Just because you shelled out your hard earned cash and wrapped it up doesn’t mean it’s a gift. And something that might be a great gift on one day does not mean it is an appropriate gift for a holiday or special occasion.

For instance, a microwave or a vacuum cleaner might make a great gift for your child’s housewarming present. But giving your wife a vacuum cleaner as her big Christmas present? Not cool.

What? Your confused? You know your wife has wanted a vacuum cleaner so why can’t it be a Christmas present?
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Let me elaborate. Giving someone something practical (like the aforementioned vacuum cleaner) can actually be a really nice anytime gift or housewarming gift (or check out my ideas below to make them great even for a holiday or special occasion – …read more

Summer isn’t over yet, although the stores would have us believing that we need to break out the sweaters, the plaid, the knee high boots, the back-to-school gear. Go ahead – plan for these but stay in the present!

Whether it is a birthday, graduation, wedding, thank you gift, etc. – make sure that it is seasonally appropriate.

Summer is the season for playing outdoors, swimming and taking relaxing vacations so if you need a gift consider the person first (do they love to swim, sun, hike, bike, cook? what are their particular interests, hobbies, things that make them unique from the other people in your life?), your relationship to them (lover, parent, friend, child?), the reason for the gift (just because, birthday, milestone, thank you?) and the season in which you are giving the gift (you …read more