The Unique Gift Spot

The 3 Gift Christmas Rule – How and Why to do it Have you heard about the  3 gift Christmas rule ?  Your kids only get three gifts chosen from three different categories.  Here are the 3 categories that we use in our home. One of the toughest struggles as a parent is to give my children a joy-filled Christmas. To me, that somehow translates to giving them the gifts that they want in hopes that presents will make them happy. With the rocketing prices of products every year and the massive marketing initiatives that are bombarding our children at every turn, the struggle to not bankrupt the family finances on Christmas presents is real. As with most financial matters in life, learning  how to budget  is key. Once you set a  Christmas budget  and stick to it, you’ll be able to sleep soundly that two goals have been met. You’ll have made selective, smart decisions for happy children and a happy checkbook. Here are some str...

The Most Graceful Way to Give Gifts There are a few things you should know about gifting.  Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Points to your friend for sending a thank-you note at all! Demerits for sending it to the wrong person. Perhaps the gift giver was someone at the party with the same name as yours—or maybe it was the kind of present that you would be most likely to give. Regardless, don’t fret. Simply ping your friend a text or e-mail: “If only I’d sent you the gift you love so much! But, alas, I think I got a thank-you note intended for someone else. I wish I could have been there to celebrate with you.” And as a bonus good deed, remind your friend what she thanked you for, so she doesn’t have to struggle to figure out which gift still needs acknowledgment. My son received an invitation for a classmate’s birthday party. Ho...

The Etiquette of Gift-Giving in Business Choosing a gift for your colleagues and clients during the holiday season can be a challenging task. It is not always easy to come up with the perfect present while following business gift protocol. Whether you head for the mall, haul out those holiday catalogs or go online, the following tips should guide you to a gift that will be appropriate, appreciated and remembered for all the right reasons. Follow the corporate guidelines. Some companies have strict policies about what kinds of gifts, if any, their employees may receive.  If you have any doubt, ask your clients or check with their Human Resources department. Consider your client’s interests. Find out what sports, hobbies or pastimes your clients enjoy.  Perhaps your client has a favorite food or beverage. If you can’t determine this on your own, contact an assistant or associate. Make your gift stand out just as you want your company to stand out. Consider the ...

Etiquette Guidelines for Gift-Giving Introduction Giving and receiving gifts is one of the most pleasurable pursuits connected with any special occasion. We all have fond memories of Christmases, birthdays, or other celebrations when we have exchanged gifts. We have loved that special feeling when we received something truly special, or someone we cared about obviously loved a present we gave them. There are also those moments, however, when a gift fell flat or we gave or received something totally inappropriate. The etiquette rules in this article will help you avoid gift-giving mistakes and choose presents that everyone will appreciate. Office Gifts Some offices forbid any gift exchanges at all in order to avoid potential problems. If this is your company's policy, you ignore it at your peril. In general, this means that your boss can give you a small token of his appreciation, but peers cannot have a gift exchange and you are not supposed to give a gift to yo...