In our drive to be able to afford better Annex condos and fill our kids' schedules with educational and enriching activities, a lot of the old customs and traditions have fallen by the wayside. Unfortunately, the etiquette for giving and receiving gifts is one of the areas often neglected. However, there are a lot of people out there who still know and follow it, so you should do so as well or you risk offending someone. Here are the basics of gifting etiquette.

Gift Giving

When you give a gift, you should not do so with the expectation of getting anything in return. Though many modern people would never dream of filling their friends' Guelph townhouses with trinkets unless a gift exchange was agreed upon beforehand, but a gift is not about exchange. It's about giving, to show the people who are important to you that you appreciate them. So buy gifts out of good feeling, not obligation or expectation.

Gift Receiving

When you receive a gift, therefore, you should try to see it not as a practical addition to your household or happiness, but an indication that you are valued and appreciated by your mother, your friend, or your Toronto catering specialist. It is not the gift itself that is important, it is the fact that someone gave it to you. Not everyone is adept at picking suitable gifts, so be sure to express appreciation for every gift you receive, either in person by saying thank you or via a thank you note.

Returns

Exercise great caution when returning or exchanging a gift. Never ask for a receipt or for the gift to be returned, as this is a tremendous insult to someone who has just picked out outdoor wicker furniture in Toronto for you. The only possible exceptions are for clothing that does not fit or for items that are duplicates of the ones you already have. In this case, returns or exchanges are permitted, but should be done discreetly, without asking for a receipt (unless it is offered).

Re-Gifting

Re-gifting an item you have received is like slapping the gift giver in the face, and therefore should never be done. However, in modern times re-gifting has become a waste reduction strategy and is therefore gaining popularity. If you must re-gift an item such as a sludge removal gift certificate or dishware set, never re-gift to someone the original gift giver knows (and especially not the giver themselves) unless there's no possibility of it being recognized.