My friends are very dear to me. Not that a friend wouldn't be, but I have a hard time expressing my feelings and need this declaration. Part of keeping friends is also showing your affection; whether vocal, physical, or in the form of a gift.
In general, my rule of thumb for gift giving is easy: keep it simple and fast. I don't like to buy presents- I prefer to buy gift cards because it keeps with my rule. Gift cards are simple and fast. There are many from which I can choose. Also, gift cards ensure the recipient is pleased-as long as I don't get a random card to an unorthodox store. Presents take too long to think out and buy. Sure there are ways to curtail the horrendous experience that retailers set up, but gift cards are by far the easiest choice for me.
There are a few exceptions. I mean, I won't go and buy the next fad product for anyone unless it is cheap or practical. But for my close friends, I try to buy at least one thing for them in my lifetime, which is significant/representative of our friendship. It may be sentimental, it may be corny. I just want to give a gift that means something. There are a few friends for whom I would do anything, yet not buy a gift. I will constantly call the friend, or try to be around that friend. I may text that friend, or just send odd e-mails. Well, as it so happens to be, I just can't express myself correctly and would rather be around that friend. Sure I still want to have a gift for them and may even get a special card for them, but the gift part is really hard. I don't mind paying for a dinner, movie, knick-knack, etc. I want them to be happy.
Maybe I have a broken sense of friendship. I am upset with a few friends that have benefited from my "gifting" and then turn around to ignore me. I am not trying to buy their friendship; I give without strings attached. But in our friendship, I expect that friend to at least talk to me. It is as if I had paid a stranger to be my friend for the day, week, month, or even years.
These friends grow apart from me the less I spend on them. And then I begin to question if I had spoiled the relationship with money. I have a few friends that I can always count on being there for me. Wait, no, I don't. I have been that friend. But when I needed my friends the most, they just weren't there. To be fair, not all of my friends are expected to fill this expectation. A lot of my friends are like myself, in need of companionship.
I love my friends. I don't regret how things have ended with them. I do miss them. I hope they miss me too, and that we will connect again. Until that day, I will keep shopping for quirky gifts.
In general, my rule of thumb for gift giving is easy: keep it simple and fast. I don't like to buy presents- I prefer to buy gift cards because it keeps with my rule. Gift cards are simple and fast. There are many from which I can choose. Also, gift cards ensure the recipient is pleased-as long as I don't get a random card to an unorthodox store. Presents take too long to think out and buy. Sure there are ways to curtail the horrendous experience that retailers set up, but gift cards are by far the easiest choice for me.
There are a few exceptions. I mean, I won't go and buy the next fad product for anyone unless it is cheap or practical. But for my close friends, I try to buy at least one thing for them in my lifetime, which is significant/representative of our friendship. It may be sentimental, it may be corny. I just want to give a gift that means something. There are a few friends for whom I would do anything, yet not buy a gift. I will constantly call the friend, or try to be around that friend. I may text that friend, or just send odd e-mails. Well, as it so happens to be, I just can't express myself correctly and would rather be around that friend. Sure I still want to have a gift for them and may even get a special card for them, but the gift part is really hard. I don't mind paying for a dinner, movie, knick-knack, etc. I want them to be happy.
Maybe I have a broken sense of friendship. I am upset with a few friends that have benefited from my "gifting" and then turn around to ignore me. I am not trying to buy their friendship; I give without strings attached. But in our friendship, I expect that friend to at least talk to me. It is as if I had paid a stranger to be my friend for the day, week, month, or even years.
These friends grow apart from me the less I spend on them. And then I begin to question if I had spoiled the relationship with money. I have a few friends that I can always count on being there for me. Wait, no, I don't. I have been that friend. But when I needed my friends the most, they just weren't there. To be fair, not all of my friends are expected to fill this expectation. A lot of my friends are like myself, in need of companionship.
I love my friends. I don't regret how things have ended with them. I do miss them. I hope they miss me too, and that we will connect again. Until that day, I will keep shopping for quirky gifts.
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