| |
|
Report on Gifts-R-Us Survey
Smart girls decide for themselves™.
SmartGirls out there have some strong opinions about giving and receiving gifts. Check out who shared their feelings and what they had to say! SmartGirls from 29 different countries shared their thoughts! The majority of these SmartGirls live in towns or suburbs.
In all, 579 SmartGirls and 10 boys shared their thoughts with us about gifts!
230 SmartGirls are the oldest child in their family.
172 SmartGirs are the youngest child in their family.
86 SmartGirls are in the middle of their siblings.
83 SmartGirls are only children.
|
Most SmartGirls who shared their thoughts on gifts with us were around 13 years old.
|
| Age |
|
| How old are the SmartGirls? |
Most SmartGirls both give and receive gifts - and it looks as if they enjoy doing both equally.
84 SmartGirls prefer to give gifts
99 SmartGirls prefer to receive gifts
400 SmartGirls like to do both equally
|
SmartGirls give gifts for a whole lot of different reasons. Among the most popular reasons include:
560 SmartGirls give gifts on birthdays
480 SmartGirls give gifts on holidays
329 SmartGirls give thank-you gifts
SmartGirls give gifts to a whole lot of people, most often relatives:
544 SmartGirls give gifts to parents
444 SmartGirls give gifts to siblings
435 SmartGirls give gifts to grandparents
SmartGirls like to give gifts because it makes other people happy, it shows people that you care, and it makes you feel good!
Giving gifts to family members makes SmartGirls feel happy, thankful and excited!
Giving gifts to boyfriends or girlfriends makes SmartGirls feel happy, excited, anxious and thankful!
Giving gifts to strangers makes SmartGirls feel happy and helpful!
For the most part SmartGirls either purchase their gifts at a store or make them at home.
When giving gifts SmartGirls are most concerned with the thought and effort that went into selecting the gift.
Once SmartGirls have the perfect gift they give it away in fancy wrapping!
|
SmartGirls also receive gifts for a whole lot of different reasons. Among the most popular and most meaningful reasons include:
559 SmartGirls receive gifts on birthdays
467 SmartGirls receive gifts on holidays
317 SmartGirls receive gifts to celebrate an achievement
154 SmartGirls agree that receiving a gift as a bribe makes that gift less meaningful.
SmartGirls also receive gifts for a whole lot different people. SmartGirls most commonly received gifts from relatives including:
548 SmartGirls receive gifts from parents
493 SmartGirls receive gifts from aunts and uncles
490 SmartGirls receive gifst from grandparents
Getting gifts from family members makes SmartGirls feel happy, thankful and excited!
Getting gifts from boyfriends/girlfriends makes SmartGirls feel happy, excited and thankful!
Getting gifts from strangers makes SmartGirls feel anxious and happy!
When receiving gifts SmartGirls are most concerned with the thought and effort that went into the selection of the gift.
|
SmartGirls have a variety of ways in which they decide how much to spend on gifts. For many SmartGirls that decision is determined by how much money they have at the time (131 SmartGirls). For other SmartGirls it depends on the occasion (348 SmartGirls).
When people buy gifts for SmartGirls, the amount of money that they think should be spent depends on the occasion (236 SmartGirls) and who is giving the gift (244 SmartGirls).
|
Here's what some SmartGirls had to say:
Something cute and fun. something out of the ordinary imaginative, creative. Not someting that you just went to the store and picked up. Something thoughtful and heartfelt. Something unexpected that makes you feel special!
To make a good gift it doesn't really matter. Even if it is the ugliest thing, it doesn't matter. I mean if a person gave you something, it would be the best gift just knowing someone cared about you!
A good gift is carefully thought about before being bought or made. It always comes with a great card, and is delivered in person (as much as that is possible). You can't just absent-mindedly buy a gift, you need to think about the recipient, and what would make them feel loved and happy.
Something that makes you know that someone really thought about and knew that you would like. Presents that make you feel so happy that you laugh when you open it, because it reminds you of the person, are best.
Something that someone has made a lot of effort on. For example saving up money for it, or it might be made by themselves and tried really hard. Something that the other person thinks that we like, it does'nt really matter what it is as long as the person that gives it to us puts the effort into it!
|
Here's what some SmartGirls had to say:
Shortly before Christmas, at a college spirit day at school, I was given a shirt to a college that my friend and I both really wanted to attend. My friend did not receive a shirt and she was very upset. So for Christmas I wrapped up this shirt that I loved and gave it to her. The look on her face when she opened the box and saw the shirt that she and I both loved... I felt so happy that I was able to make her so happy.
Love and support. This person felt depressed and the one thing he wanted was to be happy and feel that he wasn't alone.
The best give that I ever gave was a really hard worked on picture frame. I worked on it for almost half a year, and put alot of skill/thought into it. Then, I gave it to my grandparents. It was a great gift because it let them know that I was thinking about them, and that I would work really hard just to give them a little boost.
I'm not really sure. The one's that my mom says "I'll treasure it forever" are the best, because they make her happy and usually I had made it.
I gave a little girl clothes, toys, and learning activities for Christmas. I think it was the best gift I had ever given because she was very poor and her parents couldn't afford to buy her gifts. She was so happy and thankful and I will never forget the look on her face when she received those gifts!
A student foot has got to be it. A friend of mine was studying medicine and was always pestering me to test her on the bones of the foot. I found an actual skeletal foot in an antique shop and gave it to her. She was very happy with it.
|
Here's what some SmartGirls had to say:
Love from friends/family because in the end its what counts.
The best gift I was ever given were these tiny cards that said that I could do anything I set out to do, everyone has faith in me, and so one. It made me feel loved, and cared for. It let me know that no-matter what, my family and friends are always behind me.
ummm, that's too hard to answer. I've received a lot of gifts, and I've loved all of them.
The best gift I have ever recieved was a CD walkman from my parents. It was a good gift because they knew I would like it, and I knew they had put thought into choosing the right one. It is also a good quality gift, and will be very helpful.
The best gift I ever recieved was a diamond ring from my parents with three diamonds in it. The one in the middle was for me, and the other two were for my parents, to let me always remember they would always be by my side.
|
Do you have any ideas for other Smartgirls about how to make
a great gift using things you have around your home?
Be creative. If you dont want to go out and buy a card or anything like that, just fold a piece of paper in half and decorate it with pictures, memorobilias, sparkle glue, just about anything you can find around your house. Its original, thoughtful, and easy on the wallet!
Decorate cereal boxes with foil, decorative wrapping paper, pasta shells and beads and present it as a storage space for magazines.
For a great gift you could make a "coupon book" all you need is paper and makers. Simply write something you could do for them. Like "One free song without me complaining" or "I'll make dinner when you're tired.
A ton . . . make cookie/cake/bread/etc mixes in jars, bowls out of records (see getcrafty.com), a jar full of journal prompts, bath salts out of epsom salt+kosher salt+essential oil, marble magnets out of flat marble things (in the flower arranging section), picture from magazines and magnetic buttons (don't use the magnetic sheets, they aren't strong enough), play-doh (there are instructions all over the internet), ornaments made from salt dough, cookies or any baked goods, a mix tape . . .
|
It's the day before Winter Vacation, and a classmate, who you don't consider a very close friend, comes to you with a gift. You didn't exect anything from them and have nothing to give in return. How do you handle this situation? What do you say and do?
How did SmartGirls respond???
I would invite them to go shopping with me so they can pick out a gift or maybe invite them to your next party? And you might also make a great new friend out of it!
Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I accidentally left yours at home because I was wrapping it and got distracted and forgot to put it with the rest of my things. Let's hang out over vacation and I'll give it to you then, ok?
Accept the gift graciously and thank them profusely. (A good hint is to always carry a few blank cards and candy canes around, so if a situation like this comes up you can tell the person you left their card in you bag in the o9ther room and you'll give it to them later.)
*smile* "Thank you, I love it." *laugh* "I've been so busy I haven't even finished making all of my presents yet! I guess I'll just have to distribute them in January. Thanks again! Happy holidays, I'll see you in two weeks."
"omigod that is soo sweet of you! Now I feel like I should give you something! Is there anything in particular you would like? I could give you something after vaction!" Then I would wait and see what they wanted and get it for them during vaction.
Well I always bring a few spare presents in case an embarassing situation like this ever happens ! But if it does,you can either say "Oh my god I'am so sorry I left you're present at home!"or be really honest with her/him and say "I really dont know you that well and I honestly did'nt expect a gift from you but if you'll forgive me I can get you a present over the holidays or maybe you can come over to my house and we can go to the movies and see a film or something,so give me you're phone number and let me make it up to you please ?". Trust me if you play it with the puppy dog eyes it a definate winner !
|
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts
with us!
Please remember that all web-based polls
are not scientific because the pollsters cannot randomly select the
respondents to participate in the surveys.
All our surveys are anonymous; check out our privacy
policy. All data copyright 1996-2000.
|
|
