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Are homemade gifts better than store bought gifts?
Results so far:
| homemade | 64% | 1605 votes | Total: 2503 votes | |
| bought | 36% | 898 votes |
homemade
by Jonathan Victor
Created on: March 19, 2011
Homemade gifts are better than store bought gifts in a multitude of ways. First of all, with a homemade gift, there is a lot more thoughtfulness that goes into the gift. It is a personalized creation. It is also always one of a kind, or at least usually this is the case. There is a lot of free reign on expression and personalization in a homemade gift. Instead of a hefty price tag, there is a lot of time and care invested into its creation.
Store bought gifts are convenient, as well as conventional. It is what you are paying for after all. The convenience of someone else creating the gift for you. But store bought gifts sometimes can't mean as much or convey a personal level of care and attention that a homemade gift will provide. There are a lot of emotions invested in the production of something made with your own sweat, as it were.
With homemade gifts, you can work on a budget. Sometimes you might even invest more time into the materials used for the item you create than you would if you had just bought something. But again, the value in the homemade gift is not in the amount of money it costs to produce it. The cost of the item does not reflect the meaning one conveys by giving the gift.
The gift is about the thought put into its conception. You have a real chance to express a lot of emotion through a homemade gift. Homemade gifts can be simple, humble things, but you do not need a flashy item to give as a gift if the message you want to give is that you care enough about the receiver of the gift to invest your own energy into shaping and creating that gift.
Being the creator of the gifts you give means that you can decide how they are put together and arranged. They are more personal and are one of a kind items. Many people recognize how much that means. To be the only one that owns an object. To be the only one that you made that specific gift for. That in itself is an extremely meaningful thought.
A lot of people are far too busy with the grind of their daily lives to be able to invest a lot of time in personalized and handmade gifts for others. Being able to create something with your own hands and work is extremely empowering. Being able to bring a true smile to someone you give your gift to is a very pleasing moment. Homemade gifts are better than store bought gifts because you put yourself into the gift that you create.
Learn more about this author, Jonathan Victor.
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bought
by Waldon Adams
Created on: February 14, 2010 Last Updated: February 15, 2010
When shopping for a gift, I like to feel that I am bringing that one gift that the giftee will like the best, or get the most usage out of.
Unless you are a gifted artist, sculptor, or just plan artistic, making a gift can appear to be just a cheap way of saving money, and saying the giftee just isn't worth spending money on. Anyone that ranks getting a gift from me also ranks spending some time on finding out what interests they have, and what they may already have too much of. Economic times being what they are, we understand the hesitancy in buying a gift, rather then making one. In that case, if knitting a hat and scarf set cost seven dollars, and your person has lots of scarves and hats, why not give a seven dollar gift card instead.
Sometimes, even if you don't end up getting that perfect gift, they can always re wrap it and send it to someone else as a gift! Be careful though. If you buy them a hobby kit, for example, they may try to make something, and send it to you as a gift!
Making a gift limits you to those things you are able to put together, which may or may not hold any interest in whom your are giving to. Go into a department store or discount store, and you have a choice of hundreds of ideas, in different price ranges. Making a gift can appear to show that you are showing care and time in making by your own hand that speacial gift, but you are usually making something that is in your capabilities, not necessarily thinking about what your giftee would be happy with.
A made gift says "Look what I can do!". A picked out gift says "Look what I got you!"
Hand made gifts can be very beautiful, higher power inspired works of art, but for a person who for instance hoards, it can be just another piece of clutter. On the other hand, however, making things with your hands is very relaxing and satisfying for many, so giving a hobby set can be a nice gift too!
Always keep in mind why your are giving the gift in the first place. What would you want if you were in their shoes. Take some time, at least a hour or so. Go into your, or if you know what their favorite store is, their favorite store and be them for awhile, and find something you would get for yourself( as them). Swallow your pride. You may not be as great a artist, or knitter, or sculptor as you may think you are. You may have good intentions, but not good skills. Plus, you are always limited in choices, based upon what you can do, and the materials you have to purchase in order to make that perfect gift. Oh, did I say purchase! Pull out that wallet, open up your choices, and give the gift that says "look what I got you!.
Learn more about this author, Waldon Adams.
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