Unless you’d like a large lump of coal sitting under your tree on Christmas morning, don’t take this blog post seriously…
Everyone knows that the golden rule of gift giving is to get the receiver something that you would like to receive yourself…plus it’s kind of hard to beat that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you give someone a meaningful gift. It’s also hard to beat the feeling you get when you’re giving a gift that comes back to you in some way, shape or form. That’s right, I’m talking about strategic gift-giving.
It’s a skill that often goes unnoticed, but one that can bring you as much joy as it brings the person you’re giving it to (in the most generous, Christmas-ey way possible of course).
There are a variety of gifts you can give that will ensure an 85% chance that you’ll benefit from them. The number one strategic present is gift cards… especially gift cards to restaurants. One of the most sure-fire ways to guarantee you’ll get to use a part of that gift card is by purchasing one from a restaurant that you and the receiver often frequent together. That way, he or she will be more likely to ask you to tag along. If you’re feeling particularly selfish, just buy a gift card to your favorite restaurant, regardless of the receiver’s preference. That way, you’re practically guaranteed a spot at their table!
Items such as scarves, and accessories, etc. are another gift option because they often don’t have sizes. This way you don’t have to worry about differences in size and shape between yourself and the receiver. The tricky part about giving clothes, though, is that you have to follow certain guidelines. For example, you can’t ask to borrow the item until it has been worn by the receiver at least three times, and you can’t wear it in anticipation of seeing multiple friends that you have in common with the receiver.
Keep in mind that the success of all these methods depends greatly on how generous the receivers are themselves. And having generous people in your life to give gifts to, my friends, is the greatest gift of all.
