Jewelry Diamonds And Gems

Gift-giving is thorny business. How do you know what unique groomsmen gifts to choose, for example, or what cool gifts for men to get your uncles? It’s hard to go around the gift-giving maze, but here’s a rule of thumb that will help keep things straightforward: when in doubt what to give, go for cash.

You cannot ever do wrong with cash. After all, without size, color, and brand to agonize over, the only way you can go wrong with cash is by giving the wrong amount. In giving cash, however, you have to be careful not to appear crass or ill-mannered. Here’s how.

1. Make out a check, and enclose inside an envelope. This is a tasteful way of giving money because when you fork the envelope over, no one knows what’s inside. It could be a birthday card, for instance, or opera tickets, or a sincerely-written note.

2. Slip the money inside a piggy bank. Add loose change so the piggy bank jiggles. You can take this funky idea further by choosing an animal that symbolizes the personality of the recipient, a bull for a really obstinate friend or a stallion for a brother you frequently taunt for his endless parade of girlfriends.

3. Clip the money onto a personalized money clip. Then, go the extra mile by engraving the clip with the recipient’s initials.

4. Create a treasure map. Add interesting clues that will take the recipient from Point A to the cupboard, the hood of a car, the upstairs bedroom, and finally, to the “treasure” buried in the backyard. To take the silliness further, have the treasure seeker wear an eye patch or a pirate’s hat.

5. Put the money in a new wallet, and give the wallet with a witty quip. Say “This is yours, I believe.” or “I found this, and the cash had your name on it. Happy birthday!”

6. Do some origami - using money! Make swallows, butterflies, and flowers and put these inside a pretty box.

7. Tie the cash to the tail of a bright red balloon. Make the money look like a kite tail. Finally, hand it over to the recipient with a cheerful, “What good is a birthday if you can’t spend it shopping?”

In giving cash, the possibilities are infinite! Bottomline: you can’t ever go wrong with cash. Cash is a good way to give some love and creativity.