|
It seems that gift giving season is once again upon us ... graduation announcements, new babies, marriage ceremonies, etc. Where do you draw the line among old friends, new acquaintances, business colleagues, business acquaintances, their children, their second cousin's best friend from waay back ... the list can be endless!
Are you obligated to send a present when you receive an announcement or an invitation? Do you have to include a check if you just send a card? Is it tacky to send just a card?
To all of the above, no. Someone else's occasion does not equal your obligation to provide a gift. Take into consideration your relationship with the person celebrating; if it is someone you know well, you may want to offer a special gift that you know will be appreciated and enjoyed. If it is someone you are relatively unfamiliar with (a colleague's child, for example) then responding with a card offering your best wishes and/or congratulations is more than appropriate.
For those situations where you feel a card is not quite enough but you don't know the other party well enough to select a personal gift, I recommend what I call disposable gifts -- items that are used and enjoyed, and then gone, not gathering dust on a shelf or taking up space in a drawer. Suggestions might include food items, wine, tea, specialty coffee, or gift certificates to a good restaurant.
In
the current economic crunch, most people can and will understand the
need to cut back on expenditures; if you are so inclined, perhaps slip
a lottery ticket inside your card for a fun touch!
|
