift-giving list intimate.

Gift Givers

Give from the Heart

Give something you feel the recipient would like. It’s only good manners. Give to only to those you wish to give to.

Gift Cards are Fine

As with other types of gifts, give the gift card the receiver would want. Know the receiver well.

Gift Receivers

Wear Your Happy Face

Receive each gift with a positive response even if it isn’t what you would have chosen for yourself. A gift is special.

Regift Carefully

This can be done if handled correctly. The receiver shouldn’t know the original giver. The gift must be in the original packaging and never used. It shouldn’t be a unique, personal gift or a useless cast-off.  The original card should be removed. Finally, it should be something the giver is sure the receiver would want.

Returning the Gift

Again, this must be done very carefully.

The gift-giver should never know of the exchange.

Do not return a gift if the absence of it will be noticed; consider if the giver will be expecting to see it.

Consider if you really should return it.  Perhaps it is something you could use.

Write Thank-You Notes

Common Questions

Do I give to the parents of my son’s girlfriend? 

  • Typically, no.  Give only if you are very close friends. 

If my child has more than one teacher, do I give gifts to all? 

  • No.  Give in private. 

Give only to those teachers your child likes?

  • This is your choice, but teachers don’t expect gifts. 

Do I give to my housekeeper?

  • This is optional.  If your housekeeper is the same person every time and you feel she/he does an excellent job, then it is a nice gesture to give.  

More by The Polite One

Holiday Tipping Interviews on the Today Show & KCRA Interviews

Enjoy Halloween With All Treats and No Tricks

How-To Avoid the Holiday-Etiquette Fail

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