Do you like to give and receive gifts?

It is very much energizing to know and feel that somebody thinks, cares and loves us. People use various creative ways to convey this feeling, and giving gifts could be one of those many ways.

With holiday season around eth corner, TV commercials, advertisements in the magazines, and catalogs are full of a single inherent message -“buy if you truly love, and that’s the only way to show your love”.

The Internet is flooded with articles on shopping tips and suggestions. Discussions about gifting are in full swing.

I did this exercise of talking in person or on phone with many of my friends and people at workplace about gifts and have some interesting findings. Instead of reporting them right away, let me ask you some questions about what you think about gifts. If you want to keep your opinions private let me know, otherwise you can post it directly on this blog.

I will report the findings in my next blog.
Here are the questions:

When you GIVE gifts:
1. Do you feel pressure to give?
2. Do you feel obligated to return the gift when someone gives you a gift?
3. Do you shop online for gifts? Always, Often, Sometimes, Never
4. Do you ask people (near ones) what they would like to have as a gift?
5. Do you consider other person’s tastes or do you keep a stock of some common things which you can gift to anybody?
6. Do you give a gift receipt?
7. Do you like to give gift cards or do you think they are very impersonal or lack feelings?
8. Do you give cash gifts?
9. Do you send/give greetings card?
10. What do you think about e-cards?

When you RECEIVE gifts:
1. What is your immediate reaction?
2. What do you do when you don’t like the gift or you have similar stuff?
3. Do you re-gift? Do you think its ok?
4. What type of gifts do you re-gift?
5. Do you donate gifts? Usually to whom/where?
6. Do you like when someone gives you cash? Gift card?
7. Do you like greetings cards? What do you do with them?

Any other thoughts on gifts?