Avoiding gift-giving gaffes is tricky. Is it proper to give your boss a Christmas gift or will others interpret that as trying to curry favors with the man or woman on top? If you decide that spreading Christmas cheer with a gift is just right during the holidays, what is the right budget for bosses, colleagues and subordinates?
This article from our personal finance section says you should remember that what works for one company might not work for another. If you have just moved into a new job, be sure to ask around first.
Here are the seven other tips from that article:
1. Make a gift list and set a budget. I always go overboard on gifts and not just on Christmas Day. I just love wrapping presents so much! A gift is not a gift to me without a beautiful ribbon . There’s something about choosing, buying or making and wrapping and presenting the gift that lifts my spirit up.
2. Foodstuffs are always welcome gifts. Easier to give to both ladies and male friends and colleagues too! The most popular ones this Christmas are chocolates, so far as I can tell.
3. Go for gifts recipients can use. Personally, I like giving gifts that people will never buy for themselves but this is a good tip too for the practical side of money-smart peeps.
4. Partner with others for group gifts. Makes sense especially for bosses.
5. Homemade gifts. Definitely not for children. More for the sentimental and mature persons in the universe. Can I now claim that I go for homemade gifts? Heehee.
6. Look for the right size. Since I do a lot of walking around Makati area, I find myself declining Christmas baskets that are very heavy and difficult to lug around.
7. Cash gifts are, again, very tricky. These days, everyone gives little envelopes – from the postman to the utility boy to the messenger who goes to your house only once a year. So what’s the proper amount to put in the envelope?
Here’s a little confession. Everybody keeps saying they can’t feel Christmassy anymore. It’s like the warm, fuzzy feeling of Christmas dies when people turn 12.
Maybe, it was the Christmas caroling in Binangonan, Rizal that I joined the previous weekend that changed me. Nothing like serenading houses on the side of the road to make your heart soar! You can’t give the gift of cheer without sprinkling some on yourself – so go spend a little and give a little especially of your time and yes, always do these with a smile.
Merry Christmas!
December 21st, 2007 at 8:24 am
Hi Salve! Your quotes…
(1) It’s like the warm, fuzzy feeling of Christmas dies when people turn 12 (2) Now, I’m aching for something more expensive and a potentially cascading expense: a new home that I can call my very own… Must be my age hehe.
Salve tumatanda ka na yata! Come on, ur not too old to enjoy la vie en rose hehehe
Kidding. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone. And lemme greet Moneysmarts a happy 1st yr anniversary in advance!
It’s doing really great and hope we’ll all be blogging for many many more months to come.
December 21st, 2007 at 8:19 am
I wouldn’t dream of buying my boss a pricey gift! It should be otherwise!
One good present, I think, is to give the gift of time. Give cards that promise a specified amount of time to do something for/with that person. An example would be to promise to clean their car or take care of their kids for a weekend.