How to Prevent the Embarrassment of Not Having a Gift
Have you ever found yourself in an unpleasant situation? An awkward gift exchange can get quite embarrassing if you are the one without a gift. You’re probably wondering how to avoid embarrassment and spare yourself from this kind of situation? Here is a list of things you can do to prevent awkward situations in the future.
Have Several Envelopes With Gift Cards
If you are someone who often forgets about special occasions like birthdays, there is a life hack that might help you evade embarrassment. During the holiday season, there are so many people that expect a gift, and it might happen that you forget someone. So what can you do to avoid awkward situations? Buy a bunch of gift cards and place them in an envelope.
This way, if something unexpected happens, you’ll be prepared. Needless to say, you will need to find universal gift cards that anyone can use. If you are wondering what universal gift cards are, we have a couple of options for you to consider.
One of the safest choices is to go for a cinema gift card, where a person receiving a gift will be able to pick the movie they like. The same thing applies to bookstores or restaurants. You can also get a gift card for the mall, where a person will be able to get something they’ll enjoy.
It is worth mentioning that you should think about the expiration date since the last thing you need is to give someone an expired gift card. Finally, if you don’t get the chance to give them to someone, you can always use them yourself.
Have Poinsettias, Herbs, or Other Potted Plants on Hand
The next idea you can use is to give someone a plant. People love plants. They are an excellent decoration, and they can be quite useful. Naturally, you won’t go around with a plant in your purse. This method works only if the party or event is held in your home. If this is not the case, you will need to check out some of the other methods.
As for the type of plants, the options are nearly limitless. For example, poinsettias are easy to find, and people love using them as holiday decorations. If you have people who love cooking in your circle, getting herbs is an excellent option. People who love cooking always need herbs, and it is both a caring and useful gift. Lastly, potted plants are something almost everyone loves, and it can be a nice gift. You can buy a few extra plants for your home, so you can give them to someone if needed.
Wrap a Couple of Gender-Specific and Couples Items
If you feel like getting a gift card is not appropriate or not enough for whatever reason, there is another solution. You can always get a couple of gender-specific items and wrap them in paper. The idea here is to find something that everyone will love regardless of age for example.
Of course, if you are the type of person who likes to re-gift something, just be sure not to give it to someone who bought it for you. As for the items you can get for women, there are a couple of options you can try.
For those thinking of clothes, scarves and shawls are always an excellent idea. Furthermore, most girls love things that smell wonderful. This means that getting scented candles, scented soaps, bubble bath soaps, and other similar things might be a perfect choice.
As for men, getting neckties, perfumes, shirts, and similar items could be a way to go. We should also mention a couple of gifts for couples. These include coffee (or tea) mugs, kitchen towels and other kitchen accessories, cheese cutters, wine, etc. Needless to say, if you buy a couple of these, you will pick the gift based on the person you’re giving it to.
Don’t Forget About Children
Getting a gift for a child is a lot easier. They are happy when they get attention, and almost anything will work as long as it’s wrapped in a pretty, shiny paper. Grab a couple of boxes and fill them with items for children. It might be useful if you are in need of a quick gift.
Among the things you can put in a box are games, a deck of cards, puzzles, stuffed animals, various toys, coloring books, crafting items, and countless other trinkets. Just be creative and think of the things you enjoyed when you were younger.
One of the things you can do is buy something nice whenever you encounter it at the store, so you don’t have to buy everything at once. Once you have enough items, just put them in a box, wrap them, and add a sticker on top of them. You can write the name later.
Give an IOU
If there is nothing you can think of, and there is nothing in your magical box of gifts, there is still one option. Give them an IOU (I owe you). If you don’t know what this is, it is an informal document showing that you will give them something later. Now, you don’t need to print a document yourself — simply acknowledging their special occasion is enough.
You also shouldn’t lie to your family member or a friend. Don’t tell them that the gift is on the way. Simply, tell them that you couldn’t bring them a gift at the moment and that they will receive it in the next couple of days. This way, you will have a bit more time to prepare yourself.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Being honest can get you far. More importantly, it will help you avoid awkward moments. If you know in advance that you won’t have any gifts, one of the options is to say it. You can tell everyone that you don’t plan on exchanging gifts with anyone other than your family members. That’s perfectly fine.
To make it fair, tell your friends that there is no need for them to buy you anything. The solution is simple, honest, and it will let everyone know that you didn’t forget about them. Naturally, no one can guarantee that you won’t get a gift. Some people love being gift-givers, and they expect nothing in return.
There is a chance that you might feel guilty for receiving a gift, but you can always make it right by getting them something in return. It doesn’t have to be the next day or week. Just keep them in mind and get them something pretty that they will love.