Cash is the best gift

You have likely heard someone say that when it comes to giving gifts, it is the thought that counts. This might make you reluctant to give cash because you don’t want to come off as lacking thought or intimacy.

 

The truth of the matter is that many people are terrible at shopping. Your schedule might be so busy that you don’t have time to get personalised gifts for everyone. Well, it turns out that there are a number of practical benefits of giving cash as a gift.

 

Giving Cash Allows the Receiver to Buy Something That They Really Want

 

Just about everyone you are buying a gift for is actively saving for something. They may be planning a vacation, they may need a new car, or they may have some personal needs that they don’t share with others. Write a nice card acknowledging that they are saving for something. Put the money in the card and deliver it. The receiver gets what they want, and you feel good about giving.

 

Dolly Parton told a story about a Christmas that she had missed with her family because she couldn’t afford the trip. She says that she wished someone would have given her money that year. This is just one of many examples where cash is the best gift.

 

It Is the Perfect Gift for Every Person and Every Occasion

 

Seeing a table piled high with wrapped presents topped with ribbons is exciting. Still, no one is going to be disappointed to open an envelope and see multiple $20 bills or a crisp $100 bill. Cash is never returned, it is always the right color, and it is one-size-fits-all. The Chinese have understood this for years. They have the tradition of handing out red envelopes for New Year’s or other happy occasions.

 

Giving to Family That Live Far Away

 

An individual who lives in the United Kingdom, for example, and has family in the Philippines may find it difficult to send gifts. The cost of sending the gift may be more expensive than the gift itself. And there’s no guarantee that the gift is exactly what the person wants or needs. If you have family in the Philippines, you can easily send money to the Philippines from the UK. The same principle applies for any family members living in different parts of the world.

 

Gifts Are Just Devalued Currency

 

In 2009, Joel Waldfogel wrote a book called, “Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn’t Buy Presents for the Holidays.” In his book he argues that people waste money purchasing the wrong gifts. The recipients are underwhelmed and left with things that they don’t want. If a person is not happy with the gift they receive, the thought doesn’t really count.

 

You are the best judge of what products are going to bring you joy. When you give a gift, it is likely that you are going to miss the mark. The gift actually can create tension, the receiver will pretend to love it so as not to harm the feelings of the giver but the giver will wonder why they don’t see their gift displayed or worn by the receiver.

 

And just think, if you give someone a gift they do not want, what will they do with it? It will go on eBay, Craigslist, or Amazon.com. The person selling your gift is going to receive less money than you spent on the gift. It’s better for everyone if you just give them cash directly.

 

Give Cash While Keeping the Joy of Giving a Present

 

If you still feel that giving cash seems a little cold and you want the warm fuzzies that come from giving a gift, you can combine your cash with a craft. Pinterest is full of ideas on how you can creatively give money. What’s nicer than getting a tree made of money? Or how about a chain?

 

When you think back to when you were a kid and you were with your parents or your grandparents and they gave you a few dollars to spend at the store, did you feel like they were being cold or distant? Absolutely not. In fact, getting money from grandparents is one of the best memories most people have.

 

The truth is that money is emotional. It invokes an emotional response. Think about how happy you feel walking down the street and finding a $20 bill. Think about how devastated you feel when you lose your money while on vacation.

 

Cash is and will continue to be king. It’s easy to give and allows the recipient the ability to purchase what they want, when they want. Cash is truly the best gift.