One in a million

Mona

Half-a-million dollars in cash, stacked neatly in a fridge was rapper Offset’s latest birthday gift! Surprised, he tried hard to hold the bills together, as his over-indulgent wife Cardi B talked about how he already has the best of cars, shoes, jewels and what not! So half-a-million it is to get whatever he wants, and, no, Offset is getting no Christmas gift; Grammy winner Cardi has done her bit. More than that!

The gift-giving video has since garnered many hits, as Cardi secures a spot on the best-present givers. But as she mentioned in her birthday-wish video, finding the right gift for your loved ones is a tricky business, especially when one has it all.

Unique presents

Designer Tanu Vohra likes to keep it simple with her husband (and vice-versa) with electronics, iPhones, iPad, MacBook Pro, year after year — the list is endless. However, when it comes to her daughter, Tanu loves to ‘gift’ vacations. “For Ashita’s 17th birthday, I gifted a trip to Bali; her 18th was a family getaway in Kerala.” It’s the memories made together that makes the best present, she believes; only downside is that it cannot be a surprise. “With both of us working and daughter’s studies, one has to ensure that everybody clears their schedule.”

Nimisha Gupta, centre head, INIFD, feels gifting is becoming more like a routine affair. “Unlike before, gifting isn’t restricted to a special occasion, one’s travelling so much and going out so often that one is gifting all the year around.” Quiz her on her favourite present ever and pat comes the reply – Moon silver Ford Eco Sport automatic, a gift from her husband. As for her, she picks up ink pens that her husband is in love with.

Choose it right

Before buying a gift, consider two things – will it give joy to the receiver? And, two, is it personal? If the answer to the two is yes, there is plenty to choose from. Cardi going the cash way is a tradition long-standing in India and is perfectly okay as long as the receiver is younger than you.

While giving shagun, adding one rupee for luck is a well-established tradition and a perfectly acceptable norm. Going green is the current trend in gifting lanes — green plants, seeds, earthy, organic, eco-friendly options.

It’s the thought

Etiquette expert Suneeta Sodhi Kanga offers some tips, “Think personal, gifting a diabetic a box of chocolates makes little sense, as the receiver wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. Similarly, a bottle of wine is of no use to a teetotaller.”

• Give little or more, but ensure good quality. Wrapping is as important as what is inside.
• Principle of reciprocity demands that the receiver also returns something of equal value. So don’t gift very expensive stuff in professional circle.
• In corporate-gifting, stick to something that could be used in office only -folders.
• For men while the standard remains cuff-links, ties and wallets; one can keep in mind their hobbies and choose accordingly.

mona@tribunemail.com