speech for giving a gift

What Are The Best Phrases To Say When Giving A Gift? Discover 50 Amazing Phrases For Any Occasions

You have found the perfect gift, beautifully packaged it, and all you have to do is give it to your recipient. But you're lost for words and don't know what to say? Here's you'll find the best phrases to say when giving a gift.

What phrases you can use when giving a gift depends on the occasion and your relationship with the recipient. There are many unique expressions to say, from funny gift-giving phrases on Christmas to more elegant words on weddings. But the most important thing is always to be sincere.

Below I listed 50 of the best-of-the-best heartfelt phrases on different occasions you can say when giving a gift! But first, let's find out the general rules that will help make your gift-giving speech genuinely thoughtful.

5 Basic Rules Of Successful Phrases When Giving A Gift

1. emphasize how much the recipient means to you.

First and foremost, always remember that everything you say should be for the recipient and about the recipient.

It sounds obvious, but, in fact, when giving a gift, people unconsciously shift the focus from the recipient to themselves.

We all fall into this trap from time to time, but not because we want to show the recipient how much time and effort we’ve put into finding the perfect gift. The reason is simple - all our wishes just slip our mind as soon as we hand a present to our recipient.

So the next time you give a gift and feel stuck trying to find the right words, take a deep breath and just say how much the recipient means to you. Emphasize how you appreciate their love, friendship, care, or support. Such sincere words are like one more gift from you.

2. Be Sincere In Your Wishes To The Recipient

You don't need to make up something extraordinary if you want your gift-giving experience to be meaningful to your recipient.

It is quite easy to express your love, care, and respect - just tell about your feelings.

I believe that sincerity makes key to a successful and enjoyable giving of gifts.

Indeed, nothing but heartfelt, kind words can melt the recipient's heart and make the gift-giving experience truly remarkable and unforgettable.

And no matter if you’re giving a gift to your better half, a best friend, or a respected colleague, I'm sure your recipient will highly appreciate your sincere words. Hearty wishes will undoubtedly touch your recipient to the core and stir up strong emotions, whether childlike delight or tears of joy.

3. Don’t Apologize For Your Gift

"I couldn't spend very much!", "I'm not sure if you like it," "This gift is so small."

Are these phrases familiar to you?

I'm almost 100% sure that nearly everyone made such excuses at least once in their life when giving a gift.

And such phrases are something you should never say to the recipient. No matter how small or inexpensive your gift is, you don’t need to feel uncomfortable or even guilty of not being able to afford something better.

If you make your present thoughtful, its size and cost don't play any role, so there are no reasons for excuses. Moreover, I don't even doubt that your recipient will appreciate anything you give them. So when giving a gift, be confident and positive!

4. Don't Focus On The Money Aspect Of A Gift

A little below, I will provide you with the best phrases to say when giving a gift, but for now, you just need to remember six words you never should mention to the recipient - "This gift will save you money."

The new study on consumers’ response to gifts found that people negatively react to gifts given to them with the intention of saving money.

Such wording might make the recipient feel offended and perceive your gift as a slight rather than a compliment.

But it doesn't mean you can't give your dear ones gifts intended to help them save some money while they are having financial difficulties. When giving a gift, you just have to highlight other benefits of your present that aren't about money so that no one will feel uncomfortable.

5. Use The Right Tone When Giving A Gift

Last but not least, a correctly chosen tone for gift-giving makes all the difference.

So if you want your gift to be well-received, consider the occasion's level of formality and closeness of your relationship with the recipient.

In informal situations, like giving a gift to your beloved one, family, or good friends, you can use a casual, friendly tone with a touch of humor. And even if you lack words, a warm hug is also a suitable option.

But in more formal situations, like congratulating your boss, colleagues, or just someone you don't know well, such a casual tone might be perceived as inappropriate, if not impolite. In this case, your speech needs to be more conservative and respectful.

I hope these tips on how to make your gift-giving speech successful were helpful. And to find out what exactly phrases you can say when giving a gift, read on! I have a lot of useful and valuable information for you.

50 Remarkable Phrases To Say When Giving A Gift (For Different Occasions)

If you are here, you probably wonder how to find the right words to express your love, care, and respect to your recipient when giving them a gift.

I know, sometimes it can be pretty challenging to choose the best phrase, but no worry, I prepared expressions that will make your gift-giving speech thoughtful and memorable.

Whether it's a birthday, job promotion, or wedding, below you will find the perfect gift-giving phrases on nearly any occasion.

Great Gift-Giving Phrases To Say On Birthday

Hold out your hands and close your eyes! I hope this small gift will make your birthday even more joyful and brighter!

Best wishes! I have something special for you on this special day, and I hope you like it. Enjoy this gift!

I wish you all the best and give you this little present which I'm sure will bring you unutterable joy! Happy Birthday!

On this special day, I want to give you a gift that will come in handy for you. And I hope this useful present will please you with its benefits for years to come!

It's hard to find the right words, so I just want to give you a warm hug and, of course, this amazing present. Enjoy your birthday and my gift!

Heartfelt Gift-Giving Phrases On Anniversary

This gift, of course, can't express all my feelings to you, but I hope it becomes a little reminder of my love. Happy anniversary!

I want to give you this gift as a token of my gratitude for all the happy days together. Happy anniversary, my sweetheart!

Guess what I have for you? - All my love and this cute gift that I'm sure will please you!

I wish you another year of true love and give you this wonderful gift that will hopefully add brightness and joy to your life!

Happy anniversary! Here's a little present for you that I hope will add vivid colors to your memories of today's celebration.

Romantic Gift-Giving Phrases To Impress Your Loved One On Valentine's Day

I could move mountains for you, but I think this gift will express my sincere feelings to you much better. Happy Valentine’s Day, my love!

I'm so happy that you're My Valentine! Take all my love and this thoughtful gift on this beautiful occasion!

On this romantic day, I want to give you a gift that will always remind you of my love. So take care of it, as you take care of my heart!

No words can't express my everlasting love, so I hope that this gift will become to you a delightful reminder of my sincere feelings. Happy Valentine's Day!

I got you something special! And although my gift is quite small, I hope it will always remind you that my love for you is huge. Happy Valentine’s Day, honey!

Elegant Phrases For A Wedding Gift-Giving Speech

May the years ahead be filled with great joy and happiness! And I hope this gift will help you with it! Best wishes!

Heartfelt congratulations to the best couple ever! I hope this gift will be able to express how happy I'm for both of you!

Congratulations on your wedding! Here's a little something to start your happy life together. Enjoy!

My gift can't make this day even more special, but I hope it will bring you lasting joy! Wishing you the best!

I have a little something for you! I hope you will not only like this gift but will use it in your new life together!

Excellent Phrases To Say When Giving A Housewarming Gift

Congrats on the move! I have for you a small present that I'm sure will add brightness and cheerfulness to your new home!

Congratulations on your new place! I hope this nice gift will make your new family nest a bit comfier!

Here's something useful for you! I hope my gift can help make your new home more cozy and comfy!

May your new home be filled with joy and coziness! And this great gift will definitely help you with this!

Your new home is almost perfect! To be completely perfect, it just needs my gift! I'm sure this cute gift will turn your new place into a truly "home, sweet home."

Nice Gift-Giving Phrases On Job Promotion

Congratulations on your job promotion! I hope this gift will help you keep all your career goals in focus!

Congratulations on your well-deserved promotion! Here's a small gift to celebrate your big success! I hope you enjoy it!

Nice work! I'd like to give you this special present that I hope will motivate you on new achievements!

Congrats, you deserved this great promotion! And definitely deserved this exceptional gift on this remarkable occasion!

Your promotion will bring you new challenges and opportunities, and my gift will bring you pure pleasure and joy! Enjoy!

Best Phrases To Say When Giving A Graduation Gift

Congrats on your successful graduation. Here's a little gift to celebrate your outstanding achievement! I hope you enjoy it!

Congratulations on your graduation! I want to give you this gift that will be a wonderful reminder of this important milestone for years to come!

Congratulations on your graduation day! I hope this great gift will perfectly emphasize the importance of this occasion!

Best wishes, grad! I have a useful gift for you that will undoubtedly come in handy at a new stage of your adult life!

Congrats, grad! I got you something great to celebrate your brilliant success! I hope you like my gift!

Touching Phrases To Say When Giving A “Just Because” Gift

I know life has been a little challenging lately, but I thought this small gift would be able to brighten up your day!

For no special occasion, and nothing special to say, but I hope this little something makes you smile today!

You’re in my thoughts today. Here's a small gift just to remind you that you're in my heart forever!

Look what I have for you on this beautiful day! When I saw this, it made me think of you, and I couldn't resist! I hope you like this lovely gift!

I was thinking of you all day and understood that I just want to remind you how special you are. I hope this cute present will make you feel that way.

Funny Gift-Giving Phrases On Christmas

I know you're on Santa's naughty list, but you're on my nice list! So here's a gift for you! Merry Christmas!

Ho-ho-ho! Ok, I'm not a Santa. But I also have a gift for you! I'm sure this present will cause you a childlike delight!

Santa told me in secret that you’d been very good this year! So you deserved this fantastic gift! Enjoy!

Santa came to me today and asked me to give you this gift. I don't know what's inside, but I hope you like it!

I secretly stole in Santa your wish list for this Christmas to make you this wonderful gift. I risked my life for this, so you better say you liked it!

Cute Gift-Giving Phrases On Baby Shower

Warmest wishes to you and your baby! I hope this modest gift will come in handy in your new parenting life!

So happy to share with you this special day! Here's a little something to help you gear up for your baby.

Best wishes to your beautiful family! Are you ready to be ‘shower’ with a few lovely things for a baby?

Welcome to parenthood! Here's a useful gift that hopefully will make your day-to-day a little easier and calmer.

A baby is a gift from heaven above! My gift for you is more down-to-earth, but I think you’re going to like it!

Now that you know all these phrases, I hope you will never again feel stuck when you give a gift. I'm sure, thanks to these great phrases, your present will always be well-received!

About the Author

Hi! I'm Yasia, founder of giftideaspace.com . I’m passionate about gift-giving, and I’m here to help you choose perfect gifts for your loved ones. I will always provide you with the best possible gift ideas and explain, based on statistics, scientific studies, and my own experience, why one or another gift is the best option to surprise your recipient.

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Speech on Joy Of Giving

Imagine a world where kindness is a currency. You, too, could contribute by embracing the joy of giving.

The act of giving doesn’t merely involve physical gifts. It’s about sharing love, time, and care with others. Let’s explore this beautiful concept together.

1-minute Speech on Joy Of Giving

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today I am here to talk about the joy of giving. You may ask, “What is this joy?” It is a special feeling we get when we share what we have with others. It could be a toy, a piece of cake, or even a helping hand.

Let’s think about a time we gave someone a gift. Remember the smile on their face? That’s the joy of giving. It feels amazing to make someone else happy. And guess what? This joy doesn’t cost much. Often, it’s free.

The joy of giving is also about sharing our time, love, and care. Have you ever helped a friend with homework? Or spent time with a lonely person? If yes, then you have felt this joy. It’s a warm, fuzzy feeling inside your heart.

In the end, the joy of giving is not just about sharing things. It’s about sharing happiness. It’s about making the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time. So, let’s embrace this joy. Let’s be kind, generous, and loving. Let’s make someone’s day brighter. Because when we give, we receive much more in return.

2-minute Speech on Joy Of Giving

Hello everyone!

Today, I’d like to talk about a topic that is close to my heart, “The Joy of Giving”. Giving doesn’t only mean gifts or money, it can be time, kindness, or even a smile. When we give, we share a piece of ourselves with others, and this can bring us great happiness.

Firstly, let’s imagine a world where everyone gives. A world where no one is too busy to help someone in need. A world where we all share our time, our talents, and our resources to make the world a better place. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful place to live? That is the power of giving. It has the ability to transform not only the receiver’s life but also the giver’s.

Secondly, giving makes us feel good. Have you ever seen the smile on someone’s face when you offer them a helping hand? Or the spark in their eyes when you share your favorite toy with them? It’s a feeling of pure joy that can’t be matched. It’s an unspoken bond that ties us together, reminding us that we are all part of a bigger family, the human family.

Thirdly, giving teaches us valuable lessons. It shows us that we can make a difference in the world, no matter how small our actions may seem. It teaches us to be kind, to be generous, and to care for others. These lessons are not taught in textbooks, but they are some of the most important lessons we can learn in life.

Lastly, let’s remember that giving is not about how much we give, but how much love we put into giving. It’s not about giving away everything we have, but about sharing what we can, with love and kindness. The joy of giving is not measured by the size of our gift, but by the warmth it brings to someone’s life.

In conclusion, giving is a joy, a privilege, and a responsibility. It’s a way to show our love, to make the world a better place, and to bring happiness to others. So, let’s all embrace the joy of giving. Let’s make it a part of our daily lives. Because in the end, it’s not about what we have in life, but who we have in our life. And the more we give, the more we have.

10 Heartfelt Gift Messages to Inspire Your Gift-Giving

Posted on February 9th, 2024.

When it comes to expressing love and appreciation, a heartfelt gift message can make all the difference. Whether it's for a birthday, anniversary, or just to brighten someone's day, finding the perfect words can sometimes be a challenge.

We understand the importance of meaningful gestures, which is why we've curated this list of 10 heartfelt gift messages to inspire your gift-giving journey.

Heartfelt Gift Messages to Inspire Your Gift-Giving

1. warm wishes for every occasion.

No matter the occasion, a warm and heartfelt message can turn an ordinary gift into something extraordinary. Whether you're celebrating a milestone birthday or simply want to show someone you care, a thoughtful message can convey your feelings in a way that words alone cannot.

"May this gift bring as much joy to your life as you bring to mine every day. Here's to celebrating you and all that you are."

2. Messages of Appreciation and Gratitude

Expressing gratitude is a timeless gesture that never goes out of style. Whether you're thanking a friend for their unwavering support or showing appreciation to a loved one for their kindness, a heartfelt message can convey your gratitude in a meaningful way.

"Thank you for being the light in my life. Your kindness and generosity never go unnoticed. This gift is just a small token of my appreciation for all that you do."

3. Words of Encouragement and Support

In times of need, a few words of encouragement can make all the difference. Whether it's a difficult time or just a challenging day, a thoughtful message can provide the strength and support needed to persevere through life's obstacles.

"In the midst of challenges, know that you are never alone. You are stronger than you realize, and I believe in you wholeheartedly. This gift is a reminder of your resilience and the bright future that lies ahead."

4. Celebrating Love and Romance

There's nothing quite like the feeling of being in love, and a heartfelt message can help capture that sentiment perfectly. Whether you're celebrating a new relationship or reaffirming your love for a long-term partner, a romantic message can set the mood for a memorable occasion.

"To my dearest [partner's name], with every beat of my heart, I love you more. May this gift serve as a symbol of my eternal love and devotion to you."

5. Messages of Friendship and Camaraderie

Friends are the family we choose for ourselves, and a heartfelt message can strengthen those bonds even further. Whether you're reminiscing about old memories or looking forward to creating new ones, a thoughtful message can convey the depth of your friendship in a meaningful way.

"Friendship like ours is rare and precious. Thank you for always being there through thick and thin. Here's to many more laughs, adventures, and unforgettable moments together."

6. Inspiring Messages of Hope and Resilience

In challenging times, a message of hope can provide the strength needed to keep going. Whether you're facing adversity or simply need a reminder to stay positive, an inspiring message can uplift your spirits and renew your determination to overcome any obstacle.

"Even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope. Keep your head held high, for better days are ahead. This gift is a reminder that brighter days are on the horizon."

7. Messages of Celebration and Joy

Life is full of moments worth celebrating, and a heartfelt message can make those occasions even more special. Whether you're toasting to a new job, a new home, or simply another year of friendship, a joyful message can set the tone for a memorable celebration.

"Cheers to you and all that you've accomplished! Your hard work and dedication deserve to be celebrated. Here's to your success and many more milestones to come."

8. Expressing Sympathy and Comfort

During difficult times, a message of sympathy can provide much-needed comfort and solace. Whether you're offering condolences for a loss or simply want to let someone know you're thinking of them, a heartfelt message can convey your support in a meaningful way.

"During this difficult time, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. May this gift offer you some comfort and solace during this challenging period."

9. Messages of Inspiration and Motivation

When faced with challenges, a message of inspiration can provide the motivation needed to keep going. Whether you're pursuing a personal goal or striving for professional success, an uplifting message can remind you of your strength and resilience.

"Never underestimate the power within you to achieve your dreams. You are capable of greatness, and I have no doubt that you will succeed. This gift is a token of my unwavering belief in you."

10. Customizing Your Gift Messages

While these gift messages serve as inspiration, don't hesitate to personalize them to suit the recipient and the occasion. Adding a personal touch can make your gift even more meaningful and memorable, showing the recipient just how much they mean to you.

"While these gift messages serve as inspiration, feel free to personalize them to suit the recipient and the occasion. Adding your personal touch can make your gift even more meaningful and memorable, showing the recipient just how much they mean to you."

In conclusion, a heartfelt gift message can transform an ordinary gift into a cherished keepsake that will be treasured for years to come. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply want to brighten someone's day, the right words can make all the difference.

At Tom's Chocolates , we believe in the power of meaningful gestures, and we're here to help you find the perfect gift for any occasion. Reach out to us at 310-463-2140 or via email at [email protected] to learn more about our exquisite chocolate offerings .

Posted on September 13, 2024

When it comes to giving gifts, chocolate is always a crowd-pleaser. Not only is it delicious, but it also has a way of making people feel special and loved. And what better way to elevate a simple box of chocolates than by presentin…

When it comes to satisfying a sweet tooth, chocolate is often the go-to treat for many people. But with so many options available, how do you choose the best bon bons to satisfy your cravings?

In this article, we will explore the w…

Posted on August 11, 2024.

Indulging in a piece of chocolate is an experience that goes beyond simply satisfying your taste buds. It involves relishing every moment and appreciating the intricate combination of flavors and textures. To truly savor these qualities,…

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Reach out to Tom if you're looking to craft something unique for your company or a special gift. For large orders, we offer discounts, customize chocolate boxes, and personalize each order to meet your needs. If you have any questions about our chocolates, flavors, or processes, feel free to ask.

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What To Say When Giving A Gift? [11 Good Phrases]

You do care for others and do gift a lot to your friends, family, and close ones but you are stuck or confused about what to say when giving a gift .

I gotcha ya!

You are in a perfect place. In this, we will be going through some beautiful and relateable phrases and saying that you can probably use when you are giving a gift.

So, without any further ado let’s dive in.

Use these links to jump ahead:

A gift that will surely leave behind beautiful memories

A special present that you were eagerly waiting for, i cannot be with you all the time but this gift will definitely be, this gift will surely give you an amazing experience, i never disappoint anyone and you are special to me, please take this, this will surely bring a smile to your face, not big enough as others but a sweet and small gift, your efforts and performance should be rewarded, please accept this gift, your knowledge and expertise brought us here, a good-matched gift for you, a motivating gift for the most honest & punctual employee, this gift will let you know how important you are to a business, talk about the gift, talk about a special moment/event, talk about the reason, talk about the experience, talk about your own situation, final words, what to say when giving a gift (friendly phrases).

One of the most decent and attachable statements you can say.

And such sayings are perfect when you know the gift is really special and the receiver will surely connect it to past events.

When you know your friends, family, or colleagues very closely and you knew about one specific thing which keeps an important position in their life and presenting it in a beautiful gift manner is truly an adorable and kind gesture.

Once again, do keep an eye on the intentions of every statement, like this one – ‘A special present that you….. ‘

Now, when you notice, you are already creating an excitement level for the receiver and you are connecting to the past talks and events.

By this kind of saying, one thing which the receiver will definitely like is that you knew about him/her deeply on exactly what thing can actually make them happy or what they need currently.

What an amazing and beautiful gift phrase that you can surely and should pass on.

A sweet way to make the receiver realize how much you care for him/her and you know that your slight even presence will definitely puts a positive impact on their life.

Remember, by saying such a statement you need to be well aware that what you are gifting to others.

Gifts like a wristwatch and or a necklace all these wearable items do tend to be with a person for long hours in the day.

Be thoughtful in selecting a gift and then do surely pass this good gift saying.

45 Phrases Ideas To Say When You Like a Gift

Gifts giving experience and happy people

Now, you can definitely talk about the gift a bit while giving but in one or two feature words like we used in this statement- ‘Experience’.

We all know and we can surely agree on to this gift can be anything but giving a gift which brings upon an additional value and impact onto’s other life is always a good fit option.

Telling something like – ‘It will give you an experience’ you are on a straight point indicating that will give the receiver some good moments to remember in his or her life period.

Now, experience gifts can be anything like giving tickets for skydiving, go-karting, and other stuff.

All such activities will leave behind a joyful memory.

This short sentence exactly tells the receiver that you know about their expectations.

Also, you are stating that you are very much well aware of which things the receiver does require on the priority list and this will definitely make their day.

The next thing you probably consider is what to say when giving a gift to someone.

Do have a small attention over this sentence and just have a look at how small phrases can be said that play a positive role.

Now, this phrase is surely talking about time and overall care that you have for a person.

When you are starting such statements like -‘It will bring a smile on your face.

Make sure that your gift will do the job.

One short tip over here, gifting should always be done what others would like and not what we like to give.

When you think that you are in an awkward situation or in a situation where you don’t know how to react where the party or event is big (on a large scale).

Where all other guests are already coming up with a box wrapped in a huge size.

And you are shy to present your gift to your friend,

Do remember, there are no such things of size whether it should look big or small.

Anything which is given by heart will surely make a place in the receiver’s life.

But anyhow, if you still feel the same, you can definitely pass on this sentence.

What To Say When Giving A Gift (For Corporate Boss & Colleagues)

What to say when giving a gift to your corporate employees

In this informal gift phrase, you are trying to appreciate your employee’s hard work and all the efforts they have been putting into the organization’s success. For optimal growth, it is as important to reward your employees and appreciate their performance.

Employee gifts and appraisals will be a good idea to match this situation.

Giving a gift by recognizing someone’s efforts and complete dedication toward work is the perfect way to present gifts to corporate employees.

If you notice well, in this statement we do try to acknowledge employees’ overall ability and their skill sets.

Employees’ knowledge, skills, and expertise can bring new heights in organizational success.

In almost every organization, employees primarily need recognization and praise for their good performance.

Presenting gifts with such praising and recognizing phrases is one more good fit criterion.

Attributing employees with their personal corporate characteristics in front of the whole team is the best gesture you can probably consider.

In this, we are mentioning – ‘A motivating gift….’

Do make sure that the gift has some element that will drive motivation onto’s employee side.

Sometimes a gift will not make a big impact but what you are saying while giving a gift will definitely be remembered by the employees.

What a solid way to catch and probably win your employee’s heart.

Find the exact match gift for this sentence to use which will surely make your employee have that deep realization that they are vital and key players in the organization.

Businesses do evolve around their internal employees and timely events where you can recognize, and appraise them with such beautiful gifts and phrases is really important for any organization cycle.

Things To Talk About When Giving A Gift

In many situations, you can no doubt and straight forward in a sentence or two can mention the gift in an indirect manner,

So, that the actual suspense and excitement level still remains the same for the receiver.

Mentioning things like how important the gift will be, how attached they will feel to this gift and other memorable stuff.

We do surely give a gift to make others happy and which probably will bring a cute smile on their face.

But you can also talk about some special incidents that happened in your life where the receiver of the gift played an important role.

You can shortly state about the sweet memories and time that you have together.

All such things with a matchable gift are a perfect way to present your gifts.

Sometimes the purpose of giving a gift can be slightly serious and worth mentioning the reason.

Hence, hands down and especially when you know the other person is closely attached to you and is very important to you.

And you consider them as your lifeline,

Therefore, a short describing of the reason and for which reason specifically you are giving them will make them realize that you truly value them and care for them.

You can also mention the things which they can get from the things and how this particular gift will be worth remembering for life long.

List no.4 in this post I had mentioned earlier before also talks about the experience.

Similarly, when you are confident enough that are passing such experience gifts then talking about such a small joy journey will intentionally increase excitement levels in the receiver of this gift.

Now, this is not a silly reason or escapism. But sometimes, people are in a rush.

With all the hectic work schedules, business meetings, or school/college timings,

People are lethargic to shop for a beautiful gift.

In such a case, you surely mention your situation and let the receiver know that due to lack of timing, you didn’t manage to get a proper gift but still somehow you did manage to bring something that will make their day.

That’s it from the post and I hope this gives you a detailed idea of what to say when giving a gift.

Different situations do require different phrases and from the listed ideas you can pretty much be well-informed for such situations.

What to Say When Giving a Gift?

You just purchased a gift for your loved one and can’t wait to see her delighted face while giving the gift.

Will you just handover the gift to the person or want to make the gift-giving moment memorable?

What if you can’t decide what to say when giving a gift?

Though we have no written rules for gift-giving, each culture has its own customs.

So, following some etiquettes, you can give a gift as well as a great memory to the person you care about.

Table of Contents

Think Before Selecting Gifts

Giving gifts to your favorite person is not difficult, but it turns into great pleasure when you pre-plan everything. Moreover, you have to consider a few things before buying a fabulous present.

Giving some novels to a three-year-old baby is not wise at all. Age is an essential factor while choosing gifts. Carefully choose a suitable present for your loved ones.

Chocolates or flowers are such gifts that it doesn’t matter to whom you are giving these. Choose gifts according to the gender as well as what they like most. You can present a lovely dress or jewelry for the female whereas watch or wallet for the male.

Culture and Custom

Every culture maintains certain traditions to express feelings or give a gift to someone on occasion. Try to know about the norms of the culture before presenting a nicely wrapped box to them.

The relation with the person is also important while surprising someone on his/her birthday or any other occasion. You can’t give the same gifts to your friends and parents.

In case of formal situations, you should be conservative while presenting a gift. On the other hand, you can casually present something to your friends or family members.

Budget

Selecting gifts according to your budget is another essential thing. If you want to cope with a low budget, you have to be trickier while choosing gifts. In that case, you have to buy small gifts for all instead of some costly gifts for two or three persons.

Probably you are willing to give a presentation on an occasion or a particular day. So, you must know the suitable and relatable gift which may represent your effort for them. If it’s her birthday, you can give her flowers, chocolates or anything she loves most.

So, you have to be aware of the occasion and the impact of giving the gift on that event to make it memorable.

How do you feel when your birthday is over, and your friend gives you a nice present? Well, it doesn’t matter how unique the gift is; you may not receive it anyways. That’s why proper timing is essential.

Wish your beloved ones before the occasion or the special day. Your thoughtfulness and responsibility depend much on it.

Some Exceptional Gift Ideas

Gifts are always unique, but they can be more remarkable when you give them in some extraordinary ways.

Handmade gifts are always exceptional as these require efforts to make. It can be a box with pictures and memories, notebooks with some poems, or some letters remembering some great memories and wishes.

Selecting a suitable place to present a gift is also essential. You can arrange a candlelight dinner near a beach, or anywhere they like and thus give your favorite ones great surprises.

Initiate your speech with the origin or history behind the gift you are giving. It attracts people as well as makes the gifts memorable.

Creative things are always appreciated. So, leave the traditional things, and try to make something creative with your own effort.

Lastly, a gift becomes most impressive when it is a surprise. So, try to keep it a secret, and act like you are not going to give any presents. Thus, you can really amuse someone by giving them a present.

So, What to Say When Giving a Gift?

Giving a gift is not a big deal.

Yeah! But you can make that moment never to be forgotten by presenting the gift in a unique way. Of course, you have to know if it’s formal or informal and have to act like that.

Plus, you can make your way of giving gifts much better if you choose your words like this.

I have something special for you. I hope you would like it!
I got this little present for you on this occasion. Don’t forget to tell me what you think about it!
Guess what is in this wrap! If you can, it will be yours!
This is just a gift, but it means a lot. I hope that you will keep it!
We would like to give you this token of our appreciation.
I just thought of you when I saw this incredible piece in the store.
I will be so pleased if you wear this.

Some Social Etiquettes for Gift Giving

Following some social norms at the time of giving presents to people is a must. Don’t forget these etiquettes though they vary depending on countries and cultures.

Try to practice some good manners and traditions of the culture you have.

Cut the Price Tag off

In the case of gifts, it’s not necessary to know or show the price. Prices never determine the value of a gift. Gifts are expressions of love and affection for someone you genuinely care about.

Your gift may be cheap or costly, but it means a lot to you. So, never give the gift with the price tag. Permanently remove the tag while giving a present.

Wrap the Present with Colorful Papers

We all love to get surprises, aren’t we? And so, when you hand over the present without wrapping, it’s no more a surprise. So, cover it with a colorful paper or packet, and adorn it with some ribbons or something else.

It would be great fun when you wrap a gift and ask them to guess it!

Add a Card with the Present

Presenting a good speech while giving someone a gift is not easy for all. In that case, handmade cards help a lot! You can write whatever you feel on the card even if you feel shy to express them while giving gifts.

If you can’t make cards, you can buy a nice one and write what you want to convey.

Be Positive and Confident

Think and act positively when you want to make something surprising for your beloved ones. Approach confidently and present your gift with a heart-touching speech or something memorable.

Don’t say things like “you may not like it,” “I could not afford much,” such things.

What about Return Gifts?

Suppose yesterday was your birthday but your friend didn’t even wish you, whereas you gave a great surprise on his birthday. Sounds horrible?

Though no law says that you have to give a return gift to someone who gave you something, but it’s up to you if you want to give them a surprise on special days or occasions.

Exchanging gifts is not a must as people don’t always expect return gifts. But it makes them happy to get return gifts and improves the relation between gift-givers and takers.

If you have a tight budget, purchase small gifts, and make them understand your situation, and try to give good things the next time.

Finally, try to make an effort for those who once did it for you.

Receive Gifts with Gratitude

Whatever the gift is, appreciate the giver for the gift with a smiling face. You may not like it, but don’t express it to them. Don’t forget to thank them. Even if you don’t give any return gift, write a hand note with thankfulness if possible.

And if the gift comes from a distant place, call him/her whenever you receive the gift.

Some Psychological Facts about Gift Giving

Researchers found some interesting psychological facts about gift-giving.

If you want to give a present on your friend’s birthday, ask him/her what he/she would like to have. Most people want gifts according to their needs or choices. So, you can ask your loved ones what will be suitable for them.
Secondly, recipient focus gifts are more preferable to people. If you give your favorite book to your friend, that’s the way to share your thoughts and feelings with them.
Return-gift is not a big deal as we think of it as a gift receiver. People don’t expect much of a return gift. It doesn’t hurt their feelings as we presume to be.

Final Verdict

Giving as well as receiving gifts define ourselves as individuals. So, try to exchange traditional gifts which says a lot about the cultures. And I hope that you have no more confusion about what to say when giving a gift.

Gifts are not mandatory to give or receive. But we rebuild our relations and nourish them through gift-giving. We make our loved ones feel special and remember that we truly care for them.

So, gifts are always special, and all of us certainly cherish a nicely wrapped token on the special moments.

More Gift Ideas:

12 Best Return Gifts For Birthday Party
What To Say When Someone Gives You An Expensive Gift
15 Practical Gifts for 75th birthday Platinum Jubilee Celebration
What To Actually Do When Someone Doesn’t Appreciate Your Gift
What Are Some Of The Famous Return Gifts For Housewarming
How To Send A Gift Anonymously And Still get some Appreciation

15 Exceptional Golden Birthday Gifts for Everyone

10 Reasons Why Gifts Are Important In A Relationship

Pin it on pinterest.

THE JOY OF GIVING: The more you give of yourself, the more you find of yourself

We all know how great it feels to receive gifts. However, the joy of getting is short-lived. Our lives are richer when we share, and that great inner joy comes from helping others to better their lives.

Truly giving from the heart fills your life with joy and nourishes your soul. Giving provides an intrinsic reward that’s far more valuable than the gift. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “To find yourself, lose yourself in the service of others.”

Giving takes you out of yourself and allows you to expand beyond earthly limitations. True joy lies in the act of giving without an expectation of receiving something in return.

Academic research and thousands of years of human history confirm that achieving meaning, fulfillment, and happiness in life comes from making others happy, and not from being self-centred. Mother Teresa is a famous example. She found fulfillment in giving of herself to others. She helped change the expression on dying people’s faces from distress and fear to calmness and serenity. She made their undeniable pain a little easier to bear.

Adventure, Height, Climbing, Mountain, Peak, Summit

When people are asked why they give, the readiest answers include: God wants me to; I feel better about myself; others need, and I have; I want to share; it’s only right. The question I would ask is how did you feel? I imagine you felt very pleased with yourself and happy inside.

It has been my experience that when you’re focused on giving to others you’re less likely to become consumed by your own concerns and challenges. Giving provides an opportunity to look beyond our own world and see the bigger picture.

A great perspective can be achieved by stepping out of our own world and venturing into the world of other people. Your worries and challenges may not seem as significant when compared to other people’s situations.

The act of giving kindles self-esteem and brings happiness. Scientists have discovered that happiness is related to how much gratitude you show. After several years of soul searching, I discovered that my unhappiness was due to my want for things to fill the void of loneliness.

My search for inner happiness led me towards gratitude. During this process of self-realization, I also discovered “ The Purpose of Living.” Yes, I believe that giving thanks makes you happier. But don’t take my word for it—try it out for yourself.

The power of giving and the joy of helping others

Giving is one of the best investments you can make towards achieving genuine happiness. True giving comes from the heart, with no expectation of reciprocation. You’ll find that the more you give, the more you’ll receive.

Frog giving another frog flowers - The joy of giving

The power of giving is manifested in the kindness and generosity that you bestow on someone else. When you give to another unselfishly, the vibrational energy emitting from your subconscious is at its strongest. The power of giving, according to neuroscience, is that it feels good.

A Chinese proverb says: “If you always give, you will always have.” A famous American author and management expert, Ken Blanchard, declared “The more I give away, the more comes back.”

If you find yourself feeling unhappy, try making someone else happy and see what happens. If you’re feeling empty and unfulfilled, try doing some meaningful and worthwhile work and see how you feel. The catch is that you must do this work with passion and enthusiasm.

There are many organizations, institutions and people who are engaged in exemplary works of giving. Narayanan Krishnan is a management graduate from Madurai, India who gave up his career as chef with a five-star hotel when he saw a man so hungry that he was feeding on his own excreta. From there on Krishnan started his noble initiative to feed thousands of destitute and homeless people in his state—free of cost.

Another example of giving is Sanjit “Bunker” Roy, founder of the Barefoot College . Since graduating from college in 1965, Mr. Roy has committed his life to serve the poor and to help rural communities become self-sufficient. The Barefoot College education program encourages learning-by-doing, such as training grandmothers from Africa and the Himalayan region to be solar engineers so they could bring electricity to their remote villages.

It’s the joy and love that we extend to others that brings true happiness or union with God. When we give, we reap the joy of seeing a bright smile, laughter, tears of joy and gratitude for life . We know that if people give just a little more—of their time, skills, knowledge, wisdom, compassion, wealth and love—the world would be a more peaceful and healthier place.

The rewards of giving are priceless. If you want to have happiness, you need to give happiness. If you want love, you need to give love. It is only in giving that you receive. No matter what your circumstances in life, you have the ability to give.

I encourage you to look for opportunities where you can give and help others. The gift of joy will come to you when you give of yourself to others. That’s what life is all about. Let’s practice and commit our lives to giving joy. Try it! It works!

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How to Say Thank You for an Unexpected Gift

Last Updated: July 31, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was written by Tami Claytor and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau . Tami Claytor is an Etiquette Coach, Image Consultant, and the Owner of Always Appropriate Image and Etiquette Consulting in New York, New York. With over 20 years of experience, Tami specializes in teaching etiquette classes to individuals, students, companies, and community organizations. Tami has spent decades studying cultures through her extensive travels across five continents and has created cultural diversity workshops to promote social justice and cross-cultural awareness. She holds a BA in Economics with a concentration in International Relations from Clark University. Tami studied at the Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned her Image Consultant Certification. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 504,854 times.

Saying “thank you” when you get an unexpected gift is all well and good, but how can you get a little creative with your appreciation? As it turns out, there are lots of ways to express gratitude to others while remaining gracious and sincere. Whether you received a surprise gift from a friend, coworker, family member, or partner, we’ll show you how to say thank you in an exciting and meaningful way! This article is based on an interview with our professional etiquette coach, Tami Claytor, owner of Always Appropriate Image and Etiquette Consulting. Check out the full interview here.

Sample Texts and Letter to Say Thank You for a Gift

“I appreciate this.”

Be specific about what you appreciate and why.

“I appreciate that you went out of your way to surprise me with these tickets! I can’t wait to go to the concert.”
“I really appreciate you sending an Amazon gift card for my birthday. I’ve had my eye on this one video game, and now I can’t wait to play it!”

“You’ve made my day!”

Show them that their surprise gift turned your day around.

“Your surprise brought me so much joy. I love it!”
“You’ve made an ordinary day extraordinary. Thank you!”

“I’m so grateful!”

Get right to the point by telling them how grateful you are and why.

“I’m grateful to have a friend like you. Not just anyone would surprise me like this!”
“I’m thankful to have you as a partner every day—and surprise gifts are just the cherry on top!”

“It’s like you read my mind! Thank you.”

“I love it! How did you know?”
“Oh, wow, I had been wanting this! You know me so well, thank you.”

“This is incredible! My jaw is on the floor.”

“You should’ve seen me; my eyes almost popped out of my head! Thank you for the lovely surprise.”
“Not gonna lie, you definitely surprised me! And I enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks!”

“Thank you for taking the time to get this.”

Acknowledge the time they spent getting you the gift.

“You did all this? Thank you for taking the time to make it happen!”
“I appreciate you taking the time to surprise me with dinner!”

“You do so much for me.”

Recognize all of the efforts they put into making you happy.

“I want you to know that I see and appreciate everything you do for me. This was so thoughtful!”
“You always go out of your way to make me smile. Thank you!”

“You’re too kind!”

Pay them a compliment as part of your thank you.

“You’re such a lovely person. Thank you!”
“I knew you were considerate, but this is above and beyond! I appreciate the surprise.”

“Thanks for thinking of me during this difficult time.”

Show gratitude to people who help you after you experience loss.

“This is a hard time for me, and I really appreciate you making it easier.”
“I’ll probably be a little quiet for the moment, but I want you to know that your gift was truly appreciated. Thank you.”

“I’ll treasure this gift!”

If the surprise was pricey or extravagant, acknowledge their generosity.

You made this necklace by hand? It’s incredible! This has to be one of the nicest gifts I’ve ever gotten.”
“I’ll treasure every minute of our weekend getaway. Thank you again for these tickets—I’m in awe of your generosity!”

“I’ll think of you every time I see it.”

Tell this person that you’ll always associate the gift with their kindness.

“This blanket is so soft—every time I use it, it feels like I’m cuddling up with you.”
“Every time I look at this bracelet, I think about you and how much I love you!”

“Your friendship is so important to me!”

Mention how much you value this person’s support and encouragement.

“I’m so grateful for your support and friendship over the years!”
“We’ve been through so much together, and you’ve supported me at every turn. Thank you!”

“I can’t thank you enough.”

Use this when you don’t know how to express all the gratitude you feel.

“I’m speechless! This is so thoughtful of you.”
“‘Thank you’ doesn’t feel like enough, but I’m truly so thankful! You’re the best.”

“This means the world to me!”

Tell them how much their surprise matters to you.

“Just knowing that you did this for me means everything. Thank you!”
“This is the sweetest gift I’ve ever gotten. It means so much to me, knowing it came from you!”

“Thank you, my love!”

Add some extra affection when you’re thanking a partner.

“Thank you for being such a thoughtful partner. I love you!”
“I love you too. This is an awesome surprise!”

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25 Tithe & Offering Message Ideas For Your Next Giving Talk

Hello and welcome to this list of 25 tithes and offering message ideas .

Let me first congratulate you for taking the time to plan your next giving talk!

Unlike others who kind of make it up on the spot, you’re preparing beforehand and will present way better as a result.

It’s your 2-minute window to teach God’s way of thinking about money, the blessing there is in giving and encourage people to tithe .

We must prepare well.

Because an offering message from the Bible will inspire your people to trust God with their finances and grow your church budget , meaning more money for ministry.

So in this post, we’re going to get your creative juices flowing with 25 tithe and offering message ideas you can use before handing out the offering basket next Sunday.

I’ll also give you the completely free “Make Space” 4-week sermon series so you can talk about money with your church without it being awkward.

Sound good?

Let’s do this!

25 Tithe & Offering Message Ideas

When you’re sharing about giving in your church, you can talk on topics like:

Trust/Faith
Stewardship

To name a few…

To help you figure out what to say during tithes and offerings, here are 25 quick outlines based on 25 different offering scriptures .

Feel free to add your own twist and add in any personal stories or illustrations you think will help get your message across.

1. Giving Grows Into Lives Changed

Did you know you are alive and well today because of the seeds someone else has sown?

What did you eat this morning? Where did it come from?

The food we eat that gives us energy, that helps us to grow and stay strong starts with a farmer and a bag of seeds.

In faith, he plants those small seeds into the ground and they grow into a huge harvest and hundreds of people can eat as a result.

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (The Message) says this:

“This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.”

Our wallet is like that bag of seeds. When we plant the seed in good soil we will see a harvest.

Our harvest is not wheat or corn – it’s people encountering God for the first time.

Its hearts changed and lives transformed – all glory to God!

2. Love Gives

John 3:16 is a verse most of us know well, but have you ever thought about it in terms of giving?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

God gave His only son. Why? Because He loves us and that love meant he had to do something. Love requires action.

In the same way, you give someone a gift, not because they expect it or you feel obligated to give it, but because you love them. It’s the natural response.

In a moment an offering basket is going to pass by but before they do I just want to say, don’t give out of a feeling of obligation or routine, but give because you love the vision of this church, give because you love this city and want to see them reached for Christ.

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3. Give Because You Want To

Jesus is our awesome example – He had it all in heaven and yet he gave it all up for us.

He made himself poor so that we would be rich. He gave His everything so that we could be called sons and daughters of the Most-High God.

Did he have to? No.

Did someone have to twist his arm to make him do it?

No, the opposite.

Jesus purposed in His heart to become a sacrifice for us, He was determined to restore us back to God. There was no stopping Him.

As Christ-followers here today, let’s follow his example. No one’s telling you you have to give. There’s not going to be someone waiting for you at the door on the way out telling you to empty your pockets.

But if you want to give, we’re going to give an opportunity for that this morning.

I like what 2 Cor 9: 6-7 says:

“He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Don’t give today because you feel you have to, but do give if that’s something you’ve decided you’re going to do.

4. Give God The Corners

Today I want to take a quick look at Leviticus 23:22 because I think there’s a great principle here that we can apply to our tithes and offerings.

“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God.”

Why did God tell the Israeli farmers they couldn’t harvest the whole field?

It didn’t make much business sense – it was like leaving money on the ground!

(They still planted seed right to the edges but then didn’t harvest it.)

Though it may seem counterintuitive, God was teaching them a valuable lesson – always leave room for Him.

Similarly, our tithes and offerings are opportunities to make space for God’s provision and blessing.

When we give, we demonstrate trust in His faithfulness and invite His abundant work in our lives. The blessings we receive go far beyond what we could hold onto tightly on our own.

So let’s like the Israeli farmers and give God the corners. This is where the real blessing is!

5. $0.02 More Than $1 Million?

“Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.” ” Luke 21:1-4

However much you’re giving today, know this:

God is not looking at what’s in your hands but what’s in your heart.

Whether our giving is a small or large sum, what truly matters is our willingness to give wholeheartedly and sacrificially.

6. Give Like An Angel Investor

Angel investors invest in businesses because they believe in the owner and the potential for success.

In the same way, our giving should reflect our love for God and His kingdom, desiring to see His purposes fulfilled.

Today, let’s give with the same enthusiasm and belief as angel investors, knowing that our contributions fuel the advancement of God’s kingdom and make an eternal impact.

7. Generous People Live It Large

Proverbs 11:24-25 beautifully illustrates how the world of the generous expands while the world of the stingy shrinks:

“The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.”

Have you ever noticed that?

If you’ve watched The Christmas Carol you’ll see what happened when Scrooge turns from a miserable self-centred banker sitting alone to count his money to the exact opposite; a grateful and generous giver starts seeing the needs of those around him.

He went from living a small stingy life to living a wide-open generous one overnight.

Generosity is the key to a wide open spacious life – it gets you thinking outside yourself and brings real freedom and joy.

So whether it be with your finances, your time or your energy – start saying yes to being generous and endless possibilities will open up and your world will indeed get bigger.

8. Tithing = God 1st

Deuteronomy 14:23 (TLB) reminds us tithing is not solely about money:

“The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.”

Wow – you don’t get much clearer than that!

Tithing isn’t about giving God money because He needs it, it’s about acknowledging that God deserves the first place in our lives.

By giving our tithes and offerings, we actively prioritise God above all else.

So let’s remember our giving is an act of worship, a tangible expression of our love and devotion to God and a way to align our priorities with His purposes.

9. You Give For A Reason

In 1 Corinthians 15:58 Paul says this:

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”

Everything we do, the time, money and effort we give to serve is for a reason. We’re all here today for a purpose.

The greeters standing by the door when you came in, the Kids Church volunteers working downstairs, the worship team who spent time practising and who were here before anyone else didn’t do all that because they had nothing else better to do…

No, they do it because they believe in the vision of the church in making the name of Jesus famous in this city.

When you give and financially support this church, it’s not out of guilt or trying to get God to like us more – it’s to impact this community for Christ.

When you give money to this church, you are helping to reach the unreached, love the unloved and give hope to the hopeless.

You’re playing a part in helping teenagers, retirees and whole families come to the amazing love of God.

Every dollar you give plays a part in transforming lives and making a difference in people’s eternal destinies.

10. Rich People, Be Generous

Did you know in 1 Timothy 6:17-18 the Bible talks directly to rich people?

“Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them.”

Now obviously this is only talking to millionaire billionaires flying out in private jets right?

The truth is, whether you feel like it or not if you live in the US you’re richer than 95% of people on the planet.

So don’t put your trust in your annual salary or investments but rather put your trust in God who is generous and faithful.

11. Food In God’s House = Food In Your House

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” Malachi 3:10

In this verse, God gives us 2 reasons to give:

So there’s food in God’s house
And food in yours

As you bring your tithe today, think about how it supports the ministries that make a difference in your community and church family.

Know that every act of generosity, no matter the amount, makes a difference.

Your generosity supports ministries that bring hope, help those in need, and spread the love of Christ.

Your giving allows others to encounter God. Lives will be forever changed as a direct consequence of your generosity.

That’s the first part of the verse, now let’s move on to the second…

Imagine a farmer diligently planting seeds, eagerly anticipating the harvest.

Your giving positions you to receive the overflowing blessings God has in store for you. It’s like planting seeds of faith and watching God’s provision grow.

It’s a chance to put God’s promise to the test – to see if He truly pours out blessings beyond measure.

So, trust in God’s faithfulness as you give and you’ll experience the joy of giving and receiving.

12. The God Of More Than Enough

Today, I want to share a powerful reminder from Philippians 4:19 :

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

In this verse, the Apostle Paul reassures the believers in Philippi that God is a faithful provider. He assures them that whatever needs they have—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—God will meet them all.

As we sit here today, we may carry various needs and concerns in our hearts.

Some of us may be facing financial challenges, seeking wisdom for important decisions, or longing for healing and restoration in our lives.

But let me remind you that our God is not limited by our circumstances. He is the God of limitless resources and abundant provision.

When we bring our tithes and offerings before God, we demonstrate our trust in His provision.

It’s an act of faith, acknowledging that He is the ultimate source of all blessings in our lives and we align ourselves with His promise to meet our needs according to His glorious riches.

So, as we prepare to give today, let’s do it with a heart of gratitude and trust.

Trust that God sees our needs, hears our prayers and will provide for us in His perfect timing. Trust that as we sow into His Kingdom, He will multiply our offerings and use them for His purpose.

13. Greater Than Ourselves

Today, I want to share a beautiful truth from Acts 20:35 . These are the words of the Apostle Paul as he reminds us that Jesus said:

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

When I reflect on my own life, I can’t help but recall countless moments when I experienced the blessing of giving…

It’s those instances when I’ve extended a helping hand, offered a listening ear, or shared my resources with someone facing difficult circumstances.

It’s in those moments, something beautiful happens—my heart is filled with a deep sense of gratitude and joy.

You see, giving is not just about money or material possessions. It’s about giving of ourselves—our time, our talents and our love. It’s about being present for others, offering a shoulder to lean on, and sharing the blessings that God has entrusted to us.

We work hard, not just for our own gain but so we can help others and become more like Jesus who came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.

It may be a simple act of kindness, a small donation or a moment of encouragement. Whatever it is, remember that every act of giving, no matter how small, has the power to transform lives.

As we prepare to give, let’s do it with a grateful heart, knowing that our giving connects us to something far greater than ourselves, that it connects us with the heartbeat of God.

Let’s pray together.

14. The Extravagant Grace of Giving

Hello, my dear church family!

Today, I want to share a heartfelt reminder from 2 Corinthians 8:9 :

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

Let’s take a moment to truly absorb the depth of these words…

Our Lord Jesus, the one who possessed all the riches of heaven, willingly embraced poverty for our sake. He humbled Himself, walked in our shoes, and made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might experience true richness in Him.

When I reflect on this extravagant grace, it reminds me of the immeasurable love that God has poured out upon us and stirs my heart to respond with the same spirit of generosity and selflessness.

Today, as we give our tithes and offerings, let’s not give out of obligation or a sense of duty, but out of a deep desire to emulate His love and bring glory to His name.

Our giving has the power to impact lives – lives that are longing for hope, restoration, and the touch of God’s grace.

As we extend our hands in generosity, we become vessels of His love, agents of His provision, and conduits of His blessings.

Now let’s give with open hearts, knowing that our gifts are making a difference in the lives of others and bringing glory to our Saviour.

15. Deposit Into Your Heavenly Account

Today, I want to draw your attention to an inspiring passage found in Philippians 4:15-17 .

The Apostle Paul, in expressing his gratitude to the Philippians for their generous support, says these powerful words:

“Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”

In these few words, Paul unveils a profound truth about the act of giving.

It’s not merely about the physical gift or the amount given, but it’s about the impact it has on our spiritual account—the eternal rewards that await us.

As we give our tithes and offerings, we are not just contributing to the work of the church or supporting ministries; we are making an investment in something much greater—our heavenly account.

Paul understood this concept well. He knew that the true value of giving lay in the eternal profit it brought to the givers themselves. Every act of generosity, done with a willing heart, increases our heavenly treasure, storing up rewards that will never fade away.

So, as we prepare to give today, let’s shift our perspective. Let’s see our giving as an opportunity to invest in something eternal—a treasure that no earthly wealth can compare to.

16. A Heart-Moved Contribution

In Exodus 25:2 , God instructs Moses to speak to the people of Israel, inviting them to bring a contribution for Him.

However, there’s a beautiful and significant condition attached to this act of giving:

“From every man whose heart moves him, you shall receive the contribution for me.”

This verse captures the essence of true giving—a giving that is motivated by a heart stirred with love and devotion.

It’s not about compulsion or obligation, but about a genuine response to God’s leading.

When we give with a heart that is moved, something extraordinary happens:

Our giving becomes an expression of our love for God, a tangible way to worship and honour Him. It becomes an opportunity to align our desires with His and to participate in His purpose.

God doesn’t need our contributions; He desires our hearts. He longs for our willingness to respond to His leading, to generously give from the depths of our being.

So, as we prepare to give today, let’s examine our hearts. Let’s ask God to move us, to stir within us a genuine desire to contribute in response to His leading and surrender our resources to His purposes.

17. Grateful Hearts, Generous Hands

Dear brothers and sisters, in 1 Chronicles 29:14 , King David humbly acknowledges the extraordinary blessings bestowed upon him and his people.

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

These words encapsulate a profound truth about our giving:

We are mere recipients of God’s abundant grace and provision and every blessing we enjoy, every resource at our disposal originates from His loving hand.

When we grasp this truth, it humbles us and shifts our perspective on giving. We realize that our generosity is not a result of our own achievements or abilities.

Instead, it is a response to the goodness and faithfulness of our Heavenly Father.

Like King David, we marvel at the privilege of being able to give generously. We recognize that everything we possess ultimately belongs to God.

Our giving is an act of stewardship – a heartfelt acknowledgement that we are entrusted with resources to be used for His purposes.

So, as we gather here today, let’s approach our giving with grateful hearts and generous hands.

Let’s remember that our offerings are not simply transactions; they are acts of worship. They are opportunities to express our gratitude for God’s provision and to invest in His Kingdom.

18. Radical Generosity Unlocks The Floodgates

Today, I want to share a powerful truth found in Proverbs 3:9-10 .

Are you ready to experience an overflowing abundance in your life?

Listen closely:

“Honour the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”

These words echo the wisdom of honouring the Lord with our wealth and the firstfruits of our produce.

It’s an invitation to step into a realm of divine provision and blessings beyond measure.

Imagine a life where your barns are filled with plenty and your vats are bursting with abundance.

It’s not a mere fantasy; it’s a promise from God Himself. When we prioritise honouring the Lord with our finances, incredible things begin to happen.

You see, radical generosity unlocks the floodgates of Heaven. It’s a declaration that we trust God more than our material possessions.

By giving the first and best of what we have, we demonstrate our faith and dependence on His provision.

But here’s the exciting part:

God’s blessings go far beyond what we can comprehend.

When we unleash abundance through radical generosity, we tap into His limitless resources. He pours out blessings that exceed our wildest imaginations.

So today, I invite you to join me on this incredible journey of faith. Let’s embrace radical generosity as a way of life. As we prioritise honouring the Lord with our wealth, we position ourselves for a life filled with His abundant provision.

19. Two Contrasting Attitudes

Proverbs 11:24 says this:

Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord. There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.

In this simple yet profound verse, we find a powerful message about faithful giving and trusting in God’s provision.

When we offer our tithes and offerings with a heart aligned with God’s will, we demonstrate our trust in Him. We recognise that He is the ultimate provider and sustainer of our lives.

Moreover, this verse sheds light on two contrasting attitudes towards giving:

On one hand, there are those who scatter generously, sharing their blessings with others. Interestingly, as they give, they experience an increase, not only in material blessings but also in spiritual fulfilment and joy.

On the other hand, there are those who hold back and cling tightly to what they possess. However, this attitude leads to a state of lack and want, preventing the blessings of God from flowing freely in their lives.

So, let us be a congregation that offer right sacrifices, not out of obligation, but out of a deep trust in our Heavenly Father. Let us give generously, knowing that our faithful giving unleashes the abundance of His provision.

As we give with open hearts and hands, may we experience the joy of seeing God’s blessings multiplied in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Let us trust in His unfailing faithfulness to meet our every need.

Thank you for your faithful and generous giving. Let us pray as the ushers pass the offering baskets around.

20. Robbing God

This morning, let’s reflect on a sobering passage from Malachi 3:8-9 :

“Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.”

These words confront us with a powerful truth—we have a responsibility to honour God with our tithes and offerings.

Unfortunately, there are times when we fall short and unknowingly withhold what rightfully belongs to Him.

In our busy lives, it’s easy to lose sight of the significance of our financial stewardship. We may question how our actions can possibly impact our relationship with God.

But let me assure you, dear friends, that our faithfulness in tithes and contributions holds great importance.

Because when we withhold our tithes and offerings, we deny God the opportunity to bless us abundantly.

We place ourselves under a self-imposed curse, missing out on the blessings that come from aligning our finances with God’s purposes.

So, today, let’s take a moment for introspection…

Let’s examine our hearts and ask ourselves if we have been faithful in honouring God with our tithes and if we find that we have fallen short, it’s not too late to make things right.

Let’s rediscover the joy and privilege of giving back to God. Let’s embrace the blessings that flow from obedient stewardship.

As we trust God with our finances, we open the door for His provision, protection, and favour to abound in our lives.

21. Seek Ye First The Kingdom

Let’s turn our attention to a powerful verse from Matthew 6:33 :

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

In this simple yet profound statement, Jesus provides us with a key to abundant living.

He reminds us of the importance of prioritizing the kingdom of God above all else.

When we seek God’s kingdom first, when we place Him at the forefront of our lives, everything else falls into place. Our worries, needs, and desires are all encompassed within His loving care.

Today, as we give our tithes and offerings, let’s remember the profound truth contained in this verse. Let’s make a conscious choice to seek God’s kingdom first, both in our hearts and in our giving.

As we do so, we can trust in God’s promise to provide for our needs. He knows our circumstances, our challenges, and our desires. When we align our giving with His purposes, He faithfully adds blessings upon blessings in our lives.

So, let’s give with hearts filled with faith and gratitude.

22. Running Over

Let’s listen to the words of Jesus found in Luke 6:38 :

“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you in return.”

In this verse, Jesus reveals a divine principle of abundance in our giving.

When we give generously, with open hearts and hands, God promises to pour blessings into our lives in overflowing measure.

Imagine a measure so abundant that it cannot be contained – a measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over.

It’s a vivid picture of the immeasurable blessings that await those who embrace the joy of giving.

So, dear friends, let’s adopt a mindset of generosity and embrace the invitation to give. As we extend a helping hand, sow seeds of kindness and contribute to God’s work, we position ourselves to receive an abundance of blessings.

Remember, the measure we use in our giving impacts the measure of blessings we receive:

When we give with generosity, compassion, and selflessness, God responds with overflowing abundance in our lives.

Today, let’s challenge ourselves to give without hesitation, to pour out blessings upon others and to trust in God’s faithfulness to multiply what we sow.

In doing so, we align our lives with His kingdom principles and experience the joy of giving and receiving.

May our hearts overflow with the desire to give, knowing that as we do, God will pour into our lives a measure of blessings that exceeds our expectations.

Let’s embrace the promise of an abundant harvest, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.

23. God Will Supply & Increase

Let’s reflect on the powerful words of 2 Corinthians 9:10 :

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”

In this short verse, we are reminded of the abundant provision of our Heavenly Father. He not only provides the seed for sowing but also multiplies it, enabling us to experience a bountiful harvest.

As we engage in acts of generosity, whether through our giving or serving others, God faithfully supplies and multiplies the resources we need.

He blesses our efforts and increases the harvest of righteousness in our lives.

Today, let’s have confidence in God’s provision as we sow seeds of kindness, love, and financial support.

Let’s trust that He will multiply our offerings and bring about a fruitful harvest of righteousness in our lives and the lives of those we impact.

May this verse serve as a reminder that our generous actions have far-reaching effects. As we sow into God’s kingdom, He blesses us abundantly, both spiritually and materially.

So, let’s sow with joy, knowing that God’s provision is limitless and may God’s abundant provision and multiplied blessings accompany you as you continue to sow generously and impact lives for His glory.

24. A Vow Of Gratitude

Let’s dive into the story of Jacob found in Genesis 28:20-22 .

In this passage, Jacob makes a heartfelt vow to God, expressing his gratitude and commitment.

Jacob says:

“If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

Jacob’s words reveal his response of gratitude and a profound understanding of God’s provision. He knows everything he has, including his food, clothing and protection comes from God.

In response to God’s faithfulness, Jacob makes a vow to give a full tenth, a tithe, back to God.

It is an act of worship, an expression of gratitude, and a declaration that God is the ultimate provider and sustainer of his life.

Today, we can learn from Jacob’s example. We, too, have experienced God’s faithfulness, provision and blessings in our lives.

So as we give our tithes and offerings today, let’s respond with a heart of gratitude and generosity.

Let it be an act of worship, a demonstration of our trust in God’s faithfulness.

Let’s remember that our giving is not a burden but a privilege—an opportunity to partner with God in His work and to support His kingdom purposes.

May Jacob’s vow inspire us to be faithful stewards of all that God has entrusted to us and let us honour Him with our tithes, offerings and every aspect of our lives, knowing that He is the source of our provision and the One who blesses us abundantly.

25. Faithfulness Amplified

Let us turn our attention to Luke 16:10 , where Jesus imparts a powerful principle of faithfulness:

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

These words remind us of the importance of faithfulness in every aspect of our lives, including our stewardship of resources, time and talents.

When we exhibit faithfulness in small matters, it reflects the condition of our hearts and our commitment to honouring God.

It demonstrates our integrity and trustworthiness, qualities that carry over into greater responsibilities.

As we consider our financial stewardship, let us remember that faithfulness is not determined solely by the amount we give, but by the attitude and intention behind our giving.

Whether we have a little or a lot, may we be faithful in using our resources for God’s purposes.

Let us give generously, with a heart of gratitude and a desire to honour Him.

Our faithfulness in managing the “very little” entrusted to us will bear witness to our faithfulness in handling greater blessings.

Today, let’s examine our hearts and ask ourselves if we are faithfully stewarding the resources God has placed in our care.

Let’s be honest in our assessment and make any necessary adjustments to align with God’s principles.

Remember, dear friends, that faithfulness in stewardship extends beyond financial giving. It encompasses how we use our time, talents, and treasures to make a positive impact in the lives of others and advance God’s kingdom.

May our lives be marked by faithfulness, not only in the big moments but also in the seemingly small and ordinary ones. And may God, who sees our hearts, reward our faithfulness and entrust us with even greater blessings.

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Over To You

I do hope these tithes and offering message ideas have helped ignite inspiration and creative ideas you can use next Sunday.

Take them, use them and make your next giving talk the best one yet!

Do you have a good tithe and offering messages you’ve used?

Scroll down and share with us in the comments! 🙌

26 thoughts on “25 Tithe & Offering Message Ideas For Your Next Giving Talk”

Thank you very much for your time, your message really touched my heart, thank you once again

Good morning and God bless. I believe in #19, the scripture reading should be Proverbs 11:24, not Prov 4:5. Thank you for sharing these giving messages and providing a starting point in sharing the blessings of giving.

Morning from Bangkok Roger!

Ah yes, you’re right. Very well spotted and I’ve just corrected it. Thank you 🙏

And you’re absolutely welcome, at least you’ve got something to bounce off and get the creative juices flowing.

You got this! 😎💪

Nice this is one so good to share

These are a great help! It is always a blessing to get fresh ideas on using God Word, especially when talking to teenagers! Thank you.

Thanks these are been so helpful and amazong

Thank you Simon, what a great HELP! :)…..I’m on standby for offering message tomorrow and had nothing really prepared! You have saved my day with these already prepared messages! Thank you! …..most likely I won’t b talk tomorrow because the speaker on duty is usually quite realible but in the event he can’t make it then at least now with yr help I am prepared! 🙂 Thank you and God Bless You!

Thank you for your short messages on giving. Easy and quick to read, inspiring. May God’s blessing rest upon you always

Thanks for a helpful information pst. Be blessed

i have tried several times to download the giving talks with no success. it says that the information is incomplete, it sure is frustrating. thanks, Delton

Thank you so much. These were so helpful.

Thank you.. It will help me to encourage our fellow Christian to be generous.. Godbless!..

Thank you kindly my Pastor am researching this message on behalf of my daughter who is preaching about giving tomorrow at youth..she is one of our youth Leaders in Church..am a Minister of the word also.Its very inspirational.

Thank you for sharing these ten messages. They are insightful and inspiring. I pray that God continues to bless you and your ministry richly!

Very insightful and helpful…helped me have new ideas to use to encourage church members to tithe. Thank you for being a blessing!

These articles were very helpful. Thank you very much Ptr. God bless you more.

Thanks for sharing, very inspiring and helpful

Sure thing, take them and use them in your own church setting. Happy to help 🙂

These are wonderful! Thank you for sharing these!

Of course! 🙂

These have been extremely helpful. Stay blessed

Thanks Alex, same to you!

Very helpful pastor. Thank you so much

You are more than welcome 🙂

Find a store

What to write: 238 short, sweet and funny gift card message ideas.

A gift card with a handwritten message on the flap that reads,

There are some people who are inclined to say that gift cards are impersonal. But we’re here to offer the opinion that gift cards can be just as thoughtful as a physical gift. In fact, there are several situations in which a gift card can be incredibly meaningful.

But, just like greeting cards, it’s the words from you that make a gesture special. So we got our writers to come up with gift card message ideas for every giving situation we could think of. From groceries to spa days and “just because” to birthdays, here are dozens of gift card message ideas to accompany your gift card.

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores .

Short and Simple
Congratulations
Accident or Illness
Significant Other
Family Member
College Student

Short and Simple

These gift card message ideas are great for when you want the gesture of giving the gift itself to do most of the talking. They’re short, sweet wishes that let them know you care!

You’re the best.
So grateful for you.
Yay for you!
You’re a really great human.
You deserve all the nice things.
Spend it on something you love!
Just a little something from me to you.
Get whatever you want!
For impractical purchases only.
Go get that serotonin rush!
Three words: Add. To. Cart.

Wedding

These days, couples are marrying later in life, which means they’re much more likely to be set with towels and dishes. So a gift card is a fine way to help the happy couple start their new life. (Better yet, gives them something to do together—shop!) Add one of these ideas for wedding gift card messages, put the card in a fancy little box and you’ve got a sweet gift they’ll appreciate.

Remember, you’ll probably have to share this.
For those his ’n’ hers towels. Or something.
Travel money for your trip to happily ever after.
For the happy couple to happily spend.
Fun fact: Wedded bliss often involves shopping.
Cheers to you two!
You chose each other. Now you get to choose a gift!
Get something newlywed-y!
Use this to escape from your in-laws.
I couldn’t log on to your registry because I forget every password ever.
Love is a good reason for a gift card.
Buy more clutter! That’s the marriage way.
Great news! You won’t have to return this.

Birthday

Gift cards are such a great birthday gift. Even the best gift-getter has to admit that since birthdays come around EVERY YEAR…you kinda start to run out of ideas eventually! Pair your gift card with one of these message ideas for a fun birthday present that’ll bring them joy after the big day is over.

I never know what to get you…but you do!
Gift card? Bacon? It was a really tough decision.
Cheers to you! Cheers to your year ahead!
Because you’re never too old to spend money.
Turning a year older calls for a little splurge, am I right? (I’m right.)
Because a bottle of wine wouldn’t fit in the envelope.
Trust me—this is better than the 60 cats I was going to get you.
Presents are like noses: better to pick them yourself!
Is your birthday wish a gift card? Because…

Want to spruce it up? Put the gift card and message in an adorable plush holder, like this one or this one .

Christmas

Yet another giving occasion that comes every year! Gift cards at Christmas are a great way to take the stress off when you’ve got a big list to shop for…or just people who are hard to shop for. Make the gift extra merry with these message ideas for Christmas gift cards.

I figured you’d know better than Santa.
Hoping this adds a little extra happy to your holidays.
Gift cards: Almost as magical as flying reindeer.
For something naughty or nice. Whichever.
You have 12 days of Christmas to spend this.
Santa needed help saving space in his sack.
For the thing that wouldn’t fit on Santa’s sleigh.
A little holiday treat from your favorite elf!
Merry Christmas and Happy New ______! [shoes, jeans, etc.]

New Baby

Diapers, formula, clothes, blankets, baby shampoo…and that’s just the must-have stuff! New parents are in serious need of gift cards, so they can get their preferred brands of whatever it is they need. Write them a little note using these message ideas for inspiration.

Now you can buy something when you’re up at 3 a.m.
A little something for you and the little one!
Have fun getting your little cutie all geared up!
Even though your family feels so complete…I thought you might be able to use this.
For the diaper fund.
For a cute outfit, plus maybe one for the baby.

Thank You

Sending a gift card along with your thank you is like the cherry on top of an ice-cream sundae—you don’t have to include it, but there’s something about it that takes it to the next level. Add some sweet words with your next-level appreciation gesture with these gift card message ideas.

Soooooo thoughtful!
<–Not precisely equal to my exact level of gratitude…but it’s a start.
Don’t worry, I still owe you.
Just a little something to show my appreciation.
Doesn’t come close to showing you how grateful I really am.
Just a little thanks for the big way you showed up for me.
Makes you want to do nice things for me all the time, right?
Now do something nice for YOU.
You: Great! Me: Grateful!

Graduation

No recent grad is going to complain about getting money as a gift, no matter how old they are. These short, snappy gift card messages are a fun way to tell your grads congrats and help them celebrate at the same time.

See? It was all worth it! Right??
You’ve got all that learning. Here’s a little something to go with it!
Caps in the air like you just don’t care.
Dream big! (Here’s some dream fuel to help.)
Adulting is hard. Hopefully this helps.
I promise not to grade you on how you spend this.
Tonight’s homework: Spend this.
You were smart enough to do THAT, so you can figure out how to spend THIS.
You did it! So I did this.

Congratulations

Know someone who just achieved a major milestone or goal they were striving for? Help them revel in their personal win with a gift card and a supportive little message.

Way to go…shopping!
This calls for shopping!
This is a big deal. Now go spend like a big deal.
Treat yourself. You’ve earned it.
You deserve a round of applause—and this, too.
Hope you can use this to celebrate!
Way to go! Here’s some dough!
You did it! Now spend it!

New Home

Furniture, tools, smoke detectors, guest bathroom hand towels…new homeowners have to buy ALL. THE. THINGS. Give them a hand with all that hassle. Just pair it with one of these gift card message ideas for a gesture they’ll love you for.

I hope you can use this on something you need for your new place!
Happy nesting!
Hope this makes your sweet home even homier.
Enjoy making your new place a home!
Hope this helps get you that thing that brings the cozy to your new place.
Hope you dig your new digs.
Get one of those “Home Sweet Home” plaques.
Take your homebody out shopping!
WELCOME to this gift card.

Accident or Illness

When someone’s been in an accident or is experiencing serious illness or health problems, it’s hard to find mental space to think about the necessities. A gift card for these folks can come across as especially helpful and, along with one of these messages, meaningful, too.

Just a little something to say I’m thinking of you.
This comes with all my best thoughts for your recovery.
Hope this helps bring a smile to your day.
You deserve all the feel-good you can get.
Wishing you all the goodness in the world and all the _______ this gift card can buy.
Sending you good vibes with this gift card!
So sorry you’re dealing with so much! Hope this makes things 1% better.

Significant Other

You’d like to think you’d never have to buy your significant other a gift card, but after 20-some-odd-years of marriage and countless birthdays, holidays and anniversaries, they might really just appreciate that opportunity to get exactly what they want. And that’s 100% okay. Just make sure you write something sweet or funny to go with it.

You don’t have to spend this on lingerie. I’m just saying if you wanna…
I am bad at gifts! (But you know this.)
I know I love ya…but I don’t always know what to get ya.
It’s better than me trying to shop for you, right?
You deserve the best. Which is why I didn’t try to shop for you.
I’m not great at coming up with gifts. Thank goodness I’m sexy.

Family Member

What do you get your adult siblings that they can’t already get for themselves? Or your parents for that matter?? At this point, it’s about showing them you know them. And a gift card to their favorite place is a great way to do that. Include one of these gift card message ideas and you’re set.

Don’t tell the others you got this.
Wish I could be there to give this to you myself—miss you!
This is for that one time when that one thing happened.
Sending hugs, kisses and this little gift to let you know I’m thinking of you!
If you want to spend part of this on your favorite family member, who am I to stop you?
Because this family shops!

Co-Worker

White elephant gifts. Work anniversaries. Making you laugh after you bombed that horrible presentation. There are tons of reasons you might get your co-worker a gift card! But if you’re worried it’ll come off weird (it won’t), pairing it with one of these gift card message ideas is a good way to make it feel less like you’re just giving them money.

Thanks for making this place bearable.
Thanks for being such a great friend/co-worker!
So glad to work with you. Consider this a bonus!
Thanks to the most amazing work buddy!
HR-approved love from me to you.
Apparently, you mean this much to me.
For laughing at all my text reactions in meetings.

College Student

College is crazy expensive. Add the fact that they have little time to actually work and you’re looking at a seriously strapped student. That’s why a gift card for the heck of it can really mean so much. Here are some ideas for a message to send along with it.

I was in college once, so I knew just what to get you.
Trust me, you’ll need this.
College throws a lot at you at once. Hope this helps.
Now you can afford textbooks. Or food.
Because pizza ain’t free.
Because it’ll be a while before you’re makin’ the big bucks.
Get yourself some “brain food.” (Yes, pizza is brain food.)

Coffee

Someone with a solid coffee habit might hold back on their daily order in an effort to be budget conscious. But your gift card lets them get that double-blended, extra shot, with whip thing that they only treat themselves to occasionally. Here are some message ideas that will warm their hearts while their coffee is warming their belly.

Stay caffeinated, my friend.
Something hot for someone…who has a lot of nice qualities.
Americanos, lattes, frappes…get your caffeine fix!
Hope they spell your name right.
For my friend who knows beans.
This is grounds for fun.
Just because you’ve bean on my mind.
Warm, brown elixir of life, we pray to thee.
Get yourself a double whatever with an extra shot of something.
Because you’re BREWtiful.
Get ya some sugar! (With a little coffee added in.)
Don’t burn your mouth. You’re already hot enough.
Always fashionably latte!
Here’s to more coffee dates!
Coffee! It’s like having a great friend around when I’m not there.

Want a fun way to display the gift card? Put it in a mug , of course!

Shopping

Buying them a gift card for their favorite store? That shows you know them pretty well, in our opinion. Whether they love makeup, shoes, clothes or sporting goods—or all of those things—hopefully these message ideas will help make your gift card feel extra special.

So you can keep looking better than me.
Do your thing!
Time to say buy-buy!
Hope it’s all half off!
Shopping spree on me.
Get some glamorous looks!
Keep looking fresh and fabulous.
Trust me—this is better than me shopping for you!
Spend some time spending some money.
Please enjoy this less-versatile money.

Movie Theater

They’re the type of person who waits in line for midnight showings. Of course a movie theater gift card would be right up their alley! Here are some fun ideas for messages to go along with it.

BYO red carpet
Blockbuster, indie, animation, it’s your call!
Can’t wait for your review of this movie.
Enjoy the popcorn!
For your screen room.
Don’t blow it all on popcorn! Or do. It’s your choice really.
Go see something as epic as you are!
Go see another rom-com (on me this time).
Let me guess…you’re going to see a movie where stuff blows up.

We all reach a point where we could use a little extra attention. If you’re giving someone a gift card for a spa day, or even a massage or service like a manicure or pedicure, these gift card message ideas should come in handy.

Spoil yourself!
Don’t eat the eye cucumbers.
Pamper yourself pretty!
Everyone needs a spa day!
Indulge, darling.
Go spa yourself!
Because you’re so spa-cial.
You deserve all the relaxation.
Rest and relaxation are in your future.
I’m there for you on rough days and spa days.

Hallmark Gold Crown

Trust us, there are people out there who would be SO HAPPY to get a Gold Crown gift card. Like Keepsake Ornament collectors. Or those people who always have little gifts on hand for others. Or your Aunt Vicky—you’ve seen her gift-wrapping station, right? If you got them a Gold Crown gift card, we’ve got message ideas to make them smile.

The best for the best.
Have a Hallmark moment already.
Your new favorite ornament is on me.
Now you can get all the gift-card cards you want!
You don’t have to buy me a thank-you card with this.
You’re so thoughtful, I got you something to help you keep doing that.
You’re a Hallmark card personified, so I had to get you this.
Get something for yourself next time you go to Hallmark.
To you, gift wrapping is an art. So here’s a little something for art supplies.

Groceries

Whether it’s a college student in need of soup cups or someone struggling with a family illness, there’s no blessing like a gift card to help you afford the necessities. Let them know how happy you are to be there for them with these ideas.

There are all kinds of good things in store!
Make your own food pyramid.
You eat food, right? I know you so well.
I won’t judge if you spend it all on Cheetos.
Dinner’s on me!
Think of this as edible plastic.
Add some stuff to cart.
Pro tip: The grocery store has wine.
Just wanted to help out a little.
Here’s to your dreams of being an elite home cook.

Meal Delivery

Like gift cards for groceries, meal delivery gift cards can really come in handy. Whether you’re giving them in a time of need (new baby, recovering from an accident or illness, etc.) or you just want to spoil them a little, here are some gift card message ideas to accompany your thoughtfulness.

Get you some yum!
Bon appétit!
Trust me, this is better than a home-cooked meal from me.
Don’t forget dessert. You definitely deserve it.
Watch carefully…dinner is almost here.
Dinner is on its way (soon)!
Because we just too pretty to cook.
This is between you and your arteries.
Always get the fries.
I’m buying.
Not cooking is the most delicious of all.
What’s a stove, am I right?
Gourmet dinners. There are people for this. Not me, but you know, other people.

Favorite Restaurant

From fancy sit-down places to the best burger joint in town, we all have a favorite restaurant. With a gift card to their favorite spot for sustenance, you’re showing you know them AND treating them to something nice. If you happen to be getting them another gift with the gift card, you can put it in this cute mini bag with a built-in gift card holder.

Here are some options for messages to go along with it:

You deserve all your favorite things today!
Hope your birthday is just delicious!
Get that dish you love! With food on it!
Don’t forget the wine!
Get what you love, love what you get.
Only the best food for you.
Yummy for you!
Another trip around the sun calls for a trip to your favorite restaurant.
Another reason to dress up! (Or dress down!)
Ask for the dessert menu.

Music Downloads

Music is a language we all understand. If you have a true music lover in your life, sometimes a gift card for some new tunes is the best present ever. And we’ve got inspiration for messages that’ll totally be their jam.

Enjoy some great music on me!
Not bragging, but this gift rocks!
No bread, just jams!
You’ve got great taste in music, so you should know what to do with this.
The gift of music. You’re welcome!
Some tune-age for you-nage.
New hears for your ears!
Download those favorite jams and dance.
Add something great to your playlist!
Find a song to get stuck in your head.
Play a little.
Tune in to a good day.
’Cause you’re very melodious.

Travel

We all know travel isn’t cheap. For the ones with wanderlust in their hearts, your gift card means the world…literally. Have some fun wishing them bon voyage with these message ideas for travel gift cards.

Enjoy your trip!
Souvenirs appreciated.
Send me a postcard with a kitten on it.
You can use this next time I’m being really annoying.
Just in case you ever get tired of [Kirksville]. Hey, it could happen.
It’s a big world out there…go explore it!
I hope this comes in handy on your adventure!
Get outta here!
Escape to someplace pretty!
Time for a passport!
Get out of Dodge.
Go where no YOU has gone before.
Need a travel buddy?
Rack up some reward miles!
Here’s an excuse to escape.

Online Gift Card

Just because a gift is convenient doesn’t mean it has to be impersonal! You can still add a few heartfelt or fun words to make it special—yes, even in that tiny little box they give you to write in. Here are some online gift card messages that keep things short and sweet.

Don’t spend this one on the kids. It’s all for you!
Consider this your permission slip for a mini shopping spree.
A little late-night shopping with a gift card never hurt anyone (probably).
It’s always shopping time.
Because you’ve always been the one who could pick out great gifts.
Gift yourself!

Bottom line: Pretty much everyone loves (and can use) a gift card. The key to making it feel personal is adding a short, sweet or funny message to really drive home how much you care.

Find even more great gift ideas:

Hostess gift wrap ideas for wine, gift cards and more
Graduation gift card idea: Mini grad cap full of surprises
17 ways to personalize a card with tuck-in gifts
40+ unique ways to personalize your gift wrap, toppers and cards
25+ “just because” gift ideas to show you care
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The Complete Gift Ideas Guide 2024

Gift Idea Guide
Gift Etiquette

What To Say When Giving A Gift

Giving a gift can be difficult. The recipient may not like it, you might say the wrong thing, or they might think it’s just not worth the price tag.

It’s overwhelming enough trying to figure out what gift to give, but then, you also need to come up with something to say when handing the gift to the recipient. Life doesn’t have to be so hard, we’re here to help with our handy list of things you can say when giving a gift.

Depending on the occasion, sometimes the best thing to say when handing a gift to someone is a simple:

‘Happy Birthday!’

‘Merry Christmas!’

‘Happy Anniversary’, or whatever else the occasion may call for.

This is a simple acknowledgement of the reason you are giving this lucky person a gift.

If you are giving a gift that is not for a special occasion, more of a ‘just because’ gift, then you could hand your gift over with a statement such as:

‘I saw this and thought of you.’

‘This made me think of you so I thought I’d get it for you.’

‘I really wanted to buy something from the cute little store to help the seller out, and I know how much you like strawberries, so I got this for you.’

‘I just felt like getting you something.’

‘Here’s a gift to show you how much you mean to me.’

‘You deserve it.’

‘I got you something – I hope you like it!’

‘Guess what I got for you!?’

‘Here’s a little something that I found for you.’

‘I thought you might find this useful!’

What To Say When Giving A Thank You Gift:

‘Just a small token of my appreciation.’

‘I got this for you to say thank you for…’

‘Thank you so much for……it really helped me out.’

‘You’ve no idea how much you helped me, this is just a little something to say thank you.’

‘I wanted to get you something to thank you.’

For something more formal, you could go with:

‘Please accept this gift as a token of my appreciation.’

‘I just wanted to formally acknowledge how much I appreciated your help.’

‘From all of us here, we just wanted to say thank you, and please accept this gift.’

Of course you can mix and match any of these types of statements so, depending on the occasion, you might say:

‘Happy birthday – I saw this and thought you might like it.’

‘Happy anniversary – I wanted to get you something special and I think this will look great on you.’

‘Merry Christmas – I hope you like it!’

You almost can’t go wrong when handing someone a gift – usually the recipient is genuinely delighted to be receiving a gift. Although apparently there is one phrase that people perceive negatively if it is said to them when handing them a gift, and that is ‘it will save you money.’

So, don’t hand them a gift, no matter how great it is, and tell them that it will save them money as this can cause offence. Telling the person it will save them money implies that they need help managing their money or that you don’t think they are using their money wisely and this tends to put negative connotations on the gift. Telling them it will save them time, however, is usually positively received!

Also, phrases such as ‘I got you this because I don’t think you wear enough color,’ and ‘Your gravy is always lumpy so I got you this strainer,’ should be avoided.

Your recipient doesn’t want to hear your negative judgments about them when receiving a gift from you. You could still potentially buy them a nice colorful scarf or a strainer but don’t add the negative comments when giving them the gift, a simple ‘I hope you like it’ will do.

Gift giving doesn’t have to be hard – in fact it should be an enjoyable process! If you have trouble choosing a gift for someone, check out our handy gift giving guides which are full of gift ideas and inspiration to get your gift giving, creative juices flowing.

We’ve even got a gift guide full of good gifts for people who have everything, so even those hard to buy for people are easy to buy for now!

Once you’ve chosen the perfect present, giving the gift to the recipient shouldn’t be a stumbling block either, now that you know what to say when giving a gift.

Simply hand the gift to the lucky recipient, say one of our simple phrases (or something similar) and give them a genuine smile.

Happy Gift Giving!

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Gift Giving Etiquette: 23 Rules Every Gift Giver Should Know

Giving gifts is a wonderful opportunity to show your love, gratitude, or appreciation for a person. If done in the right way of course. And for that, you need to know the proper gifting rules (AKA the gifting etiquette). We don’t get a course on gift-giving etiquette in school and unlike dinner etiquette, our parents don’t teach us all there is to know about the art of giving.

And that’s exactly why this post with the 23 rules of gift giving came into existence. The aim is to help you navigate through the rules of holiday seasons and other gifting expectations and to help you master the art of giving.

For more tips on how to give better gifts, check out these science-based gifting tips too.

In This Post:

Save these rules of gift-giving

Don’t forget to save these gifting rules on Pinterest!

gifting etiquette: 15 gifting rules you should know

Side note on these gifting rules

Keep in mind that the gifting etiquette we’re talking about today relates to the non-business gifting etiquette. Business gifts are something completely different because the intention of the gift and the relationship between the giver and receiver is different.

So please, if you are looking for the etiquette of gifting for work, you came to the wrong place.

Gifting etiquette: the 10 gifting rules everyone should know

#1 gifting etiquette is culturally dependent.

Alright, the first rule of today is also a confusing one. Because basically, it says: that the rules of gift giving vary around the world.

So why on earth did I say everyone needs to know these gifting etiquette rules if it’s different around the world?

Well, because even though some rules are culturally dependent, there are also rules that should be universally known. And one of them is, that you should respect the gifting etiquette of each country.

So before you buy a gift, make sure you’ve done your research about the receiver’s cultural background. In some countries you can’t give anything with the color red, in other countries it’s inappropriate to give a clock. So look up the rules for the receiver’s country to avoid any awkward and inappropriate gifting situations.

#2 Gifting is about the receiver

Now, this is one of the gifting rules everyone should understand.

It is not about you. It’s not about showing off any of the following

how rich you are
how much effort you put into the gift
how thoughtful you are
how well you know the recipient.

I know, it’s very tempting to find gifts that show the above statements. But if you’ve checked my guide on how to give great gifts , you may remember that all these things do not influence how the receiver evaluates the gift.

Multiple studies have shown that givers’ and receivers’ perspectives on gifts vary immensely, which is why so many gifts are returned or remain unused.

So if you want to really master the art of giving, no matter where you are in the world, put yourself in the recipient’s shoes.

Don’t picture their reaction upon opening it, but instead, try to picture them a year after having received your gift. How often will they use it or look at it? Will they still be happy with it, or has it become a burden or will it still be in the box stored somewhere in a corner? In the case of the latter, you’ve picked the wrong gift.

Do you need some help with identifying bad gifts from great ones? Check out this post in which 15 travel bloggers spill the beans about the worst gifts they ever received and why.

#3 It’s the thought that counts

It’s a cliché to say that it’s the thought that counts and if you ask the receivers it’s not even entirely true.

Wait, what?

Studies show that the actual gift is at least equally (and in some cases even more) as important as the thought that was put into it. (Source)

So why did I include this as a gifting rule everyone should know?

Well, two reasons.

First, I want to urge every receiver of gifts (which is basically anyone) to always appreciate the simple fact that someone cared enough for you to get you a gift. So make this cliché your own and check my guide on how to accept gift gracefully to learn more about why you should.

Second, I want to tell every giver that they should not misinterpret this cliché. It doesn’t give you a free pass to give inconsiderate and shitty gifts, just because the receiver should appreciate the fact that you are giving them something.

It is the thought that counts, but the thoughts you should have are “Why am I giving this gift and how can I make this a great gift for the receiver”. Again, think about the receiver, not yourself.

#4 Don’t expect anything in return

If you’re giving something only because you are expecting something in return, are you actually giving?

I know, it’s a philosophical question. But I think it’s an important one to think about when we’re talking about the rules of gift giving.

Because remember, true giving is not about you but about the receiver.

So don’t expect a return gift, a favor, and not even a thank you or a smile when you are giving a gift.

Because I think this is what makes gifting so awkward and painful at times. The givers expect the receivers to be extremely grateful and happy with their gift and are disappointed when they’re not. The receiver feels this pressure and lies about liking the gift and never using the gift. Or tell the giver honestly they don’t like it, which hurts the giver’s feelings.

And that’s all because givers always expect something in return. So let us all remember this rule; do not expect anything, not even a smile, in return. This is not about you, so don’t take the receiver’s response personally.

#5 Keep gifts within a reasonable budget

Unfortunately, I can’t tell you what that reasonable budget is. This depends on so many variables such as the occasion, your relationship with the receiver, and your financial situation.

But I’m pretty sure you can make an estimation of when you’re splurging.

And here is the general rule, don’t splurge.

It can make receivers feel uncomfortable. Especially in cultures where it’s expected to give something of equal value in return.

Plus, studies also showed that spending more doesn’t mean more appreciation of the gift. (Source)

#6 Always honor your host

I think most of us have been brought up with the idea that you never arrive empty-handed. And honestly, I think it’s a great gifting rule that we should all abide by. Now, this does not mean you should always bring physical gifts. I believe you can honor your host in many different ways, and you can always find the one that is best suited for your situation.

For instance, when your host explicitly tells you not to bring gifts, you can still honor them with words by thanking them and expressing what you appreciate about them. Alternatively, you can invite them to your place in return, offer to cook dinner (if you’re staying over or visit more often) or offer to do the groceries, clean up, or anything else.

Trust me, there is always a way to honor your host!

#7 Always show appreciation (even if you don’t like the gift)

Now, this is a gifting rule that applies to all receivers, and it’s something I have discussed in-depth in my guide on receiving gifts gracefully . So for now, I will keep it short and simple.

ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS, thank someone for their gift, and for the time, effort, and thought they put into getting the gift. Even if you don’t like the gift. Even if you intend to refuse the gift. (Yes, you absolutely can refuse gifts, we will talk more about this later.) But even then, you show appreciation for the effort and thought.

#8 Stick to registries; they are made for a reason

Alright, now this is a very short and simple rule that some of you may not like. But it’s really simple. Giving is not about you. And if the receiver has made a registry list and written down exactly what they want, you should stick to it!

I know it might be tempting to buy something unique because you think you’ve got the perfect idea. But trust me, the recipient knows themselves better than you do. So just stick with the registry (if there is something on there you can afford, of course).

Now, I think the only exception here is if you are close to the recipient and you are 100% sure that they will like your gift more; you can go for something else. But if you’re only 99% sure, just go with the registry gift.

#9 Workplace-giving etiquette

Alright, so this is not about corporate giving because that is something completely different that comes with its own set of rules. What I am referring to here is gift-giving rules for co-workers and bosses.

Now, be sure to check the company policies before you give your boss anything because it may be against the rules.

And when giving gifts to your co-workers, be mindful. Don’t give anything embarrassing or something they don’t want to share in the workplace. And if you don’t give gifts to all your co-workers, but just a few, do it in private outside office hours. That way you won’t make other co-workers feel excluded or feel bad about not buying a present.

Two people in an office exchanging gifts

#10 Send thank you notes within a week

If you received gifts through the mail, or for a party where you did not open them immediately and did not thank the giver right away, you should always send thank you notes within a week. But even if a week has already passed, it’s better to be late than never.

Now, in the current digital age, you no longer have to write each note by hand. For many, a simple text message will do.

Not sure what to write in such a note? Check out our list of funny thank you notes for inspiration!

Gifting etiquette: 8 taboos we should break

#11 it’s okay to not give something unique.

We all want to give amazing gifts and many of us think that we can only achieve this by giving something unique. Don’t worry if you are one of those many (so am I). It’s just that research has shown that receivers often prefer generic and more useful gifts over super unique ones. (Source)

So this is one of the gifting rules we should all remember if we want to step up our giving game; it’s okay to not be unique.

#12 It’s okay to ask what someone wants

I know it’s still taboo to ask a receiver what they would like to have. It takes away the surprise and it makes it seem as if you don’t want to put in any thought and effort to pick a gift yourself.

But receivers actually don’t care about that, they prefer solicited gifts over thoughtful ones. (Source)

And you know what? The fact that you asked, actually shows that you put in a lot of thought and the right kind of thought. The thought of “How can I give person X the best gift?”.

I know I said gifting etiquette is culturally dependent and you should respect them. But if you live in a country where asking what the receiver wants is inappropriate, it may be time to break with traditions and finally give great gifts. However, I would advise you to only do this with receivers you know very well, so you’re not risking your relationship with this question.

If you really can’t ask them what they want, check out the guide to giving better gifts for tips on how you can discover what they want without asking.

#13 Money and gift cards are acceptable gifts

Here is another taboo I want you to break. Gift cards and money don’t necessarily mean that you haven’t put any thought into this gift. Again, just as with asking the receiver, it shows that you put in the right kind of thought: “How can I really make person X happy?”

Plus, this is another example where givers’ and receivers’ perspectives vary.

From the giver’s perspective, it seems like a generic and unthoughtful gift, but from the receiver’s perspective, it’s a great gift. Did you know that in 2021 more than half of the respondents actually wished for a gift card over the holidays? (Source)

And there are plenty of ways in which you can still create that “wow” factor when gifting money or gift cards. For example by adding personal notes , making money origami, or using a puzzle box to open the gift.

Check out these 29 unique gift card-wrapping ideas for more options.

#14 It’s okay to regift a gift

You know, sometimes you just receive a gift that’s not your style or you might already have it. And some people don’t want to hurt the giver’s feelings and won’t say anything. (One could argue whether this is the right approach or not, but that’s a discussion for another day).

The point is, now you’re stuck with an unwanted gift.

So let’s be practical. Instead of letting this gift collect dust in your garage, why not give it to someone who will actually use this?

There are a few things I would advise you to keep into account when re-gifting a gift.

Don’t regift it to the person who gave it to you (duh, you will still hurt their feelings, and the whole point of you lying that you liked it was for nothing)
Don’t regift it to someone the original giver knows as well (see the first point)
Regift it to someone who will actually like it (but you want to give awesome gifts, so I’m sure you thought about this point)
Repack it and make it look like you bought the gift (nobody likes to receive something that looks used)

#15 It’s okay to give the receiver the option to return the gift

Here is another gifting etiquette rule that I think we should break. Giving the receipt or asking for the receipt should be acceptable.

If you are not sure whether the recipient will love the gift, and you stayed within an acceptable range of budget, it is totally fine to add the receipt to the gift. Or offer the recipient the option to change it.

It’s not an insult to you and you should never take it personally (remember, gifting is not about you). It’s just practical. They might need a different size, prefer a different color, or they may already have something similar. And if followed gifting rule #5 and you didn’t splurge, there is nothing crazy to be seen on the receipt.

#16 It is totally acceptable to refuse gifts

Now, I know I said earlier to be appreciative, but that doesn’t mean you can never say no. If for whatever reason it does not feel right to accept a gift, you always (and I mean ALWAYS) have the freedom to decline politely.

Whether it’s because it’s an expensive gift, a romantic gesture you can’t reciprocate, or a bribe, if it doesn’t feel right, simply thank them for their thought, but decline the gift.

I know that refusing gifts is quite a difficult thing to do, and it’s highly personal and cultural, so I wrote a full guide on refusing gifts to help you navigate this debate and give you tools on how to handle each situation.

#17 You don’t have to spend as much on someone as they spend on you

This is a gifting rule that comes with a few nuances, but in general terms, I want you to understand that it is perfectly fine if you buy someone a gift that is not as expensive as the one they bought for you. Gifts don’t necessarily need to be of equal value.

First of all, value can be measured in many different ways. So who says that if your gift was cheaper, it’s not as valuable? Second, we are all in different phases of life, and if the giver or recipient is someone you know, they will understand that and will love you for who you are, not for the amount of money you have.

So my point of view is that it should not matter too much. However, if you do feel uncomfortable because of your friends or relatives’ expensive gifts, you can always talk to them about it. I’m pretty sure they will tell you that for them it is just a way of showing that they love you and that they do not expect anything in return, but simply have a chat and figure it out together.

Creative ways to give money: inside a box

#18 It is okay if you don’t have anything in return

I talked about this in my guide on how to accept gifts with style . But rule number one when it comes to not having a return gift is to not make a big deal out of it. The more you focus on it by apologizing or lying that you have something for them, the more awkward it gets.

Simply thank them for their kind gesture, and perhaps remember to do something nice for them later as a return of favor in a different way. Gift giving is not an eye for an eye. It’s about sharing love, and love can be shared in a million different ways.

Gifting etiquette: 5 things you should avoid

#19 don’t make gifting awkward for the receiver.

Unless you know each other really well and your relationship is based on pranking each other, you should try to avoid embarrassing the receiver.

So don’t give a whole speech to someone who hates being in the middle of attention. Don’t say it was a really expensive gift. Don’t gift something awkward in front of other people. It might be funny for you, but remember, this is about the receiver, not you.

Basically, try to make giving as comfortable for the receiver as possible.

#20 Don’t make giving awkward for the people around

For proper gift-giving etiquette, there are two things you want to avoid when there are other people around the receiver.

First, you don’t want to make people feel left out because you brought a gift for one person and not for them. And second, you don’t want to make people feel bad about themselves because they didn’t bring a gift for the recipient.

So if there are other people around the receiver, wait until you have a private moment together to give your gift.

#21 Don’t gift things that can be a burden unless you’re 100% certain

Put yourself in the receiver’s shoes and ask yourself this question: “ Will they enjoy using this gift or will it be a burden? “.

For example, don’t gift your grandmother who doesn’t understand technology a high-tech alarm clock. Instead, give her a simple one she can use right away. And don’t gift a coffee machine that only uses expensive cups (unless you know they want it). You are literally forcing the receiver to buy these expensive cups just to use your gift.

#22 Don’t give pets unless specifically asked for

Yes, everybody loves a cute puppy.

But that doesn’t mean everybody should have a puppy.

Never, ever give pets to someone unless they’ve specifically requested one.

Animals are living things that require love and care. They are basically like kids and probably one of the highest-burden gifts out there.

So please, if there is one gifting rule you are willing to take from today, let it be this one and treat animals with the love they deserve.

#23 Don’t gift something that insinuates the receiver is not good enough

I guess this is one of the most obvious gift-giving etiquettes on this list, but I still felt like I had to include it.

Don’t gift something that insinuates that the receiver is not good enough right now.

So don’t give exercise equipment, self-help books, plastic surgery (honestly, I didn’t even know people did this), or personal development training.

Of course, there is an exception here. And that is, it’s okay to give any of these things if and only if the receiver specifically requests it. Though you could add a personal note saying you gave them this because they asked for it, in your opinion, they are perfect the way they are.

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Final note on gift-giving etiquette

Alright, these were the 15 gift giving rules that I think everyone should know. I hope we can break some useless gifting etiquettes and taboos here and all learn the true art of giving

Gifts of Love

Henry b. eyring.

Commissioner of the Church Educational System

December 16, 1980

He could give that gift because of another one given long ago. God, the Father, gave his Son, and Jesus Christ gave us the Atonement, the greatest of all gifts and all giving.

Thank you, President Holland. I am delighted to be here with you. I pray that I may have the blessings of the Spirit so that I can say something useful to you.

A father asked me yesterday to advise him about giving a Christmas gift to his daughter. He just can’t decide whether or not to give this gift, or how to give it. His daughter is a college student; she may even be listening today. Her hectic life of school activities is made even harder because she doesn’t have a car. She begs rides, and she sometimes misses appointments. Her dad doesn’t have enough money for another car, at least not without some real sacrifice by his family. But he’s found a used car he might buy for her if he cuts enough corners on the family budget. And now he’s wondering. He asked me, “Will that car really be good for her, or will it be a problem? I love her, and she really could use it, but do you think it will help her or spoil her?” Let me guess. I can hear you rooting for the car: “Go for it! Go for it!”

I didn’t try to answer his question then, but I could sense his worry and sympathize with him. You ought to have sympathy for both givers and getters at Christmastime. Last night my sons, Matthew and John, and I spent time at a toy store. Above us a red Santa Claus spun slowly as the sound of a mother whispering with clenched teeth floated over the stacks of toys to our aisle: “Don’t tell me what your brother did to you. I saw everything. Do you want me to hit you right here in the store? Now you go outside and sit on that bench. And you stay there. And if you don’t I won’t get you a thing.” John and I shrugged and smiled at each other as we moved on, and I hummed inwardly, “Tis the season to be jolly. . . .”

Gift giving isn’t easy. It’s hard to give a gift with confidence. There are so many things that can go wrong. You wonder if the person on the other end will want it. My batting average on that is low. At least I think it is. You can’t really tell what gets returned after Christmas, but I am cautious enough that I always wrap the gift in the box from the store where I bought it.

I’ve always daydreamed of being a great gift giver. I picture people opening my gifts and showing with tears of joy and a smile that the giving, not just the gift, has touched their hearts. You must have that daydream, too. Many of you are probably already experts in gift giving. But even the experts may share some of my curiosity about what makes a gift great. I’ve been surrounded by expert gift givers all my life. None of them has ever told me how to do it, but I’ve been watching and I’ve been building a theory. I think it’s finally ready to be shared, at least among friends at this university. Here it is: The Eyring Theory of Gift Giving and Receiving. I call it a theory because it is surely incomplete. And calling it a theory means I expect you will change and improve it. I hope so, because then it will be yours. But at least I can help your theory building along.

My theory comes from thinking about many gifts and many holidays, but one day and one gift can illustrate it. The day was not Christmas nor even close to it. It was a summer day. My mother had died in the early afternoon. My father, my brother, and I had been at the hospital. As we walked out, my brother and I went to the car together, smiled, and looked up at the mountains. We remembered how Mother had always said she loved the mountains so much. He and I laughed and guessed that if the celestial worlds are really flat, like a sea of glass, she would be eager to get away to build her own worlds, and the first thing she’d build would be mountains. With that we smiled and got into the car and drove home. We went to the family home, and Dad met us there. There were just the three of us.

Friends and family came and went. In a lull, we fixed ourselves a snack. Then we visited with more callers. It grew late and dusk fell; I remember we still had not turned on the lights.

Then Dad answered the doorbell again. It was Aunt Catherine and Uncle Bill. When they’d walked just a few feet past the vestibule, Uncle Bill extended his hand, and I could see that he was holding a bottle of cherries. I can still see the deep red, almost purple, cherries and the shining gold cap on the mason jar. He said, “You might enjoy these. You probably haven’t had dessert.”

We hadn’t. The three of us sat around the kitchen table and put some cherries in bowls and ate them as Uncle Bill and Aunt Catherine cleared some dishes. Uncle Bill then asked, “Are there people you haven’t had time to call? Just give me some names, and I’ll do it.” We mentioned a few relatives who would want to know of Mother’s death. And then Aunt Catherine and Uncle Bill were gone. They could not have been with us more than twenty minutes.

Now, you can understand my theory best if you focus on one gift: the bottle of cherries. And let me explain this theory from the point of view of one person who received the gift: me. As we’ll see, that is crucial. What matters in what the giver does is what the receiver feels. You may not believe that yet, but trust me for the moment. So let’s start from inside me and with the gift of the bottle of cherries.

As near as I can tell, the giving and receiving of a great gift always has three parts. Here they are, illustrated by that gift on a summer evening.

First, I knew that Uncle Bill and Aunt Catherine had felt what I was feeling and had been touched. I’m not over the thrill of that yet. They must have felt we’d be too tired to fix much food. They must have felt that a bowl of home-canned cherries would make us, for a moment, feel like a family again. And not only did they feel what I felt, they were touched by it. Just knowing that someone had understood meant far more to me than the cherries themselves. I can’t remember the taste of the cherries, but I remember that someone knew my heart and cared.

Second, I felt the gift was free. I knew Uncle Bill and Aunt Catherine had chosen freely to bring a gift. I knew they weren’t doing so to compel a response from us. The gift seemed, at least to me, to provide them with joy just by their giving it.

And third, there was sacrifice. Now you might say, “Wait. How could they give for the joy of it and yet make a sacrifice?” Well, I could see the sacrifice because the cherries were home bottled. That meant Aunt Catherine had prepared them for her family. They must have liked cherries. But she took that possible pleasure from them and gave it to us. That’s sacrifice. However, I have realized since then this marvelous fact: It must have seemed to Uncle Bill and Aunt Catherine that they would have more pleasure if we had the cherries than if they did. There was sacrifice, but they made it for a greater return: our happiness. Most people feel deprived as they sacrifice to give another person a gift, and then they let that person know it. But only expert givers let the receiver sense that their sacrifice brings them joy.

Well, there it is—a simple theory. When you’re on the receiving end, you will discover three things in great gift givers: (1) they felt what you felt and were touched, (2) they gave freely, and (3) they counted sacrifice a bargain.

Now you can see it won’t be easy to use this theory to make big strides in your gift giving this Christmas. I don’t expect you’ll all rush out now and buy gifts brilliantly. It will take some practice—more than one holiday—to learn how to feel and be touched by what is inside someone else. And giving freely and counting sacrifice as joy will take a while. But you could start this Christmas being a good receiver. You might notice and you might appreciate. My theory suggests that you have the power to make others great gift givers by what you notice. You could make any gift better by what you choose to see, and you could, by failing to notice, make any gift a failure.

You can guess the advice I might have given my friend—the one with the careless daughter. Would a car be a good gift? Of course it could be, but something very special must happen in the eyes of that daughter. On Christmas morning, her eyes would need to see past the car to Dad and to the family. If she saw that he had read her heart and really cared, if she saw that she’d not wheedled the car from the family nor that they had given it to extract some performance, and if she really saw the sacrifice and the joy with which it was made for her, then the gift would be more than wheels. In fact, the gift would still be carrying her long after the wheels no longer turned. (And from the dad’s description of the car’s age, that time could come fairly soon.) Her appreciation, if it lasts, will make a great gift of whatever awaits her on Christmas morning.

Gift giving requires a sensitive giver and receiver. I hope we will use this little theory not to criticize the gifts that come our way this year, but to see how often our hearts are understood and gifts are given joyfully, even with sacrifice.

There is something you could do this Christmas to start becoming a better gift giver yourself. In fact, as students, you have some special chances. You could begin to put some gifts—great gifts—on layaway for future Christmases. Let me tell you about them.

You could start back in your room today. Is there an unfinished paper somewhere in the stacks? (I assume there are stacks there; I think I know your room.) Perhaps it is typed and apparently ready to turn in. Why bother more with it? I learned why during a religion class I taught once at Ricks College. I was teaching from section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants. In that section Emma Smith is told that she should give her time to “writing and to learning much” (verse 8). About three rows back sat a blonde girl whose brow wrinkled as I urged the class to be diligent in developing writing skills. She raised her hand and said, “That doesn’t seem reasonable to me. All I’ll ever write are letters to my children.” That brought laughter all around the class. I felt chagrined to have applied that scripture to her. Just looking at her I could imagine a full quiver of children around her, and I could even see the letters she’d write in purple ink, with handwriting slanting backwards; neat, round loops; and circles for the tops of the i’ s. Maybe writing powerfully wouldn’t matter to her.

Then a young man stood up, near the back. He’d said little during the term; I’m not sure he’d ever spoken before. He was older than the other students, and he was shy. He asked if he could speak. He told in a quiet voice of having been a soldier in Vietnam. One day, in what he thought would be a lull, he had left his rifle and walked across his fortified compound to mail call. Just as he got a letter in his hand, he heard a bugle blowing and shouts and mortar and rifle fire coming ahead of the swarming enemy. He fought his way back to his rifle, using his hands as weapons. With the men who survived, he drove the enemy out. The wounded were evacuated. Then he sat down among the living, and some of the dead, and he opened his letter. It was from his mother. She wrote that she’d had a spiritual experience that assured her that he would live to come home if he were righteous. In my class, the boy said quietly, “That letter was scripture to me. I kept it.” And he sat down.

You may have a child someday, perhaps a son. Can you see his face? Can you see him somewhere, sometime, in mortal danger? Can you feel the fear in his heart? Does it touch you? Would you like to give freely? What sacrifice will it take to write the letter your heart will want to send? You won’t do it in the hour before the postman comes. Nor will it be possible in a day or even in a week. It may take years. Start the practice this afternoon. Go back to your room and write and read and rewrite that paper again and again. It won’t seem like sacrifice if you picture that boy, feel his heart, and think of the letters he’ll need someday.

Now, some of you may not have a paper waiting for you. It may be a textbook with a math problem hidden in it. (They hide them these days; the math is often tucked away in a special section that you can skip. And so many of you do.) Let me tell you about a Christmas in your future. You’ll have a teenage son or daughter who’ll say, “I hate school.” After some careful listening, you’ll find it is not school or even mathematics he or she hates—it’s the feeling of failure.

You’ll correctly discern those feelings and you’ll be touched; you’ll want to freely give. So you’ll open the text and say, “Let’s look at one of the problems together.” Think of the shock you will feel when you see that the same rowboat is still going downstream in two hours and back in five hours, and the questions are still how fast the current is and how far the boat traveled. Just think what a shock it will be when you remember you’ve seen that problem before. Why, that rowboat has been in the water for generations! You might think, “Well, I’ll make my children feel better by showing them that I can’t do math either.” Let me give you some advice: They will see that as a poor gift.

There is a better gift, but it will take effort now. My dad, when he was a boy, must have tackled the rowboat problem and lots of others. That was part of the equipment he needed to become a scientist who would make a difference to chemistry. But he also made a difference to me. Our family room didn’t look as elegant as some. It had one kind of furniture—chairs—and one wall decoration—a green chalkboard. I came to the age your boy or girl will reach. I didn’t wonder if I could work the math problems; I’d proved to my satisfaction that I couldn’t. And some of my teachers were satisfied that that was true, too.

But Dad wasn’t satisfied. He thought I could do it. So we took turns at that chalkboard. I can’t remember the gifts my dad wrapped and helped put under a tree. But I remember the chalkboard and his quiet voice. In fact, there were some times when his voice was not quiet at all—he did shout, I’ll have to admit in his presence—but he built up my mathematics, and he built up me. To do this took more than knowing what I needed and caring. It took more than being willing to give his time then, precious as it was. It took time he had spent earlier when he had the chances you have now. Because he had spent time then, he and I could have that time at the chalkboard and he could help me. And because he gave me that, I’ve got a boy who has let me sit down with him this year. We’ve rowed that same boat up and down. And his teacher wrote “much improved” on his report card. But I’ll tell you what’s improved most: the feelings of a fine boy about himself. Nothing I will put under the tree for Stuart this year has half the chance of becoming a family heirloom that his pride of accomplishment does.

Now I see some art (or are they music?) majors smiling. They’re thinking, “He surely can’t convince me there’s a gift hidden in my unfinished assignments.” Let me try. Last week I went to an Eagle Scout court of honor. I’ve been to dozens, but this one had something I won’t forget. Before the Eagle badge was given, there was a slide and sound show. The lights went down, and I recognized two voices on the tape. One was a famous singer in the background, and the other, the narrator, was the father of the new Eagle Scout. The slides were of eagles soaring and of mountains and of moon landings. I don’t know if the Eagle Scout had a lump in his throat quite the size of mine, but I know he’ll remember the gift. His dad must have spent hours preparing slides, writing words that soared, and then somehow getting music and words coordinated for the right volume and timing. You’ll have a boy someday who will be honored at such an event, with all his cousins and aunts and uncles looking on. And with your whole heart, you’ll want to tell him what he is and what he can be. Whether you can give that gift then depends on whether you feel his heart now and are touched and start building the creative skills you’ll need. And it will mean more than you now can dream, I promise you.

There is yet another gift some of you may want to give that takes starting early. I saw it started once when I was a bishop. A student sat across my desk from me. He talked about mistakes he had made. And he talked about how much he wanted the children he might have someday to have a dad who could use his priesthood and to whom they could be sealed forever. He said he knew that the price and pain of repentance might be great. And then he said something I will not forget: “Bishop, I am coming back. I will do whatever it takes. I am coming back.” He felt sorrow. And he had faith in Christ. And still it took months of painful effort. Finally, he asked if it were enough. And he said he didn’t want me to guess; he wanted to be sure.

About that time a kind priesthood leader took me aside and asked me if I had any questions. I said that I did, and I asked how I could know when a person has done what it takes to be forgiven. To my surprise, he didn’t give me a lecture on repentance or on revelation. He just asked some questions. They weren’t what I had expected. They were questions like these: “Does he attend all his meetings?”

“Does he come on time?”

“Does he do what he is asked?”

“Does he do it promptly?”

The questions went on that way for a few minutes. And all the answers were the same. Then he said “Do you have your answer?”

And I said, “Yes.”

And so somewhere this Christmas there is a family with a righteous priesthood bearer at its head. They have eternal hopes and peace on earth. He’ll probably give his family all sorts of gifts wrapped brightly, but nothing will matter quite so much as the one he started a long time ago in my office and has never stopped giving. He felt then the needs of children he’d only dreamed of, and he gave early and freely. He sacrificed his pride and sloth and numbed feelings. I am sure it doesn’t seem like sacrifice now.

He could give that gift because of another one given long ago. God, the Father, gave his Son, and Jesus Christ gave us the Atonement, the greatest of all gifts and all giving. They somehow felt all the pain and sorrow of sin that would fall on all of us and everyone else who would ever live. I testify that what Paul said is true:

We have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. [Hebrews 4:14–16]

I bear you my testimony that Jesus gave the gift freely, willingly, to us all. He said, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself” (John 10:17–18). All men and women come into this life with that gift. They will live again, and if they will, they may live with him.

And I bear you testimony that as you accept that gift, given through infinite sacrifice, it brings joy to the giver. Jesus taught, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).

If that warms you as it does me, you may well want to give a gift to the Savior. Others did at his birth. Knowing what we do, how much more do we want to give him something. But he seems to have everything. Well, not quite. He doesn’t have you with him again forever, not yet. I hope you are touched by the feelings of his heart enough to sense how much he wants to know you are coming home to him. You can’t give that gift to him in one day, or one Christmas, but you could show him today that you are on the way. You could pray. You could read a page of scripture. You could keep a commandment.

If you have already done these things, there is still something left to give. All around you are people he loves and can only help through you and me. One of the sure signs that a person has accepted the gift of the Savior’s Atonement is gift giving. The process of cleansing seems to make us more sensitive, more gracious, more pleased to share what means so much to us. I suppose that’s why the Savior spoke of giving in describing who would finally come home.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. [Matthew 25:34–40]

And that, I suppose, is the nicest effect of receiving great gifts. It makes us want to give, and give well. I’ve been blessed all my life by such gifts. I acknowledge that. I’m sure you do, too. Many of those gifts were given long ago. We’re near the birthday of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He gave his great talent, and his life, that the gospel of Jesus Christ might be restored for me and for you. Ancestors of mine from Switzerland and Germany and Yorkshire and Wales left home and familiar ways to embrace the restored gospel, as much for me as for them, perhaps more. It was ten years after the Saints came into these mountains before my great-grandfather’s journal shows one reference to so much as a Christmas meal. One entry reads, in its entirety: “December 25, 1855: Fixed a shed and went to the cedars. Four sheep died last night. Froze.” I acknowledge such gifts, which I only hope I am capable of sending along to people I have not yet seen.

And so shall we do what we can to appreciate and to give a merry Christmas?

“Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). I pray that we will freely give. I pray that we will be touched by the feelings of others, that we will give without feelings of compulsion or expectation of gain, and that we will know that sacrifice is made sweet to us when we treasure the joy it brings to another heart. For this I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Henry B. Eyring was Commissioner of the Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this devotional address was given at Brigham Young University on 16 December 1980.

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Learn What to Say in English When You Give or Receive a Gift

ThoughtCo / Hilary Allison

Pronunciation & Conversation
Writing Skills
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Business English
Resources for Teachers
TESOL Diploma, Trinity College London
M.A., Music Performance, Cologne University of Music
B.A., Vocal Performance, Eastman School of Music

Every culture has its own customs for gift-giving, and there are special words and phrases for such occasions in every language, including in English. Whether you're new to the language or are fairly proficient, you can learn what to say when you're giving or receiving a gift in just about any situation.

Formal and Informal Situations

In much of the English-speaking world, it is customary to use the right tone when giving and receiving gifts. In informal situations, such as when you're with friends or family, gift-givers and their lucky recipients can both be casual or clever. Some people like to make a big fuss when they give and receive presents; others are very modest. The important thing is to be sincere. Speech tends to be more conservative in formal situations such as a wedding or a workplace or when giving or receiving a gift from someone you don't know well.

Phrases for Giving Gifts

Informal situations.

Here are some common informal phrases you can use when giving a gift to a close friend, a family member, or a loved one:

I got you something. I hope you like the gift ( or , I hope you like it).
Look what I have for you!
I thought you might like this for...
Happy Birthday! [Happy Anniversary!] Here's a little gift/present for you.
[Handing present to someone] Enjoy!
It's only something small, but I hope you like it.
Here's a little present for you.
Guess what I bought you!

Formal Situations

These are a few common phrases for gift-giving in formal settings, such as a wedding or a business dinner:

[Name], I'd like to give you this present/gift.
[Name], This is a present that I/we/staff got you.
I'd like to present you with this...(very formal, used when giving an award or special present)
In the name of [xyz], I'd like to give you this present. (also very formal)
Here is a token of our appreciation.

Phrases for Receiving Presents

A sincere "thank you" spoken with a smile is the only English phrase you really need when someone gives you a gift. But if you want to expand your vocabulary , you'll want to know some other phrases to use in different situations:

Thank you so much!
That's so kind!
You shouldn't have!
Thank you! It's beautiful.
I love it! I'll put it on/hang it up/... immediately.
That is so thoughtful of you. It matches my...perfectly!
How did you know I've always wanted a...to go with my...?
Thank you. I really needed a...
Fantastic! I've been thinking about getting a...
This is exactly what I needed. Now, I can...
How kind of you! I've always wanted to see...in concert/at the movies/at an exhibition.
Wow! This is a dream come true! Tickets for...
Thank you so much! I've hoped/wanted to travel to...for a long time.

Practice Dialogues

Now that you know more about what to say when you give or receive a present, practice the statements to keep your skills sharp. The following two dialogues are a good place to start. The first one is an informal setting between two people who know each other. The second dialogue is what you'd hear in a formal setting like an office.

Friend 2: Anna, hi! It's good to see you.

Friend 1: Hi Tammy! I got you something. I hope you it.

Friend 2: I'm sure I will. Let me open it!

Friend 1: It's only something small.

Friend 2: Come on, thank you so much!

Friend 1: Well, what do you think?

Friend 2: I love it! It matches my sweater!

Friend 1: I know. That's why I bought it.

Friend 2: How did you know I've always wanted a broach to go with this sweater?

Friend 1: I'm glad you like it.

Friend 2: Like it? I love it!

Colleague 1: Your attention, your attention! Tom, could you come over here?

Colleague 2: What's this?

Colleague 1: Tom, in the name of everybody here, I'd like to give you this token of our appreciation.

Colleague 2: Thank you, Bob. I'm so honored.

Colleague 1: We thought you might be able to use this at home.

Colleague 2: Let's see...let me open it.

Colleague 1: The suspense is killing us.

Colleague 2: You've wrapped it up so tightly! Oh, it's beautiful.

Colleague 1: What do you think?

Colleague 2: Thank you so much! This is exactly what I needed. Now I can get to work building that birdhouse.

Colleague 1: We had a little help from your wife. She told us about your love of woodworking.

Colleague 2: What a thoughtful gift. I'll put it to good use immediately.

Colleague 1: Thank you, Tom, for all you've done for this company.

Colleague 2: My pleasure, indeed.

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25 Perfect Things to Say When Giving Money As a Gift

By: Author Hiuyan Lam

Posted on Last updated: October 20, 2023

Categories Conversational Cues

25 Perfect Things to Say When Giving Money As a Gift

Ignore what people say about giving money as a gift, because who wouldn’t want a bit of extra cash? However, it’s important to know what to say when giving money as a gift.

See, you don’t want to make things awkward and make the person uncomfortable, and you definitely don’t want to be cheesy. You could go the generic route with what to say, but “safe” isn’t always what it chalks up to be, and it can come off as insincere.

Start with what the money’s for, whether as a gift for a life accomplishment, a push to a goal, or a financial favor. From there you can work out what to say to suit the situation and your relationship.

Are you very close or do you share an intimate relationship? Are you being a Good Samaritan to a stranger?

All these things should be considered when gifting cash. Here are a few examples of what to say when giving money as a gift:

10 things to say when money is a practical gift

Admit it. Buying gifts for certain people in your life can be a real headache, especially if you have dissimilar interests. It’s always better to be practical, and money is a practical gift. Imagine dishing out that cash on something the recipient isn’t even going to use much, or even appreciate? That’s a waste, especially when giving money as a gift will allow the recipient to buy something that they like or want. Here’s what to say when giving money as a gift when you want to be practical:

happy senior businessman wearing eyeglasses counting money while sitting at table with laptop

8 things to say when you think that the recipient might need money to reach their goals

Money separates the world and makes it harder for the underprivileged to meet their goals. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the way life is. Money allows us to do so much more in life, and have greater chances of meeting goals. This goal could be visiting a foreign country, starting a business, or even completing school. Some cash can help to push someone you know closer to their goal and even make it attainable. When you wish to help someone reach their goals, this is what to say when giving money as a gift:

person giving money to another person ask someone for money they owe you

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black and red train passing through forest

7 things to say when you think that the recipient might have financial difficulties

Many of us are a paycheck or two from financial ruin. The reality is that financial difficulties are a possibility for anyone. Financial difficulties can develop over years, or pop up due to unfortunate circumstances. You never know. For the most part, it’s completely out of our hands, so when you think money might make someone’s life a little easier, a cash gift is a great idea. These are some ideas of what to say when giving money as a gift:

06 picture two girl friends making surprise stripes clothes

Some people are still on the fence about giving money as a gift, but as long as it is coming from a good place, it should be well received by the recipient. Combined with a good idea of what to say when giving money as a gift, you have nothing to worry about!

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Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Presentation Speech Topics For Award Ceremonies

Presentation speech template including eleven speech topics for presenting an award, prize or gift to a happy recipient leading to a brief photo opportunity in the end. Bear in mind that you have to be short and sweet epitomizing. Each of the public speaking speech topics take two or three sentences maximally. The layout in this tutorial helps an enchanted public speaker to set up a good and aesthetically ceremonial award presentation.

The first remark you have to make is a commenting to the occasion. Refer why you are here together, refresh their memories a bit by stipulating why this is such a special day. Enforce the power of the delightful purpose of this meeting, and the happy recipient.
Explain in your presentation speech what the award represents. Be brief, since the audience has read the invitation and publicity material. Describe these underlying elemental public speaking power factors:

Symbol	E.g. ?	?
Goal	E.g. ?
Categories	E.g.	?
History	E.g.?
Named after	E.g.?	?
Previous winners	E.g.	?

Describe the organization you are representing. Tell why you are privileged to present. Make your speech personal, offer personal thoughts, experiences and feelings.
Praise the recipient. Present outstanding contributions, achievements or records that are relevant. Adapt them to the goals and meaning of the ceremonial special occasion .

Explain why the contributions are outstanding or unique. What offers did it take the winner? Refer to special qualifications and to similarities with other recipients.

Again: keep it short – 3 minutes for your award speech will do most of the time. Although it even can be somewhat shorter.

Mention the reasons for choosing her or him as recipient. Link the contributions to the meaning of the honor.
Make a concluding characterization by telling a compelling story or anecdote in the presentation speech text.
Ask if the receiver will come forward and declare her or him the winner.
Link the previous speech topics to what the prize gift stands for. Tip: read the inscription out loud and show the golden medal, the engraved plaque, the recognition trophy cup, or the certificate words.
At the end of your address congratulate her or him.
Hand over the award, prize, diploma, certificate or gift card.
Shake hands with the person or group being honored. Schedule a brief photo opportunity and smile to the camera! After the ceremony you could allow a small interview to invited journalists.

Finally, of course give the winner the opportunity to speak after your award presentation speech address. And start clapping your hands to express your honest approval after she or he has completed the thank you phrases.

Keep smiling all the time.

Epideictic Speech [Topics and Examples]

Birthday Speech [From Celebrant or For a Guest]

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Four ways to turn a speech into a gift.

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Chiara Alzati: CEO and founder, Chiara Alzati Srl ; corporate effective communication and public speaking trainer, speaker, and author.

Addressing an audience comes with a profound responsibility, extending beyond mere knowledge transfer. It involves catalyzing a transformation in individuals, offering them a precious gift beyond words. For those outside the realm of professional communication, achieving this depth involves several key strategies.

1. Keep it simple.

First and foremost, simplicity in a speech is crucial. Ensuring that every word is accessible to all is a fundamental concept. Never presume that the audience shares familiarity with certain concepts. Similes become powerful tools, especially when tackling complex topics. For example, explaining cognitive neuroscience to a sophisticated audience might involve portraying it as deciphering the brain's neural code—a journey akin to exploring an intricate library where each neuron is a book, and synapses are pages rich with knowledge.

2. Share personal experiences.

Sharing personal experiences is the second pillar. Narrating your own story not only establishes a genuine connection with the audience but also serves as a powerful tool for inspiration. Your personal narrative is what sets you apart, making you unique and uncopyable. This authenticity reflects the richness of your journey and the valuable lessons learned throughout your life. Stories are powerful in creating connections, allowing the audience to empathize.

3. Maintain high energy.

Maintaining a high energy level in the room is the third element. It is crucial to keep the audience engaged and receptive to your message. The room should be conceived as a dynamic space where the energy you exude sets the tone for the entire interaction. Music can serve as a powerful mood enhancer, establishing an atmosphere that complements and reinforces the emotions you wish to convey. Whether it's an upbeat tune to invigorate or a melodic backdrop to evoke reflection, the right musical choice can significantly impact the audience's receptiveness.

The audience senses your energy level. If it is low, attention in the room tends to diminish.

Energetic body language is a visual manifestation of your enthusiasm and passion. Movements that mirror the rhythm of your message, purposeful gestures that emphasize key points and a confident posture contribute to a captivating and dynamic stage presence. Your body becomes a conduit for the energy you aim to convey, creating a more immersive experience for your audience.

Vocal variety adds an auditory dimension to your presentation. Modulating your tone, pitch and pace prevents monotony, sustaining the audience's interest. A well-timed pause, an emphatic rise in volume or a deliberate change in pitch can emphasize critical points and infuse vitality into your message.

If you are compelled to speak behind a podium, leverage the power of gestures and vocal variety even more to compensate for the inability to move around the stage. Avoid leaning on the podium, staying rigid and speaking in a flat and monotonous tone.

4. Connect with the audience.

The fourth element involves creating genuine connections with individuals through authenticity. The pursuit of perfection can be a stumbling block. Approaching the audience with a light-hearted spirit of sharing enhances effectiveness. In contrast, when emphasis is placed on performance and meticulous control, a disconnection from the audience often ensues. Falling into the perfection trap as a speaker leads to focusing on oneself rather than the people in your audience. Remember, the audience is not interested in a perfect speaker; they want to grasp the value you can bring with your speech.

Bring it all together.

To seamlessly integrate these four elements, speakers should ask themselves: "What could I do in my next presentation to ensure that my audience has an experience akin to a 4D cinema?" The goal is to transport your audience into a captivating and immersive journey, ensuring they not only hear but also feel the essence of your message.

Expanding further on this concept, speakers can leverage cinematic dimensions: emotional, interactive, temporal and scenic.

• The emotional dimension involves establishing a deep connection with the audience, using vivid images and emotions to convey messages. For example, instead of declaring a decision was difficult, one can liken it to standing at a crossroads with multiple paths, each wrapped in uncertainty.

• The interactive dimension goes beyond the conventional one-way communication model, incorporating real-time polls, Q&A sessions and participatory activities. Actively engaging the audience transforms the presentation into a dynamic dialogue, ensuring active involvement.

• The temporal dimension leverages an awareness of time throughout the presentation, encompassing past, present and future. Physically embodying this temporal journey by strategically positioning oneself on the stage enhances visual engagement. When at the center of the stage, delve into the present; as you move toward one side, explore the past, and on the other, project into the future.

• The scenic dimension involves orchestrating the stage setting, ensuring seamless management of scenic elements and strategically incorporating props—tangible objects that serve as visual aids. A well-managed scenography captures the audience's attention and establishes a context that reinforces the core message. The judicious use of props adds a dynamic layer to the presentation, clarifying complex ideas.

If sharing a personal story, consider bringing on stage a personal item with special meaning related to the narrative, creating a more emotional connection with the audience.

My wish for you is always to ask yourself: "How can I truly make my next speech special, considering it as a genuine gift for my audience?" When you ask this question and give yourself time for answers, you are heading in the right direction. You are hitting play on your creativity and curiosity, both essential elements to turn your next speech into a true masterpiece, making you understood, admired and remembered. A speech should never be just a speech; it should always be considered as a gift. And as a speaker, you are always Santa Claus—remember that!

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WATCH LIVE: Harris gives speech on her economic vision in Pittsburgh

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to speak at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh, where she plans to stress a “pragmatic” philosophy while outlining new policies to boost domestic manufacturing, according to a senior campaign official who sought anonymity to describe the upcoming address. The Democratic nominee’s remarks come after she told a swanky audience of donors in New York City on Sunday that she would cut any “red tape” holding back growth.

The event is scheduled to begin at 2:15 p.m. EDT. Watch in the player above.

Billionaire Mark Cuban said business leaders like him are backing Harris because she has taken considered stances that companies can understand even when they have a different perspective.

“I want a president that for business goes into details and has a policy team that understands all the ramifications of what’s been proposed,” Cuban said on a Tuesday call with reporters set up by the Harris campaign.

Harris has made efforts to elevate the middle class her top priority, often talking about her own background in the middle class to suggest that her ideas emerged out of a personal journey.

But at a New York City event on Sunday, she also made a pitch aimed at corporations that want less drama when dealing with government.

“We will create a stable business environment with consistent and transparent rules of the road,” Harris said. “We will invest in semiconductors, clean energy, and other industries of the future. And we will cut needless bureaucracy and unnecessary red tape, all of which will create jobs, drive broad-based economic growth, and cement America’s leadership throughout the world.”

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65+ Short ‘Thank You for the Gift’ Messages to Send

Updated 12/28/2023

Published 05/11/2020

Belinda McLeod, BA in Secondary Education

Contributing writer

Discover how to say thank you after receiving a gift, whether it's from family, friends, or colleagues.

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure .

Over the last several decades, many traditions in society have become much less formal. Whether the changes have been good or bad are open for interpretation.

Jump ahead to these sections:

How to say ‘thank you for the gift’ to a friend, how to say ‘thank you for the gift’ to a family member, how to say ‘thank you for the gift’ to a boss, coworker, or client, how to say ‘thank you for the gift’ to a partner or spouse, how to say ‘thank you for the gift’ to a company or business, how to say thank you for a sympathy gift, how to say thank you for a birthday gift, how to say thank you for a wedding gift, how to say thank you for a baby shower gift, how to say thank you for a retirement gift, how to say thank you for a holiday gift, short thank you for the gift messages for a text or dm.

One thing that hopefully will never disappear is the formal act of showing gratitude for a gift by writing a thank you note . Here are some snippets of text that you may find helpful when writing a thank you message for gifts received in one of the following situations

You may feel less concerned about writing a formal thank you note to a friend, especially one who is in the same general age bracket as you. After all, you may text some of these friends dozens of times a day, and sending a formal card through the mail may seem cumbersome, especially if you often exchange small gifts.

There is one notable exception to this rule. Many people have not given up the formality of writing a thank you note when receiving a sympathy gift . You may find it difficult to formulate the expressions of gratitude in person if you recently lost someone you loved, so it simply may be easier to write the sentiment on a thank you card and send it through the mail.

Here are some samples of text for writing a thank you note to a friend. Personalize the message so it fits your situation.

1. You were so sweet to think of me on my birthday. I love the personalized wine glasses and I can’t wait to use them with you when we share a bottle of our favorite red.

Just because you are writing a formal thank you note, it doesn’t mean that you have to use formal language. If you are writing a thank you note to a good friend, feel free to use a chatty, conversational style.

2. We had such a great time on the holiday light tour. Thank you so much for including our family in this delightful event.

You may find yourself in the position of sending thanks from your entire family. You may consider having everyone in the family sign their names at the bottom of the card.

3. I am so lucky to have a friend like you. Thank you for inviting me to the Elton John concert last night. It has been one of my lifelong dreams to see him perform.

Don’t forget to thank people for gifts of experiences as well as gifts of things.

4. You know me better than anyone else. Thank you for picking out such a thoughtful and perfect gift.

Of course, make sure you name the item for which you are offering thanks.

5. Thank you so much for the support you have shown my family and me during my mother’s illness. Also, thank you for the beautiful ficus tree that you sent to the funeral home. You have been such a wonderful friend. I appreciate you so much.

You may have an entire list of things to be thankful for when writing a note of gratitude.

Oddly enough, sometimes it’s harder to say thank you to a family member than it is to say thank you to a friend or acquaintance. For some reason, we think that family members “have” to be supportive, so thanking them does not seem as necessary.

Instead, we should be quicker to show gratitude to the people who are closest to us. They are the people who put up with our idiosyncrasies.

Here are some sample messages to send to your parents, siblings, or children.

6. How can I ever thank you enough for our recent trip to Disney World? I am so thankful that the kids got to experience the Magic Kingdom with their grandparents. We love you!

Write thank you gifts for the big and small presents that you receive.

7. I haven’t taken off my “sisters” necklace since you gave it to me last week. Thank you for the sweet gift.

Even if the relationship with some of your family members is “complicated,” make sure you thank them for the nice things they do.

8. God gave me the best gift when he gave me you as parents. Thank you so much for showing me love, support, and encouragement throughout the years.

Don’t wait for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day to tell your parents, “Thank you.”

9. You always give the most thoughtful gifts. Thank you for the luggage. I plan to use it when I travel to Europe the summer after graduation.

There’s nothing wrong with using the tried-and-true formula for writing thank you notes. Name the item, tell the giver “thank you,” and describe how you will be using it. This formula is especially helpful if you are writing a thank you note for money .

10. I am the luckiest mom in the world. Thank you for the lovely Mother’s Day flowers, cards, and homemade breakfast.

Your kids will learn to write thank you notes from your example. If you want them to get into the habit, you need to do it yourself.

Of course, writing a thank you note to a boss, coworker, or client should be more formal in tone than one you would write to a friend. Here are some samples of texts you may consider using.

11. It was such a lovely surprise to see flowers on my desk on Administrative Assistant’s Day. Thank you for remembering me.

Keep some formal thank you cards in your desk at work so you are prepared to write notes for any gifts you may receive.

12. The May Day basket was such a pleasant surprise. Thank you for your thoughtful gift.

Thank you notes don’t have to be lengthy. That’s why most thank you notes that you purchase from the store are small cards.

13. Thank you for remembering me on my birthday! Lunch was terrific! You are the greatest coworkers ever!

You may want to send out a group email to thank all those who participated in your birthday lunch. Formal thank you notes are not necessary when the act was more out of tradition than generosity, but it is still nice to express appreciation.

14. The last month has been challenging for me. Thank you for finishing projects, filing reports, and taking over some of my daily responsibilities when my daughter was in the hospital.

Coworkers who have your back are worth their weight in gold.

15. It doesn’t seem as if I started at Smith and Smythe 25 years ago this month. Thank you for remembering my silver work anniversary. I will wear my engraved watch with pride.

It may feel awkward to send a thank you note for a thank you gift, but we find ourselves in these strange situations sometimes.

Don’t forget to thank your partner, significant other, or spouse for the gifts he or she gives you. This person puts up with you during your good and bad moods deserves to be treated kindly.

16. Thank you for the beautiful necklace. You really do spoil me. I am so thankful that I went out on that blind date 18 years ago.

Of course, when you write a thank you note to your family members, you can thank them for so much more than a physical gift.

17. Thank you for staying up late to finish painting the entryway. I know what a big job this was, but it was nice having it done before my parents’ visit.

When you live with someone for a long time, you may appreciate jobs your spouse completes instead of gifts that your spouse gives you.

18. My mom was right. You were a great catch. Thank you for surprising me with the new grill I’ve been wanting.

Tuck your thank you note into your spouse’s computer bag or leave it on his or her side of the bed.

19. Thank you for encouraging me to go on the trip to the Bahamas with my friends. I didn’t realize how depressed I had been until I spent a few days in the sunshine. Thank you, honey!

Relationships are full of sacrifice and compromise on both sides.

20. Thanks for the motorcycle jacket, honey. You are the best!

Your notes to your spouse can be short and sweet.

You may find yourself in the position to have to write a thank you note to a company or business. Here are some samples of text you may use.

21. Thank you for the gift certificate to Mickey’s. What a thoughtful gift! I am so thankful that I was assigned to work on your account. You have not only been great customers, but you have also become wonderful friends.

Don’t forget that you are representing your company when you write a note to a customer. Keep the tone formal.

22. I cried when I saw that the beautiful arrangement at my mother’s funeral was from Smith Enterprises. What a sweet gesture!

Don’t be afraid to show some emotion when writing a thank you note to business associates.

23. Thank you so much for choosing me as the recipient of the 2022 Smith Company Scholarship. I am honored to have been selected.

Encourage your children to write thank you notes for any scholarships they receive.

24. Your generosity amazes me. Thank you for the considerable contribution you made to Head for the Cure.

Don’t forget to write personal messages when a company makes a monetary donation to a nonprofit organization.

25. We are thankful for generous organizations like yours in our community. Thank you for contributing the face masks to our nursing home workers. Your donation may have saved lives.

A kind act deserves a kind response.

If your loved one experienced a long illness, you might have quite a few thank you notes to write after they die. After all, your friends and extended family members may have been providing meals and acts of service leading up to and around the time of death.

Then, they may have purchased floral arrangements, plants, wind chimes, memorial jewelry, or other gifts at the time of the service. Finally, you may need to thank those who wrote the eulogy, performed at the funeral, or went above and beyond to offer you support.

Here's how to say thank you for an act of kindness following a loved one's death.

26. Words do not express how much I have appreciated all you have done for my family in the last seven months. Organizing the meal train alone was a wonderful gift. Thank you also for the hospital visits, the help with the kids, and the generous donation to Head for the Cure.

If you have a hard time listing everything someone has done for you, admit to it in your thank you note.

27. Thank you so much for the beautiful floral arrangement and kind words. The Family of Dwight Smith

Thank you notes don't have to be long. Some families choose to sign the message "The Family of (Name)" or "The (Name) Family" instead of signing as an individual.

28. Thank you for the generous donation to the American Cancer Society you made in honor of Frederick.

Many non-profit organizations will also thank donors for donations. However, it's kind to thank donors on behalf of the family as well.

29. I've never received a more touching and perfect gift than the fingerprint necklace you surprised me with the other day. It gives me such comfort having Aretha's tiny fingerprint close to my heart.

Personal notes call for personal messages of appreciation.

Another trip around the sun is worthy of celebration! Thank the people who honored you with a gift. Here's how to do it.

30. I am so lucky to have such great friends! Thank you for surprising me on my 50th birthday. I can't stop smiling! I had no idea what I was walking into when I walked into the clubhouse that night!

Don't forget to thank the party organizers of a surprise event.

31. Thank you for surprising me with the most perfect gift. I will treasure the mother's ring forever.

Some people send thank you notes to their friends and extended family members but may feel it is unnecessary to send a message to those in their own household. However, your spouse and children need to know that you appreciate them too, so write thank you notes to them as well.

32. I can't wait to use the martini glasses you gave me for my birthday! Let's break them in soon!

You don't have to begin a thank you note with the phrase "thank you."

33. I had such a great time with you on the historic home tour. Thank you for organizing it and purchasing the tickets for my birthday!

Don't forget to thank people for organizing experiences.

34. It was such a wonderful surprise to receive a beautiful flower arrangement on my birthday! Thank you so much for the cheerful daisies. They are my favorite!

Thank you notes sometimes can act as verification that you received a gift. Put the gift giver at ease by letting them know that the present was delivered to the correct address.

35. I know that my birthday celebration didn't end up as you had planned, but thank you for organizing it anyway! You couldn't have known that there would be 13 tornadoes in the area that night!

It's nice to thank people who attempted to do something nice for you.

Start your marriage with expressions of gratitude by sending thank you notes for your wedding gifts. Also, don't forget to thank parents, attendants, and organizers. Here are some examples.

36. We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends. Thank you so much for traveling to Hawaii for our dream wedding. I hope you had a great time celebrating with us in paradise!

Don't forget to thank the people who had to travel to attend your wedding.

37. Ryan and I were so excited to receive the Wusthof knife set! Thank you so much for the generous gift.

Most etiquette guides remind new couples to name the specific gift they received.

38. Thank you so much for attending our wedding! It was great to see Amelia – she has grown up so much! We also appreciate the monetary gift. We plan to put it toward a vacation to Europe next summer.

Thanking someone for money may feel awkward. However, you don't have to name the amount you received in a thank you note.

39. Thank you for the generous gift! We plan to use it to remodel the master bathroom in our new house.

You don't have to use the words "money," "cash," or "check." Instead, label a monetary gift as a "generous gift."

40. We were sorry that you were unable to attend our wedding. Thank you for the money. We used it to buy a clock when we went to Germany on our honeymoon.

Here's an example of thanking someone for a specific item purchased with a monetary gift.

41. Your gift will certainly come in handy as we begin remodeling our house. Thank you so much!

Again, no mention of "money" is made in this style of thank you note.

Congratulations on your new addition! Here's how to write a thank you note for a baby shower gift. We have made it easy for you since we know you are probably sleep-deprived.

42. I can't wait to read the books you gave us for our new little one! I have such fond memories of reading with my mom.

Are you not ready to share your baby's name? There are tricks to use when writing a thank you note that will enable you to hide the name and gender.

43. Baby Smith is so lucky to have such a wonderful family! Thank you for hosting such a beautiful shower. The food and decorations were Pinterest-worthy! Thank you, also, for the adorable outfit. We plan to bring Baby Smith home in it.

People tend to overuse exclamation marks, but multiple exclamation marks may be appropriate in this case.

44. Beatrice looks so cute in the adorable outfit you gave us at the shower. We plan to use it for her three-month pictures – if it still fits! She's growing so fast!

Here's a message of appreciation for a gift that doesn't include the words "thank you."

45. Thank you for the generous gift card to Target. We plan to use it for a jogging stroller, so I can get back into shape after Baby Smith arrives.

You don't have to say how you will be spending a gift card, but it gives you something to write about in the thank you note.

46. Thank you for my favorite stuffed bunny and Beatrix Potter books. I can't wait to snuggle with you while you read the book to me.

Some people write thank you notes from the perspective of the baby. We aren't going to say whether we think this is cute or cringy. That's for you to decide.

You should have plenty of time to write thank you notes now that you have retired. So here's how to say thank you for the retirement gifts.

47. I always told my family that I had the best coworkers. After attending my retirement party, they finally believe me. Thank you so much for hosting such a fun night. It was amazing to see past and present Vance Refrigeration employees.

Did someone throw a party in your honor? Thank them for hosting.

48. Thanks for the laugh! Your comedic retirement gift was the hit of the party! I'm tucking it away to re-gift to you in a few years.

Did you receive a gag gift at your retirement party? Here's how to respond.

49. I can't wait to spend more time in the garden. I'll definitely put your gift to use. Thank you for the tools, flower pots, and seeds!

Did you receive tools for your new hobby? Here's how to thank someone for such a gift.

50. Thank you for the gift card to Amazon. I plan on using it to buy a stack of mystery novels that have been on my to-read list for years.

Did you receive gift cards as a retirement gift? You might tell the gift-giver how you plan to spend the money.

51. Even though I am excited to spend more time with my kids and grandkids, I am sad that I won't be able to see you all every day. I never dreaded going to work. In fact, I looked forward to it every Monday morning. Thank you for being such wonderful coworkers and friends.

Some people write a general thank you note to their coworkers as they retire. This shouldn't replace thank you notes for individual gifts, but it could be used for a group gift.

Did you receive something special for Christmas or another holiday? Don't forget to say thanks! Here's how to write the perfect thank you note.

52. Thank you for the beautiful cashmere sweater. I'll think of you every time I wear it.

Here's a basic, friendly, thank you note for a thoughtful gift.

53. You have always been so good at picking out gifts. Thank you for the vintage clock – I absolutely love it! It goes perfectly in my mid-century modern living room.

Give a shout-out to people who are good at gift-giving.

54. It was so lovely gathering together again after having our holiday celebrations disrupted by Covid. Thank you for hosting the party. We had a wonderful time.

Don't forget to thank those hosting the celebrations.

55. Thank you for the Christmas check. I'm going to buy new sneakers with it so that I can be prepared for my New Year's resolutions.

Did you get money for Christmas? Here's how to say thanks.

56. I love adding to my Christmas village collection. Thank you for the thoughtful gift.

Did you pick out your own gift? You still should say "thanks."

57. Who doesn't love putting on a brand-new pair of socks? Thanks for the practical gift. I'm trying to downsize, so I appreciate this gift so much.

Here's a way to thank someone for a boring but practical gift.

58. I can't wait to wear my new rain boots! I'm probably the only person looking forward to a rainy day!

We hope that we have taught you that thank you notes don't have to begin with those words.

59. Thank you for the beautiful Easter lily. It bloomed for weeks and looked beautiful on my mantel.

Did you receive a hostess gift? Here's a simple way to say "thanks."

Some of you, at a certain age, may cringe at the idea of sending a thank you by text or direct message. However, in some cases, this is a suitable way to say thanks. We aren't sure what official etiquette guides have to say on the matter, but we think that sending a quick text to say thanks for a birthday or holiday gift is okay.

60. I just received a beautiful bouquet of roses! Thanks, honey!

Did your spouse surprise you with something special? Send a quick thanks.

61. Pillars of the Earth was a fantastic read! Thanks for giving me the book.

Some people wait until the gift is "used" or enjoyed to say thanks.

62. The new teething rings are working great! Thank you for sending them.

Did someone see a need and purchase a gift? Then, send a quick message of appreciation.

63. We had such a great time on the brewery tour! Thanks for inviting us!

You can send this message whether you purchased the tickets for the event or not.

64. I've never been so excited to do my nails! Thank you for the manicure set. It's getting a lot of use.

Do you need to write thank yous for your birthday gifts? Send a quick text and check the task off your list.

65. Every time I pass by the drawing you did of Maggie, I stop and stare in amazement. You are so talented! Thank you for the thoughtful gift.

Gifts don't have to cost anything to be meaningful.

66. Thank you for making the family calendar every year. I look forward to flipping the page at the beginning of each month.

Do you receive the same gift from a family member every year? You might find it hard to write an original thank you note each time. So instead, send a quick text of appreciation.

Keep Thank You Notes Alive

Even though our society is becoming less formal, it would be nice to keep the thank you note alive. Expressing gratitude is not only important to the recipient, but it is an excellent way to count your blessings as well.

45+ Ways to Word a Thank You Note for Money

22 Ways to Say ‘Thank You for Your Encouragement’

24 Better Ways to Say 'Thank You for Your Help'

Thank You Note Etiquette: What to Do (And What Not to Do)

Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Kamala Harris Giving Speech While 'Hammered' -- It Was Altered To Make Her Sound Drunk

Sep 23, 2024
by: Ed Payne

Does a social media video show Kamala Harris giving a speech in Atlanta on September 20, 2024, while she appeared to be intoxicated? No, that's not true: Lead Stories found the original version of the speech, and the version circulating on social media has been slowed down to make her sound intoxicated. There is no evidence the vice president was "hammered" during her speech.

The claim appeared in a video (archived here ) posted on TikTok on September 21, 2024, under the on-screen title, "She is hammered. This is insane!" The video's caption said:

There has to be something that can be done about this. #trump2024🇺🇸 #Maga #Trump2024 #donaldtrump #kamalaharrisvp #jesussaves #AFF #austinforeman

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Sep 23 15:59:26 2024 UTC)

Other than providing the altered video, the post offered nothing else to support its implication that Harris was drunk when she gave the speech in Atlanta in September 2024. The video with the slowed-down audio is embedded below:

@2therepublic1776 There has to be something that can be done about this. #trump2024🇺🇸 #Maga #Trump2024 #donaldtrump #kamalaharrisvp #jesussaves #AFF #austinforeman ♬ original sound - 2theRepublic1776

Original videos

Lead Stories found original versions of the speech online; one (archived here ) that matched the camera angle of the video used in the TikTok post and one (archived here ) from a different angle. In both versions, the vice president speaks at her faster, regular pace and does not sound "hammered," drunk or intoxicated, as various social-media posts described it. The two videos, which are not slowed down, are included below:

Different angle

During her address, Harris does briefly change her speech pattern to do a quick impression of "Trump and his running mate," but then switches back to her normal speaking voice.

As of the time this fact check was written, FACTLY had reviewed a similar claim in May 2023.

Our fact checks of claims related to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party's 2024 presidential nominee, can be found here . Our fact checks of claims about the 2024 U.S. presidential elections are here .

Ed Payne is a staff writer at Lead Stories. He is an Emmy Award-winning journalist as part of CNN’s coverage of 9/11. Ed worked at CNN for nearly 24 years with the CNN Radio Network and CNN Digital. Most recently, he was a Digital Senior Producer for Gray Television’s Digital Content Center, the company’s digital news hub for 100+ TV stations. Ed also worked as a writer and editor for WebMD. In addition to his journalistic endeavors, Ed is the author of two children’s book series: “The Daily Rounds of a Hound” and “Vail’s Tales.” Read more about or contact Ed Payne

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Fact Check: 'Legal' Statement Does NOT Protect User Data From Meta's Generative AI -- It's Made Up

Fact Check: Pink Did NOT 'Wipe' Her X Account In September 2024 After 'Diddy' Combs Indictment -- She Deleted In February 2024

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Fact Check: NO Evidence Video Shows Alexis Lorenze Suffering Typical Reaction To DTaP, Meningitis, Pneumonia Vaccines -- But Vaccination Can Prompt Reactions In People With Her Rare Condition

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Fact Check: FAKE Photo Has Kamala Harris Posing With Sean 'Diddy' Combs -- Actual Photo Was Harris With TV Host Montel Williams In 2001

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Fact Check: Video Does NOT Prove 'Harvesting Children's Faces' In China Or Elsewhere -- It Shows Women Talking About Facelifts

Fact Check: FAKE Posts About Missing Elderly Couple Raymond Peterson And Wife Sophie Are Bait-And-Switch Real Estate Ads

Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Black Man In Springfield, Ohio, With Suitcase Full Of Frogs -- Video Took Place In Grenada

Fact Check: Shaq Did NOT Throw Tim Walz Out Of Restaurant Or Say 'Don't Come Back Here, You're A Disappointment'

Fact Check: FBI Crime Data Did NOT Report Zero Homicides In Los Angeles Or New Orleans In 2023

Fact Check: FAKE Video Shows Interview Between Trump, 'Diddy' Combs That Never Happened

Share your opinion, lead stories.

Gift-Giving Is My Love Language — Here Are My Go-To Presents For Anyone You're Shopping For

Growth Strategist, HuffPost Shopping

Shopping for other people has always brought me joy. I have vivid memories of perusing the tables at school events like the book fair and the holiday market picking out items for everyone in my family.

I also know that finding the perfect gift isn’t easy. Anticipating what someone wants or needs is a game with varying levels of difficulty, depending on the recipient. It’s a challenge I love to face head-on, and solving that puzzle makes me happier than any present I have received. That’s why I made it the focus of my career.

As a member of HuffPost’s Shopping team, it’s my job to identify the products that will resonate most with our readers. When it comes to gift-giving, we all have busy lives, so it’s totally understandable if you don’t have the time or energy to figure out what to buy. I’m here to help. I curated a collection of my favorite products that I have given out over the years. These foolproof recommendations will earn you the same excited gratitude from everyone on your list.

HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Gifts For Anyone

I'm a bit of a collector of Bluetooth speakers, so I've tried many brands of all shapes and sizes. One of Altec Lansing's most recent offerings, the HydraMicro , offers fantastic sound quality while being compact enough to travel anywhere. You don't need to know a person's musical taste for them to make use of this, which is why I find speakers to be a solid choice for a casual acquaintance or a white elephant gift exchange.

When shopping for someone you aren't very close to, I find going with something practical to be the safest route. We all have devices that require charging, so chances are high that whomever is receiving this gift from you will be grateful. Courant's Catch:1 wireless charging pad works with several iPhone and Galaxy phone models and fits in well on a desk or nightstand.

If you live in a climate that gets cold in winter, new gloves could go a long way. The Brooks Running Fusion midweight glove 2.0 is a simple design that will keep their hands warm, whether they run or just need to brave the outdoors on cold days.

I have given and received at least a dozen dopp kits over the years, but this one takes the cake. Bagsmart has created the toiletry version of the magical bag from "Mary Poppins," and I can't gatekeep it anymore. Between the copious number of compartments and the built-in hanger, this gift is guaranteed to help the person you buy it for become a better traveler.

It's essentially an unspoken rule in the gaming community to pay it forward when you discover something as entertaining as Vango's Straight to Jail card game. Each round, a player is tasked with ranking the severity of hilariously terrible offenses like blasting music from a speaker while hiking or ending a work email with a cheesy sign-off line. The rules are simple, so even casual gamers will catch on quickly.

Gifts For Your Host

If you're attending a gathering at someone else's home and looking to bring something more than a bottle of wine or dessert, consider this wood serving tray from Kamsah . They could use it as a piece of decor or to present a culinary spread if entertaining guests is a common occurrence for them.

My love for candles runs deep, and I return to Harlem Candle Company time and time again. The tricky part is finding the scent your recipient will enjoy most. In my experience, every offering from HCC has been a hit, but my personal favorite is Langston , inspired by poet/activist Langston Hughes. Every one of their candles looks as pretty as they smell.

Your host is having a gathering to create memories for their guests, so bring them something to help preserve photos from the event. The Dragon Touch digital picture frame is affordable and, best of all, easy to use. The last thing you want to do is give someone a gift they can't figure out how to operate.

Even if you don't know a single one of your recipient's interests, they definitely sleep, and they probably also enjoy cozy nights on the couch. Who doesn't? That's why I love to give blankets, especially to people welcoming me into their home. They put in a lot of work to make sure their guests leave happy, so they've definitely earned that downtime. You can find cozy blankets at many retailers for any budget, but Quince has never disappointed me when it comes to their bedding, and it doesn't get much better than their 100% cotton Fisherman throw .

This option is especially helpful if you're invited to someone's house for a meal. Sure, you could show up with something sweet just like everyone else, or you could shake things up by presenting them with this savory set of four bottles of Enzo specialty olive oils and 1 bottle of their balsamic vinegar . This is the type of oil you serve with a bread basket to really taste the quality. I love gifting this set to the foodies in my life.

Gifts For Your Significant Other

In my opinion, the Amazon Fire tablet is a better and more affordable tablet option than an iPad. As an avid reader, I love how simple it is to access ebooks through the Kindle app and watch shows or movies I own on Prime. If you're considering this as an option for your romantic partner, I also suggest pre-loading their favorite titles onto the tablet so they don't have to fuss with setting anything up after they open it.

There's no shame in giving a gift you could end up using for yourself as well. It doesn't matter how athletic or generally active your partner is; everyone can appreciate a deep massage. Arboleaf's massage gun falls into a very reasonable price point compared to similar items from other brands, and the device comes with 5 interchangeable nozzles, each offering a different massage experience.

I take great pride in creating music playlists on Spotify, and I take as much pride in selecting the headphones to listen to those playlists. Marshall is a brand I always come back to. Their headphones are more durable than any other brand I have used, which is important considering how often buds tend to fall out of my ear. Their most recent release, the Minor IV , is worth every penny if your partner has been hoping to upgrade their buds.

You may know Frye for their iconic boots, but they offer so much more. Their belts are beautiful , too, and I can't get enough of their wallets. They have the more traditional bifold option or, my preference, this simple card case/money clip combo .

Shoes are a gift that should be reserved for those you know well. It requires you to know their size and style preferences, which is why I only consider giving them to my husband or another family member. Once you have the info you need, Marc Nolan is the way to go . Their styles range from elevated classic options to more fashion-forward options for both men and women. My favorite part: Nearly every pair is less than $150.

Gifts For Kids

No matter how many things I bring my niece and nephew, they're always most excited to open their blind boxes. This Disney Doorables Squish’Alots line combines four things kids love: Disney, squishy stuff, miniatures and mystery toys. For what it's worth, I'm also a fully grown adult man who has to resist starting a collection of these for myself. They're just too stinkin' cute!

I grew up in the '90s and fell hard for my Tamagotchi when they were first released. I'm admittedly a little jealous that kids today get to play with essentially an updated version called Bitzee . This is one of my go-to gifts because it teaches children about responsibility while they interact with their adorable magical pet.

Arts and crafts was always a highly anticipated camp activity for me, so I'm always looking for items to keep kids' creative juices flowing. The 3Doodler is a much smaller and more budget-friendly alternative to investing in a 3D printer. Kids can use the multi-colored plastic strands to bring their ideas to life and there's way less clean-up for the adults when they're done.

This one is a grand slam home run every time. It's one of the few toys that stays in constant rotation when I visit my niece and nephew. If the whole poop thing doesn't bother you, it's a game that will keep them entertained for hours. As long as they keep making it, I'll keep buying it for the kids in my life. Every home should have a Silly Poopy .

Without question, the greatest part about being an uncle has been introducing a new generation to the games and characters I grew up with. There are other video game systems out there, but Nintendo Switch Lite (and the original Nintendo Switch ) offers a catalog of family-friendly titles like Super Mario Bros. Wonder , Animal Crossing: New Horizons and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom . You can also sign up for Nintendo Switch Online to access games from their old consoles like NES, SNES and Gameboy.

From Our Partner

Harris to flesh out her economic vision in Pittsburgh, looking to gain ground on Trump

PITTSBURGH — Kamala Harris plans to flesh out her economic vision Wednesday in what her campaign is billing as a “major speech” in battleground Pennsylvania, with the goal of chipping away at Donald Trump’s advantage among voters on the issue.

The speech will tie together various themes of the Harris campaign, including her own biography and how it defines her economic vision.

Along with touting her existing economic proposals, Harris will announce “new proposals for how she would make sure America leads the world in manufacturing in the industries of the future,” a senior Harris campaign official said, without providing details.

Harris plans to describe her economic vision as “pragmatic” and not “bound by ideology,” the official said. The message is consistent with her shift to the center since she claimed the Democratic presidential nomination and also counters Trump’s bid to highlight left-wing positions she took in 2019 as a presidential candidate.

Harris will also present herself as the candidate of the working class, touting her humble upbringing and portraying Trump as a candidate who’s interested only in enriching wealthy people like himself, according to excerpts viewed by NBC News.

“For Donald Trump, our economy works best if it works for those who own the big skyscrapers. Not those who build them. Not those who wire them. Not those who mop the floors,” Harris plans to say.

Trump’s advantage on handling the economy has shrunk since Harris replaced President Joe Biden as his opponent, according to NBC News polling . In a January poll, Trump led Biden by 22 points when it comes to dealing with the economy. But a new September poll released Sunday found Trump leading Harris by a narrower 9 points on dealing with the economy.

That advantage could be crucial in swaying undecided voters in pivotal states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nevada, where the race is close. The economy consistently ranks as a top issue for voters, and it has been one of Trump’s assets countering his array of liabilities.

Harris recently laid out her plans for cutting costs on groceries, medication and housing, as well as boosting small businesses. But she has avoided getting specific on a host of other issues, including the federal minimum wage, paid family and medical leave, child care funding, how to extend health care coverage and whether she favors piercing the Senate filibuster to pass some of her promises, like $35-per-month insulin for all Americans. It’s not clear whether she will lay out details of those issues in her Pittsburgh speech.

“I’m going to be giving a speech this week that is really to outline my vision for the economy,” Harris told reporters Sunday. “As you’ve heard me talk about, I believe in what we can create in terms of opportunity for the American people. I’ve named it an opportunity economy, which really, in short form, is about what we can do more to invest in the aspirations, the ambitions and the dreams of the American people while addressing the challenges that they face.”

The Harris campaign has also seen Trump’s advantage on economic issues shrink and aims to use the Pittsburgh speech to win the battle of “who’s fighting for you” in the minds of voters, portraying her as being for the middle class and depicting Trump as a symbol of the billionaire class, the official said. The campaign’s internal data shows that the more voters hear from her on economic issues, the more they like her, the official added, saying voters care less about specific policy planks and more about her values and priorities.

She is also seeking to reach working-class Black and Latino voters, among whom Trump is seeking to make gains in his quest for 270 electoral votes.

“From the very beginning of this campaign Vice President Harris has been clear: She is not taking a single voter for granted, and she will put in the work needed to earn every single vote,” Terrance Woodbury, president of HIT Strategies, which polls Black voters for the Harris campaign, said in a statement. “According to our recent polling, Black voters’ economic priorities include reducing costs and increasing wealth. The Vice President’s Opportunity Economy agenda speaks directly to these economic priorities and will be especially important for earning the votes of undecided Black voters.”

Sahil Kapur is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.

Kelly O’Donnell is Senior White House correspondent for NBC News.

Yamiche Alcindor is an NBC News Washington correspondent.

Sarah Dean is a 2024 NBC News campaign embed.

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Eulogy For Loss of Daughter

My Dearest,

I stand here today with a heart both heavy and full. Heavy because you are no longer here with us, and full because of the immeasurable gift of your presence in my life. There are no words that can fully express the depth of gratitude I have for the time we shared, but I will do my best to honor you in the way you deserve.

From the moment you entered my world, you brought light. Your laughter could fill a room, your smile could ease any burden, and your spirit—oh, your spirit—was like no other. You had this way of making every moment feel special, as if just being together was enough, as if every shared glance, every word, held its own magic.

You poured yourself into everything you did, especially your love for the game. You weren't just a player—you were a force, a teammate who gave everything on and off the field. Your dedication was unmatched, not just in skill but in the way you uplifted those around you. It wasn’t just about the wins, though I know how much you loved those too. It was about the camaraderie, the shared triumphs, the moments of joy and struggle. You inspired me, and so many others, with your resilience, with your determination to push through even when things were hard. Your strength was more than physical; it was in the way you believed in your team, in the way you believed in yourself.

Even off the field, you carried that same dedication. You were the heart of every gathering, the one who made sure everyone was seen, everyone was heard. You made friends out of strangers, and you always found a way to make people feel like they belonged. That was your greatest gift. You brought people together. You brought us together.

And as I look back on our time, I find myself so grateful for the memories we've shared. The little moments—like those quiet mornings with just the two of us—seem even more precious now. The way you'd tell me about your plans, your dreams, the way your eyes would light up when you spoke about what the future held. I see now how lucky I was to witness those moments, to be by your side as you grew into the person you were becoming. You were, and always will be, my greatest pride.

I miss you. I miss everything about you—the way you’d make me laugh when I needed it most, the way you could always sense when I needed comfort. And I know I am not alone in this. Your teammates, your friends, everyone whose life you touched—they carry your legacy with them too. The world is a better place because of you, and I am so deeply grateful that I had the privilege of being your parent.

I will carry you with me every day, in the quiet moments, in the joy and sorrow alike. I promise to live with the same passion, the same kindness, that you carried. I promise to keep your memory alive, in all the ways that matter most.

Thank you, my love, for being you. For teaching me what it means to love without limits, to give without hesitation, and to live without fear. I will never stop being grateful for you. I will never stop loving you.

How to Make This Eulogy Your Own:

Personalize the sport or activity: If your daughter wasn’t into sports, substitute the reference to her dedication in the game with something she was passionate about—music, art, academics, community service, etc. Emphasize the way she contributed to her passion.
Include personal memories: Swap out general memories with specific moments that stand out to you. Maybe she had a favorite place, a tradition the two of you shared, or a particular habit that always brought you joy.
Adjust the tone to fit your relationship: If your daughter had a particular sense of humor or a unique way of showing affection, weave that into the eulogy. This can make the speech feel even more authentic to your relationship.
Focus on the legacy: Reflect on what her presence brought into your life and the lives of others. Did she have a saying she lived by? A particular quality others admired? Bringing these elements to the forefront can help capture her essence.

This eulogy can serve as a template that can be shaped to honor any life in a way that feels deeply personal to you.

Zelensky Addresses the Security Council, Calling for Attention to Stay on Ukraine

“Russia can only be forced into peace.” President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine urged the Council members to sustain their backing for his country’s resistance to Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Share full article

By Edward Wong and Farnaz Fassihi

Reporting from the United Nations

Sept. 24, 2024

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday that “Russia can only be forced into peace” and urged that the Russia-Ukraine war not be overlooked as the world turned its attention to wars in Gaza, Sudan and Myanmar. “Russia is committing an international crime,” Mr. Zelensky said in a short but impassioned speech. “This war can’t simply fade away, this war can’t be calmed by talks. Actions are needed. Russia can only be forced into peace.” Mr. Zelensky also told the council’s 15 members that Ukraine had obtained information that Russia was planning to attack its three nuclear plants. “We have proof of this, if Russia is ready to go that far, it means nothing you value matters to Moscow,” he said.

Mr. Zelensky said he had put together a new victory plan in the almost three-year-old war based on the principles and values of the U.N. charter, but did not elaborate on its details other than to say that he was organizing a peace conference. He added that he would invite all countries to the conference, including China, Russia’s most powerful partner, and India, which has said it is a neutral player in the war but is helping to sustain Russia’s economy with large oil purchases.

Mr. Zelensky was speaking ahead of meetings this week, during which he plans to present his “victory plan” to President Biden and other U.S. officials. So far, he has withheld details of the plan from the public. Mr. Zelensky has also called for the United States and other allies to permit Ukraine to use long-range missiles provided by the West to strike deep into Russia.

Secretary General António Guterres briefed the Council, telling diplomats that it was past time to end the war in Ukraine, which has led to catastrophic civilian suffering and spillover consequences, such as a rise in grain and energy prices and the displacement of millions. He also laid out the U.N.’s role in providing lifesaving humanitarian aid to some 6.2 million people in Ukraine this year, and he appealed to donors for more funding.

With the bitter winter approaching, only half of the U.N.’s response plan was funded, Mr. Guterres pointed out.

“The longer this tragic war continues, the greater the risk of escalation and spillover,” he said.

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IMAGES

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COMMENTS

What Are The Best Phrases To Say When Giving A Gift?
But first, let's find out the general rules that will help make your gift-giving speech genuinely thoughtful. 5 Basic Rules Of Successful Phrases When Giving A Gift 1. Emphasize How Much The Recipient Means To You. First and foremost, always remember that everything you say should be for the recipient and about the recipient.
Speech on Joy Of Giving
2-minute Speech on Joy Of Giving. Hello everyone! Today, I'd like to talk about a topic that is close to my heart, "The Joy of Giving". Giving doesn't only mean gifts or money, it can be time, kindness, or even a smile. When we give, we share a piece of ourselves with others, and this can bring us great happiness.
10 Heartfelt Gift Messages to Inspire Your Gift-Giving
Keep your head held high, for better days are ahead. This gift is a reminder that brighter days are on the horizon." 7. Messages of Celebration and Joy. Life is full of moments worth celebrating, and a heartfelt message can make those occasions even more special. Whether you're toasting to a new job, a new home, or simply another year of ...
What To Say When Giving A Gift? [11 Good Phrases]
Telling something like - 'It will give you an experience' you are on a straight point indicating that will give the receiver some good moments to remember in his or her life period. Now, experience gifts can be anything like giving tickets for skydiving, go-karting, and other stuff.
What to Say When Giving a Gift?
Initiate your speech with the origin or history behind the gift you are giving. It attracts people as well as makes the gifts memorable. Creative things are always appreciated. So, leave the traditional things, and try to make something creative with your own effort. Lastly, a gift becomes most impressive when it is a surprise.
THE JOY OF GIVING: The more you give of yourself ...
The gift of joy will come to you when you give of yourself to others. That's what life is all about. Let's practice and commit our lives to giving joy. Try it! It works! ... Can you give main points to me i have to give a speech on it and its impossible to learn all this. Reply. Joseph says: November 29, 2017 at 10:53 AM.
How to Write a Meaningful Appreciation Speech
Step 3: Grab People's Attention with Gratitude. Start with a strong opening line. In a more formal speech, a quote about gratitude can be an excellent way to set the tone. In a more casual speech, you can avoid a quote. However, you should still stick with the theme of gratitude.
15 Heartfelt Ways to Say Thank You for an Unexpected Gift
5. "This is incredible! My jaw is on the floor.". Download Article. Show them how surprised you are. If someone went out of their way to give you an unexpected gift, make sure they know they succeeded in their mission to surprise and delight you. Say "thanks" and express your shock at the same time.
25 Tithe & Offering Message Ideas For Your Next Giving Talk
25 Tithe & Offering Message Ideas. When you're sharing about giving in your church, you can talk on topics like: Generosity. Trust/Faith. Impact. Stewardship. To name a few…. To help you figure out what to say during tithes and offerings, here are 25 quick outlines based on 25 different offering scriptures.
What to write: 238 short, sweet and funny gift card message ideas
These gift card message ideas are great for when you want the gesture of giving the gift itself to do most of the talking. They're short, sweet wishes that let them know you care! You're the best. So grateful for you. Yay for you! You're a really great human. You deserve all the nice things. Spend it on something you love!
What To Say When Giving A Gift
Depending on the occasion, sometimes the best thing to say when handing a gift to someone is a simple: 'Happy Birthday!'. 'Merry Christmas!'. 'Happy Anniversary', or whatever else the occasion may call for. This is a simple acknowledgement of the reason you are giving this lucky person a gift. If you are giving a gift that is not ...
Gift Giving Etiquette: 23 Rules Every Gift Giver Should Know
So don't give a whole speech to someone who hates being in the middle of attention. Don't say it was a really expensive gift. Don't gift something awkward in front of other people. ... For proper gift-giving etiquette, there are two things you want to avoid when there are other people around the receiver. First, you don't want to make ...
Gifts of Love: A Christmas Message
For this I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Henry B. Eyring was Commissioner of the Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this devotional address was given at Brigham Young University on 16 December 1980. This Christmas, remember the best gifts are given when the giver feels for the receiver ...
How to Give and Receive Gifts in English
Colleague 2: What a thoughtful gift. I'll put it to good use immediately. Colleague 1: Thank you, Tom, for all you've done for this company. Colleague 2: My pleasure, indeed. Learn what to say when giving and receiving presents. This guide includes tips, phrases, and practice for students learning English (ESL).
25 Perfect Things to Say When Giving Money As a Gift
These are some ideas of what to say when giving money as a gift: 19 "Sending love and light in your time of need.". This is a common message used when people are going through difficult times. It is good to use because it shows genuine love and concern for the person. Photo by Kamil Macniak on shutterstock.
Award Presentation Speech
Again: keep it short - 3 minutes for your award speech will do most of the time. Although it even can be somewhat shorter. Mention the reasons for choosing her or him as recipient. Link the contributions to the meaning of the honor. Make a concluding characterization by telling a compelling story or anecdote in the presentation speech text.
Four Ways To Turn A Speech Into A Gift
For those outside the realm of professional communication, achieving this depth involves several key strategies. 1. Keep it simple. First and foremost, simplicity in a speech is crucial. Ensuring ...
Gift Presentation Matters
Many of us are either obsessed with perfectly wrapped gifts or we despise the whole idea of planning how to present a gift. If you think I'm joking, then take a look at this article that contains only 10 words and a short clip of gifts being impeccably wrapped that got over 200,000 shares. Furthermore, I'm sure many of us remember the show Extreme Makeovers: Home Edition, which revolved ...
What do you say when presenting a gift to a guest speaker?
Say When Giving Gift00:00 - What do you say when presenting a gift to a guest speaker?00:22 - What do you say first when presenting?00:43 - What to say after...
WATCH LIVE: Harris gives speech on her economic vision in ...
Vice President Kamala Harris is set to speak at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh, where she plans to stress a "pragmatic" philosophy while outlining new policies to boost domestic manufacturing ...
65+ Short 'Thank You for the Gift' Messages to Send
8. God gave me the best gift when he gave me you as parents. Thank you so much for showing me love, support, and encouragement throughout the years. Don't wait for Mother's Day or Father's Day to tell your parents, "Thank you." 9. You always give the most thoughtful gifts. Thank you for the luggage.
Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Kamala Harris Giving Speech While
Does a social media video show Kamala Harris giving a speech in Atlanta on September 20, 2024, while she appeared to be intoxicated? No, that's not true: Lead Stories found the original version of the speech, and the version circulating on social media has been slowed down to make her sound intoxicated. There is no evidence the vice president ...
Melania Trump speech payment mystery
But a recent campaign filing doesn't say who paid her almost a quarter million dollars to give a political speech in April. Although not campaigning for her husband, the former first lady is ...
The Best Gift Ideas For Every Occasion
Shoes are a gift that should be reserved for those you know well. It requires you to know their size and style preferences, which is why I only consider giving them to my husband or another family member. Once you have the info you need, Marc Nolan is the way to go. Their styles range from elevated classic options to more fashion-forward ...
Harris to flesh out her economic vision in Pittsburgh, looking to gain
Kamala Harris will give a "major" speech outlining her economic plan in battleground Pennsylvania, seeking to chip away at Donald Trump's advantage on the issue.
PM's speech will be 'start of a new chapter' for Labour, says ...
Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has described Sir Keir Starmer's speech later today as a "really big, historic moment."Mr McFadden te...
Eulogy For Loss of Daughter
My Dearest, I stand here today with a heart both heavy and full. Heavy because you are no longer here with us, and full because of the immeasurable gift of your presence in my life. There are no words that can fully express the depth of gratitude I have for the time we shared, but I will do my best to honor you in the way you deserve. From the moment you entered my world, you brought light ...
Harris to Outline Economic Vision to Counter Trump's
The Democratic presidential nominee will offer her economic plans, including ways to boost manufacturing, during a speech in Pittsburgh.
Zelensky Addresses the Security Council, Calling for Attention to Stay
"Russia is committing an international crime," Mr. Zelensky said in a short but impassioned speech. "This war can't simply fade away, this war can't be calmed by talks. Actions are needed.
Biden Urges Leaders to Stand By Alliances in His Final UN Speech
President Joe Biden defended his efforts to build coalitions to address global challenges, urging allies to continue that work even as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East place fresh strains ...