Gift Giving Strategies: How to Give A Perfect and Appropriate Gift

These days gift giving can be tricky, When relatives, co-workers, or even spouses and significant others are involved, gifts cause more friction and anxiety than anything except sex and money. And these days, gifts can actually be related or connected to sex and money. So here are a few tips about how to give gifts when your heart is in the right place but awkwardness and disappointment should be avoided.

1. Avoid Sex Toys, Alcohol, or Drug references

Some people can get away with humorous references to sex or flirty lingerie as gifts. Don't try to be one of them. Skirt the issue (so to speak) and stay out of the risque departments. No naughty videos, no alcohol-laced baked items. Onlookers and co-workers will remember this forever and trade the knowledge carelessly. Yes, the human resources department will find out.

2. Check with the spouse before giving

Ever seen the look on someone''s face when they open a gift and can't hide their shock and surprise? Before any type of gift giving shindig or party, go over with the spouse who got what for whom. Your spouse or significant other may know an ugly story or family secret that makes that gift an awful reminder of something best forgotten. Never assume that the surprise won't be an unpleasant one for you. Listening to your spouse making frantic apologies is not fun.

3. Never give a gift that implies criticism

Office workers, friends, neighbors, relatives, everybody has a joke about someone's fashion, food, or lifestyle choices. But giving a gift that puts those choices into the spotlight is never appropriate. Bell bottoms, facial hair, aggressive piercings, rap music, none of these should make a joke of someone when gift opening takes place. They may put on a gracious show of amusement and enjoyment, but they'll remember it.

4. Never give an outlandishly expensive gift

This will silence everyone and make others feel as though they lost the competition. Worse, constructions will be placed on why you gave that person a much more expensive gift. None of the constructions will be good ones. Stay within monetary limits.

5. Never give something with respect to religion or race.