UPFRONT & PERSONAL
the perils of picking presents
AIRBUS A319
ETIQUETTE MAESTRO TIM TAYAG SPILLS THE BEANS ON SHOPPING FOR GIFTS
Ever recycled a gift and accidentally given it back to the person who gave it to you? Or done the old mistaken present swap and given your girlfriend’s carefully wrapped lingerie to your househelp?
Buying presents can be a bewildering task: is it too expensive or too cheap; too big or too small; too bright or too dull; isn’t he a little too old for that; and so on.
It may seem disheartening, but there is hope for us all. Follow my suggestions, and you might survive the perils of picking that perfect present.
THE LOVED ONE
This category includes girl and boyfriends, ancées, ancés and spouses. Since I’m a guy, we will use the male’s perspective.
The biggest blunder you can make is not reciprocating the grandeur of her gift. For example, she lavishes a state-of-the-art digital camera on you, and you give her a CD compilation of all the songs that remind you of her. While it’s a thoughtful gesture, the disc only cost you 10 pesos.
In this instance, the latest iPod loaded with your songs’ music videos would have been more appropriate.
Save the day by buying two gifts: a cheap one and an expensive one. First, give her the inexpensive gift, and then wait for her reaction. If she looks disappointed, she de nitely bought you a more expensive present.
After she gives you her gift, surprise her by pulling out your high-end one. Women love surprises, and you’ll get extra points for giving two. In the rare case that your cheap gift matches the value of hers, secretly return the expensive gift.
Remember three things: be thoughtful; spend at least two weeks of your salary; and always keep the receipt.
THE PARENTS
Parents are easy on the pocket because they’ll love anything you give them.
Remember the card you made that brought them to tears? Yes, it’s that simple. But you’d probably want to spend a little more now that you’ve grown-up.
Get them something practical. Look for clues in their lifestyle — from hobbies and sports to sleeping patterns and eating habits. My mom always works on Sudoku puzzles, so I bought her two thick “Sudoku Crazy” books. She simply loves them, and I ended up saving PHP250 because I found them at a buy-one-get-one-free sale.
Other useful gifts for parents:
• a nose-hair trimmer
• comfortable slippers
• portable reading light In this case, it’s the thought that counts, but cheapskates probably get less from the will.
THE OTHERS
This group includes friends, co-workers and acquaintances. Avoid awkward moments by stocking up on generic gifts. Gift certi cates work best. Your closeness to the person determines how many vouchers you give. A good rule is 100 bucks for each year you’ve known them. If you don’t remember their names, rip the certi cate in half to make it worth PHP50. Other good gifts are:
• scented candles
• organic soap
• body lotions
• laser pointers
THE FAMILY
Since aunts, uncles and cousins don’t expect much, anything from you will re ect generosity. Get them wholesale gifts, preferably food items such as enseymada, brownies, cookies, sansrival, pecan tarts, chocolate, mandarin oranges or wine.
Your siblings probably expect a little more. My sister usually gets me a bottle of cologne, so I buy her something similar in price range, like fancy bathroom products.
You can also just ask them what they want, and if it’s beyond your budget, then share the cost with your other siblings or parents. Keep in mind that whatever you give them this year will establish the trend of what you get in the coming years. Don’t forget to factor in in ation and seniority.
HOUSE HELP
These folks are your helpers, chauffeurs, receptionists, security guards and other people who make your life more comfortable. Let’s face it, money has always been the perfect present.
The key in picking the right present is creating a balance between thoughtfulness and your budget. But honestly, shopping for gifts would be so much easier and that much more ef cient if everyone just does what I do — make a wish list and send it out to everyone. Some may nd it a bit tacky, but at least you get what you really want instead of collecting those hideous glass dolphin lamps with dancing lights.
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