Giving a gift

I also give gift cards or gift albums (contains a variety of items in a catalog format). I also like to listen to people why out shopping, and really like remembering something that my wife has said she likes, then wait to purchase for a few months, its like she forgot she even said she liked it, and it is a great surprise.

That was probably one in a million times that would happen. We have a rule in our family that whenever it is a few months out from Christmas or couple months for birthdays, we cannot purchase anything for ourselves, that way, we don't end up taking someones gift idea.

Ya I only ran into a problem once and that was last christmas. My mother in law had mentioned that her dvd player had broken so we purchased another one for her and her husband. About a week after we got it my brother in law came over and said that the father called him when he was in town and asked him to pick up this dvd/vcr combo for them and he did. Ok no problem I thought we can always use an extra dvd player. LOL. So then my mother in law mentioned something else she wanted to get for herself and I thought awesome problem solved and we were on our way to get it and she called us on the cell and said she was all excited because she had ordered this item and it was in! At least we hadn't picked that one up yet I thought. LOL Finally we gave up listening to her and just bought something for her, and what does she do? Asks if we kept the receipt cause she would have rather had the cash!!! I was a little upset, and honestly had no idea where the receipt was but said I would look. LOL

I also try to buy a gift that will be useful for the person I am giving it to. I do not like to buy a gift, just for the sake of being able to give that person an item, but I do hope that my gift will get used and not another thing that collects dust. If that is what happens, so be it, but I really strive to give a gift that will get use.

I agree. It is like a loan.

That would be a little awkward, especially if you opened it up infront of your cousin's stepmother. I also like to give cash (actually like to receive it more!) because it allows that person to buy something they want and will use for sure, since they are buying it.

I too sometimes feel the other person will think I am cheap by giving them a financial gift of $20 or so. Most of the time I end of giving $50 and with the maximum of being $100 (if for a couple).

I agree completely. I believe once a gift is given, it should not matter from that time on, what that person does with it. If we give a gift, but want control over parts of it or how it is used, then we are really just letting someone borrow.