Appropriate Presents – Part 3In parts 1 and 2 of Appropriate Presents, we looked at what to get your main squeeze. In Part 3, we’ll look at what to get your partner’s family. It can be daunting to buy a Christmas present for someone you don’t know well. Likewise, a Hannukah gift for a business associate can be a rankling endeavor. But nothing can spin your gift-giving wheels like having to buy a present for your significant other’s family. What to get their mother? Their pretty as a princess niece? Their creepy uncle Mort? Here’s how to get presents for the family Vanilla The first piece of advice is to tread carefully. When it comes to any etiquette presents (and that’s what presents to the family are – presents that you are given for etiquette’s sake) the idea is to present something inoffensive and mildly exciting. You are not looking to blow anyone’s mind. Neither emotionally (no “I truly love your daughter” poems) or financially (no jewelry). The point of this present is to make manifest the appreciation you feel for their hosting a holiday get-together… they are hosting a holiday get-together, right? Because if they are not, then all you should be looking to give is a card. Good presents here are bottles of wine, small gift certificates and kitchen ware. Stay away from things like books, tickets or movies as there truly is no accounting for taste. A bottle of wine is different as it can be brought by the recipient to a party or drank on its own. Make sure to keep the purchase total low as you don’t want anyone feeling guilty for not getting you anything extravagant… not too guilty anyways. Money for Kids Give cash to kids. $10 – $20 is fine. And don’t fall into the trap of being “creative” with it – no games which unlock the money or stream of one dollar bills – just give the kid dough in a card and be done with it. Charity A charitable donation can be a great family present. Not only is it in true keeping with the spirit of the holidays, you can cover the whole family in one fail swoop. Particularly for big families, finding a charity which you support and making a modest donation in their name covers a lot of bases. From it being cost effective to it being in keeping with the holiday spirit – a donation to a charity in the name of a family can be the perfect present. |
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