Put in some effort into festive gifting

With Christmas here and New Year just round the corner, one thing you need to be on the lookout for, is gifts. From colleagues to friends, family and acquaintances, there are a wide variety of gifts that you need to buy indeed, and each purchase can loom as a question that you don’t quite have the answer to. To provide a few guidelines that’ll help you with the decision-making process, we got a few etiquette experts on board.

The very first tip the experts dished out, is to understand the likes and dislikes of the person you’re picking up a gift for taking the effort to gift something that suits his/her personality will always be appreciated. Celebrity hostess and socialite Nisha Jamvwal has a simple tip when it comes to gifting: “Either gift something that will be liked by the person, or don’t gift at all.”

Image consultant Priya Warrick tells us: “Since it is a joyous occasion, you could opt for something like a bottle of wine. Personalising it, however, is the key word here.”

Gift-wrap your goodies in red and green or even orange. Given the season, table linen, napkin holders, cushion covers and even fairy lights are a good option.

While this season calls for attending a host of parties, make sure you aren’t going empty handed. Look at bouquets and chocolates simply as a substitute, say the experts.  “Remember that your gift will speak volumes about yourself, and you do not want to go wrong with that,” says Priya. Nisha also feels like it’s time to ditch chocolates and roses. “Gifts like these have no recall value. If you are going to take the effort to gift them, you might as well choose a gift that will have a good memory attached to it,” she asserts.

When it comes to relatives, make sure that you go the extra mile. If you are aware about their personal preferences, feel free to buy them something they have been eying for a long time. When looking for gifting options, also look at their utility. Says luxury brand consultant and socialite Chhaya Momaya, “If you know them well, and for instance, know that they have a liking for philosophy books or evening bags, do not hesitate to pick it for them.”

And if you aren’t too worried about the budget, trust precious metals to do the trick. Chhaya says, “Gold coins and silver coins are your best bet. You can never go wrong with these.” Crystals are another option. However, Chhaya cautions against buying fine jewellery. She says, “Set a budget and visit the jewellery store with them. But do not gift jewellery per se. There are chances that you could go wrong with their taste.” Other no-nos include gifting something too intimate when you aren’t very close to the person. Nisha says, “Unless you know the person very well, do not gift them clothing. You could go wrong with their size, their cut and even their personal style.”

It is possible that you may be teaching your child or the little one in the family the importance of money and are in a quandary about not purchasing too extravagant a gift in consequence.

How do you do that without being labeled the “grinch”? Priya Warrick says, “If you are dealing with your child, and working with a budget, set a limit that isn’t too high. Keep your budget understated, that way he/she will know how to work within those means.”