Just Because vs. Special Occasion

Post by **Zaia** » 2004-03-31 03:57pm

Do you give people gifts only on special occasions, or do you sometimes see something you know someone you love would enjoy and buy it just to show them you love them?

I'm asking because I buy (and very occasionally make) random presents for people a lot because I want to let them know I'm thinking of them (mostly for the people who live far away from me, but sometimes for my local crew too). I recently commissioned an artist to make a glass mosaic for my best friend because I think she's swell (my best friend, that is--although the artist is pretty cool too).

Some of my friends think it's a bit strange that I do this, which is why I'm asking y'all, since you're the experts on strange. I also just think it's a lovely thing to do, and I wish more people would give little presents to the people they care about. I love it myself, so that's why I do it. And it just feels so damn good to surprise people and make them smile.

Anyway, how many of you buy 'just because' presents, or do you mostly only give gifts for special days like birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's Day (bleh), Christmas, Mother's/Father's Day and such?

Zac Naloen · Post by **Zac Naloen** » 2004-03-31 04:06pm

I generally don't give things to people are gifts, if im out with a girl, she see's something she likes, but doesn't intend to buy (small piece of jewellery, that sort of thing) i'll probably buy it there and then.

Birthdays and other gift days aren't a big deal for me.

Post by **RogueIce** » 2004-03-31 04:09pm

I rarely get or give gifts...

Bertie Wooster · Post by **Bertie Wooster** » 2004-03-31 04:10pm

I have in the past, spontaniously given gifts to girls but they were almost always CDs or books I thought they should own. Like one girl I was going out with was starting to utilize me like I was her therapist so I randomly gave her "A Road Less Travelled" by M. Scott Peck, so she'd read it and stop bugging me with her existential ennui brought on by her post-materialistic sophistry she had immersed herself in. But I also get random gifts for sisters, female cousins, and female drinkin' buddies. Never guys though. I only lend stuff to guys.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-03-31 04:13pm

my hunny gets gifts whenever the mood strikes. maybe i'll pick her up some flowers on the way home today. Thanks for the heads up Z!

Larz · Post by **Larz** » 2004-03-31 04:20pm

I think its better to just occasionaly suprise people with a gift, even if its just small stuff. Special occasions are nice and all, but its almost a given that one will recieve something at those times. Its really special when one gets something right out of the blue for no apparant reason except the other was thinking of them. As for me, I don't recieve gifts. I'm quiet happy slipping under the social radar.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2004-03-31 04:23pm

Both.

Though mostly my gift giving is on Christmas or Birthday.

Usually I treat friend to a dinner or something randomly...it's all so odd.

So yeah...both

theski · Post by **theski** » 2004-03-31 04:29pm

Just because is great..... but never ever ever think that it excuses you from the Birthday/holiday/anniversary.... Just because will brighten someones day more than anything

Demiurge · Post by **Demiurge** » 2004-03-31 04:32pm

I would probably only give them on special occasions. Though there's nothing strange at all about doing so at random.

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » 2004-03-31 04:39pm

I prefer giving people the perfect thing just because. I have a hard time getting people things because I don't want to buy them useless crap for a birthday/special occasion and it's hard to find something really great on a set schedule. I just find or think of something randomly through the year. If it's close to a special occasion I might wait a little bit before giving it to them, but if it's several months to the next thing I'm not going to wait.

And also personally, I'd rather get a few well-thought out gifts just because than get a lot of useless crap on my birthday and for winter solstice celebrations (whatever you might call them).

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2004-03-31 04:45pm

If I've got the money, then I'll give gifts for the hell of it because they're good friends or because I care, most of the time, I dont have that kind of money, but I will just do things for my friends for the hell of it, take them out for ice cream or find a present I think they'll love.

Currently I'm having to sit on various presents I brought back from Hawaii because I'm not going to see my parents until June when I go home, which is very annoying as I just want to send them to them now, but I also want to see the look on their faces. If I know I've given good presents to people which they like and will use or even if it just means something to them then I'm a very happy bunny.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2004-03-31 07:38pm

I would prefer to do the "just because" thing but people get weirded out or think it's weird so if I find something on one of those just because moments I'll try to save it until an appropriate gift giving holiday.

I still ocassionally do the "just because" thing, more so with relatives than non-relatives, because they are more likely to accept it with out feeling odd or the need to reciprocate.

I would also end up blowing an awful lot of money if I bought everything that I thought some friend of mine would like.

On the other hand a lot of the time I really detest set holidays where I am expected to get someone a gift. It's not the gift giving itself it's that I have to get a gift and that there is a deadline. It's really tough when some of those holidays are all close together.

With my mom the Christmas-Birthday-Mother's Day thing can stretch my personalized and attempt at well thought out gift buying to the limit. So in those cases I often feel that I under performed in the coolness or thought that went into the gifts I got for her.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2004-03-31 09:15pm

For my friends right now I reserve myself for special occasion (more on basis of finances than anything else), although if I had a girlfriend I'd probably do more "just because" stuff for her.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-03-31 09:25pm

I don't have that kind of cash to throw around. If I did, I'd still probably reserve just-because gifts for a (hypothetical) significant other.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2004-03-31 09:31pm

I don't usually have the money for this kind of stuff. But the significant other would be getting gifts on a "just because" basis.

InnerBrat · Post by **InnerBrat** » 2004-04-01 04:00am

I love gifts and stuff 'just because', although the paranoid overanalyst in me always asks "why, again?"

I can't really afford to at the moment, though...

Dargos · Post by **Dargos** » 2004-04-01 04:58am

I get my love stuff(flowers jewlery ect.) every once and awhile just because. But not on a regular basis...if you do that, its not special anymore.

On special days, she gets a free choice whatever she freaking wants, skys the limit(well...bank account is the limit..you know what I mean)

aphexmonster · Post by **aphexmonster** » 2004-04-01 04:58am

I often give gifts to people just because

Andrew J. · Post by **Andrew J.** » 2004-04-01 07:29pm

I don't have the money to buy many gifts, nor are there many people I like enough to but gifts for anyway.

Psycho Smiley · Post by **Psycho Smiley** » 2004-04-01 09:08pm

When the situation permits, it's "just because", but I make sure not to forget "special occasion" either.