Enjoy Gift-giving!

NO, you don't need the unnecessary exhaustion and extra expense caused by the last-minute buying of gifts! Make gift giving, especially at Christmas time, enjoyable by following these practical guidelines:

MAKE A GIFT LIST

• At least three weeks before Christmas, list down the names of the persons you "need to" and "want to" buy gifts for. The "need to" list would probably include immediate family members, close relatives and friends, while the "want to" list may be other acquaintances or constant service providers like your neighbor or the friendly bank teller.
  
  
• Opposite each name, assign a budget for your gift. You may have to prioritize the "need to" list first to know whether you can afford to buy the gifts for the "want to" list.
  
  
• If you already can, write down opposite the name/budget the type of gift you are planning to give. The more specific you are, the better. Example: Dad -- bright red shirt, Mom -- small Anais Anais perfume, colleagues -- personalized pens... It is also best to note where you will buy the gift to save time and effort during actual purchase.
  
  
• Review your list and your budget. Did you miss out anyone? Are you in the list? Is your budget life-threatening yet? You may want to cut down the "want to" list or reduce the budge for certain persons.
  

IN BUYING THE GIFT...

• Buy the gift early to avoid the Christmas rush. Armed with your gift list, start buying by November and avail of discounts during the annual pre-Christmas sale. I have a friend who would even start buying in September so she would get to keep her Christmas bonus!
  
  
• Stick to your budget! Remember that (1) not all expensive gifts are meaningful ones, (2) you have a life after Christmas, and (3) as long as you have truly thought about the gift, everything will turn out fine.
  
  
• If your list includes a family, you may opt to give them a "family gift" rather than buy individual gifts. This way, you get to save the precious MTE (money, time and effort). Charming gifts for families would be fruit/grocery baskets, wine, cake, or if you prefer non-perishable goods, board games, small kitchen appliances or home decor.
  
  
• Intimate gifts like underwear are only given to each other by lovers and married couples. This is best avoided if you don't fall under the two categories. Tip: Research on other taboo items in gift-giving for Japanese if you plan to give one a gift.
  
  
• Always check the merchandise you are buying. It is distasteful to give and to receive items that are old (unless antique), stained, faded, cracked or dirty.
  

PERSONALIZE THE GIFT

• You don't always have to buy ready-made gifts. Sometimes more meaningful gifts are those which you personally and painstakingly make and sincerely give. So sew, cook, bake, draw, make, grow, paint or write your gift! Some personalized gifts I have given to friends were a good supply of their sticker names, individually designed annual calendars with their names on it, and picture frames with their photos. In the more previous years, I would also bake tarts, cookies and squares to give to friends and relatives as Christmas gifts. Making your gifts will be less costly in terms of cash but not in terms of time and effort.
  
  
• Another way to personalize is to give the recipient an item to add to his/her collection. You will have to research though on what s/he collects. No matter what the cost of the gift is, the collector will always be delighted to receive something to add to his/her treasure. You can also be assured that your gift will be handled with utmost care.
  
  
• You can also create a special touch by giving the receiver any gift with his/her name or initials on it.
  

WRAP IT UP!

Your gift says a lot about you. If you lack the time or resources to personally make your gifts, then at least, wrap the gift yourself or supervise its wrapping. See to it that:

• the price tag has been removed,
  
• the gift is well secured and neatly wrapped,
  
• the wrap completely covers the gift,
  
• its color and design suits the occasion and the gender of the receiver,
  
• its ribbon or trimming matches the wrap, and
  
• you have included a card indicating the date, receiver's name, your greeting and your signature.
  

It is of course best to personally present the gift to the recipient along with a peck in the cheek and/or a greeting.

Happy gift giving and receiving! Merry Christmas! *