LIFE

Hopefully, your acting skills come into play and you’re able to appear pleasantly surprised and thrilled by this lovely pair of wool socks...or whatever the horrifically boring gift may be. If you don’t trust your instincts, always remember to say “thank you” and express how thoughtful the giver is.

But if the gift isn’t just a boring pair of socks that you’ll probably end up wearing anyway, and is instead some denim-frilly-wool creation from a department store, the giver prob attached a gift receipt just in case. More likely than not, your aunt, cousin or grandpa just wants you to have something you’ll love and couldn’t care less if you return it. There’s nothing wrong with exchanging gifts if the size isn’t right or it’s just not your taste.

What you do need to be conscious of is homemade presents. These aren’t returnable and prob required a lot of time. Even if you’re not lovin' it now, the gift may mean a lot to you one day if you hold onto it. And ya don’t have to obsess over the gift itself in your thank-you note. Just mention how much their time and effort means to you. Be sure to be thoughtful and thankful, but don’t feel obliged to wear or use something just because it was once a gift.

After all, it’s the thought that counts.

by Caroline Cassard | 2/1/2016