What's your style of gift-giving?
I find I don't really like it when I feel obligated to give, like for Christmas or for a birthday. I do give at these times, but only when I have something I really want to give, yk? If I just can't think of what to give a person I care about, I will wait for that "aha" moment to know exactly what to buy or make. I like the idea of giving a gift "just because," rather than for a pre-determined occasion. I find it tedious to have to browse in a gift shop to find something suitable to give a person when I could just wait for inspiration.
I am not reliable with sending cards, either. For instance, some years my parents have received Mother's Day and Father's Day cards from me and sometimes they have not. But I do try to show my appreciation for them throughout the year as I feel inspired to do so. I like to think that they understand. I hope they're not offended when I "forget" their birthdays or other special days.
I will sometimes give a gift to a friend or family member, say two months before their birthday, and say it's an early birthday present, because I don't know if I'm going to have something else to give them on their actual birthday. If they're a type (like my mom) who are devoted to tradition, I might wrap the gift and invite them to either open it now, or to save it for their special day (and it's not my fault if they don't remember!).
I also enjoy making gifts, if it's something I'm good at making and if I think my effort will be appreciated by the recipient.
In short, I enjoy giving gifts. But I'd rather give them when I feel like giving them, not because I feel obligated to do so.
ETA: I forgot about this before, but also how are you at receiving gifts? What kinds of gifts do you like to receive, and when? How do you react to a gift that you really like, versus one that you really dislike?
I find I don't really like it when I feel obligated to give, like for Christmas or for a birthday. I do give at these times, but only when I have something I really want to give, yk? If I just can't think of what to give a person I care about, I will wait for that "aha" moment to know exactly what to buy or make. I like the idea of giving a gift "just because," rather than for a pre-determined occasion. I find it tedious to have to browse in a gift shop to find something suitable to give a person when I could just wait for inspiration.
I am not reliable with sending cards, either. For instance, some years my parents have received Mother's Day and Father's Day cards from me and sometimes they have not. But I do try to show my appreciation for them throughout the year as I feel inspired to do so. I like to think that they understand. I hope they're not offended when I "forget" their birthdays or other special days.
I will sometimes give a gift to a friend or family member, say two months before their birthday, and say it's an early birthday present, because I don't know if I'm going to have something else to give them on their actual birthday. If they're a type (like my mom) who are devoted to tradition, I might wrap the gift and invite them to either open it now, or to save it for their special day (and it's not my fault if they don't remember!).
I also enjoy making gifts, if it's something I'm good at making and if I think my effort will be appreciated by the recipient.
In short, I enjoy giving gifts. But I'd rather give them when I feel like giving them, not because I feel obligated to do so.
ETA: I forgot about this before, but also how are you at receiving gifts? What kinds of gifts do you like to receive, and when? How do you react to a gift that you really like, versus one that you really dislike?