There’s more than one way to skin a cat. And in the grand tradition of bestowing gifts onto others, there’s more than one way to show that you really care about them. The problem is, many of us fall into the misguided notion of thinking that the more expensive an item is, the more value it has. Some of us tend to think that it’s enough that the gift is flashy and trendy and forget the about the fleeting value of such objects.
Some people may be easy to impress this way, but what good is a gift unless it holds some level of personal or sentimental value? Without some sort of thoughtful touch, the gift really becomes nothing more than an object. In the end, if you want to gift that matter, dig deeper, and add a special touch that will say more than the price tag ever will.
Let’s look at the flashiest of gifts, which are almost entirely concentrated in the world of high tech goods. A men’s sport watch just doesn’t have the same meaning anymore as a gaming station, a Blu-Ray disc player, or mammoth flat panel television.
So, when you buy him that new digital book reader, be sure to also include a couple copies of works from his favorite authors of all time. Or, when you take the bow off the plasma TV, hand him also a free gift certificate to the Cineplex, so that he can appreciate what a movie really is with you, on ‘date night’.
Another up and coming market is targeted toward new mothers, who want to shower their children with only top of the line items. Plastic baby bath tubs and mobiles, as practical as they are, just don’t hold a shine among other treasures like cashmere baby blankets or designer clothes.
So, along with that new crib, consider adding something a little extra to keep the little one warm (monogrammed cashmere booties, perhaps)? Or if you’re going to wrap a top of the line stroller, slip in something that seems considerate of the mother. On the days she takes her baby out for a park stroll, maybe you could give her a hardback edition of her favorite classic novel. It’s a thoughtful gesture that says that the mother is important too, in her new lifestyle change.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to infuse meaning into a gift so that the initial flash factor of the item is not all that reels a person in. There are ways to personalize your act of altruism so that the recipient feels as if you took your time in packaging his or her gift. Money buys some things, for sure, but there is no price on effort and thoughtfulness.
