Gift Giving Guide for Holiday Dating

Gift Giving Guide for Holiday Dating

Gift Giving Guide
For The Stages of Dating
By Frank Kermit
 
The holiday season tends to also be a time of gift giving for many cultures. Shopping for just the perfect gift for your loved ones can be challenging enough.
 
However, what if the person you are shopping for is someone that you just started dating? 
 
Perhaps someone you are dating casually and have no plans of introducing the new love at a holiday function.
 
Perhaps it is someone you are dating in secret without any plans for it to last beyond a few weeks.
 
Perhaps you had a weekend fling with someone during the year, and although nothing serious came of it, you remember that person fondly.
 
Are there appropriate gifts for such people? 
 
There is also the dreaded circumstance of wanting to get a gift for an ex of yours, with whom you have remained friends with, or at least are civil with, for the sake of co-parenting or maintaining a social circle.
 
Gifting has the potential to be as complicated as the people and relationships we have with them.
 
So to make your holiday gift giving a little easier, here are some tips.
 
Dating someone regularly, where you see a potential future, requires some thought and planning.
 
Since this is the person you will likely bring to your holiday parties as your partner, choose a gift that serves two purposes.
 
First, it should be a gift that shows you have been listening and paying attention to what your partner has been saying.
 
Second, it would be a good idea (but not necessary) to get a gift that your partner can wear when presented to your family and friends.
 
For example, if your partner has an affinity for a particular animal, a pendant, broach, or cufflinks related to that animal that your partner could wear when meeting your friends and family may be a good gift.
 
It makes for a great conversation piece. With that in mind, it could also time to go all the way with an engagement ring (after all, it ‘tis the season).
 
Dating someone casually, or dating in secret where you will not be presenting him or her to family and friends, calls for a more social gift.
 
A gift certificate to outings that you both like to frequent usually works well for these relations.
If the two of you spend time together watching movies, then movie gift certificates or online movies to watch at home, are fine choices.
 
If you are looking for a gift idea for someone that you only shared a short-term dalliance with, keep the gift inexpensive and simple.
 
A dollar store greeting card is more than enough.  (I discourage e-cards, because they often end up in spam folders).
 
Holiday cards are also great gifts for the ex because although it is a nice gesture, it is nothing so grand that might wrongly communicate a desire to reconcile.
 
In both cases where you are no longer involved with a person, but still want to share a wish of peace, a standard greeting card is more than perfect.
 
It really is the thought that counts.
 
Just do not over think it.