To Gift or Not to Gift?

[eselle28]

Curious what everyone else's default is when you're not sure if a friendship is close enough for a holiday gift.

My on-the-line case this year is my sponsor, who's also sort of my friend. I know she journals, and saw a really pretty one when shopping for other things. I figured it's inexpensive and small and generally in the realm of gifts that are easy to give to those not on your usual gift, so I picked it up. In some other cases, where I've wondered if the person is in gift-giving range and then also wondered what they might even want, I erred on the side of caution and laziness.

[Enail]

My immediate family are the only people I regularly do gifts with, I don't think I've had social groups that exchange gifts since high school, so I default non-gift otherwise. But I've run into a few situations where I've given someone a gift one time for some particular reason, and they clearly rush out and get something for me b/c in return they feel they have to, and then we're both doomed to eternally giving obligation gifts that I'm pretty sure neither of us actually wants because it would feel mean to break with tradition and not (nice neighbours can be dangerous! ). So I'm pretty wary of acquaintance gifts!

I know a few people who have a knack for chaotic gift-giving, the kind of thing where you give presents if you happen to see something you think a person will like and can find an appropriate holiday etc. to give it, but somehow avoiding making it into a regular, obligatory ritual with mandatory reciprocity. I don't really have that mastered, but I think that'd be my ideal, something that allows you to keep it low-pressure and sincere.

I think a journal for someone you know likes journalling is an excellent and safe choice!

[Datelessman]

I gift for my immediate family and a few close friends. It always depends on how close I am to someone and whether or not they celebrate the holiday. Quite a few in my circle don't.

[inertia]

This is a little late to the party but I am a crafty person. I make a lot of diy body care stuff and around the end of sempember/ Early October I usually start making a whole several batches of cold processed soap last year I did 5 batches which is about 65-68 bars of soap and sometime I do batches of other things... last year I made bath bombs... and If its is and I give those out as holiday presents.

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