Inexpensive Gifts

The value of a gift lies in what it means and what it conveys to the
receiver, and not in how many dollars were spent in getting it.

Is an expensive gift more valuable than an inexpensive one?
When you are considering a gift, what do you settle for—an expensive
gift or something special that conveys a message? Does the price of the
gift really matter? The thing to remember is that gifts are meant to
convey a message that you care. They need not be expensive, but they
need to be special. There's nothing wrong with an expensive gift, but
what is much more important is a demonstration of affection and care. As
Shakespeare says in Hamlet, "Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove
unkind." An expensive gift can become "poor" and an inexpensive gift can
become "rich" depending on the way you give it. So, it is the message
that you convey rather than the value of the gift that matters more.

What happens to expensive gifts
Let's look first at what happens when you present an expensive gift. In
these days of affluence and consumerism, most people have almost all the
things they need. Unless you are thinking of something like jewelry,
there's a good chance that the item you gift is already available to the
person to whom you are giving it. In that case your item, if given, may
not be used at all.

When you gift an expensive item, the focus is more on the item than on
the act. In addition, if the expensive item that you give is not to the
taste of the person receiving it, both of you are going to be
disappointed. So whichever way you look at it, it's not the price of the
gift, but its utility to the person and the spirit in which it is given
that are more important. That seems to clearly show that the value of
the gift itself is secondary. A bunch of flowers, a kiss on the cheek or
even a good word may bring more happiness to the person than an
expensive gift.

A thoughtful gift can be richer than an expensive one
A gift that helps someone really needy and aids a charitable cause may
often come with exotic handmade items that are made in far off places.
That might be a comparatively inexpensive gift, but it does a lot of
things, especially if the gift is intended for children. It shows the
value of caring for others. And it adds a certain novelty to the exercise.

A place for expensive gifts
We must remember that there are occasions when an expensive gift is
appropriate. There are certain special occasions when the gift of
something that is really needed, though perhaps expensive, can make a
big change in the life of the person receiving it. And such a gift can
sometimes show care and concern. If you look closely, you will notice
that even in these cases, the expensiveness of the item is incidental.
What really matters is that you have recognized a need and are trying to
fulfill it.

Can you "say it" with inexpensive gifts?
The next question that arises is whether you can "say it" with
inexpensive gifts. The answer to that question in most cases is an
emphatic "yes". Not only can you say what you want to say through an
inexpensive gift, you can also fail to say it through an expensive gift.
Think of that for a moment. Look at the quote from Shakespeare at the
end of the first paragraph. You will see that an inexpensive gift can
convey the message as well as an expensive one can. It's the spirit in
which you give, and not what you give that really matters.

Considerations while selecting a gift
Here are a few things to consider when you select a gift.
Does the person really need this gift?
Will he or she value and cherish it?
Does it bring forth fond memories, a feeling of bonding or togetherness?
Does it say, "I love you, and I care"?

The answers to these questions are far more important than how expensive
the gift is. If it weren't so, neither the giver nor the receiver
deserves the gift.