Gift givers assume that recipients are equally appreciative of presents that are "both solicited and unsolicited." Unfortunately, the givers are wrong. In five different studies, giftees were consistently more appreciative when receiving something they'd asked for.
In Christmastimes past, people seemed content to give—and receive—things that no one really needs: tchotchkes, scented candles, holiday CDs, that sort of thing. Now that the economy has tanked, when someone receives a silly gift, the reaction isn’t merely “Bummer,” but “Wow, I could have really used whatever money was just wasted on that.”
With frugality having its fashionable moment, the holiday excesses seem especially excessive. Luckily, there’s no shortage of methods to decrease the holiday consumer madness.
