Looking for a gift idea for an upcoming holiday or occasion? If your recipient is hard to buy for but has a sense of humor, you might consider a gag gift in this circumstance.
This prescription coffee mug is just the ticket for that friend that loves coffee more than life itself. It’s funny, light-hearted and sure to get a laugh!
Gag gifts are meant to be fun, but they can also be hurtful if they hit a nerve with the recipient. Hereโs how to make sure your gag doesnโt turn into hurt feelings, or worse, a ruined relationship.
Avoid Self-Improvement โGiftsโ
Self-improvement is usually a touchy subject, and a bad gag idea. Think twice before you send someone a gym membership or a cookbook on how to slim down. Unless you really know the person, you donโt know whether they would be offended by such a gift.
Most people who are overweight know that they are overweight, for example. They hate it. They have insecurities about it, and a damaged self-image. Donโt add to it by making fun of them. The only thing youโll probably accomplish is hurt feelings and a ruined relationship with that person.
Understand The Meaning Of Your Gift
What does your gift mean? Gags and pranks are supposed to break the intense seriousness of a situation when that situation gets โtoo seriousโ or when a comic relief is desperately needed. Gifts from companies like Spencer’s usually fit the bill, but you must know whether the gift will be taken the right way.
Age-related gag gifts usually do well, and gags that donโt directly tease the person about something serious (like a disability) are also good gag gifts. But, this can sometimes backfire. Unless you know the background of the person, you should tread carefully.
For example, if a gag making fun of the personโs age is given, make sure thereโs no underlying history that would create an embarrassing or hurtful situation, like a previous history of a disease that prematurely caused the person to lose all their hair or age faster than normal.
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Donโt Go With Expensive Gags
Funny gag gifts are supposed to be small and inexpensive ways to get a laugh out of the recipient. Donโt spend a lot of money on them. Most of them end up in the trash or being re-gifted. In general, you should be able to find something under $20, and ideally, under $10 for your gag. Less is more.
Pay Attention To Culture And Customs
Is your recipient from another country? Better make sure those gags and pranks are not offensive to them. Or, that your gag canโt be taken the wrong way. Some religions praise or demonize certain characters, plants, animals, or spirits or physical representations of those things, for example.
Always make sure that you understand how a gag might be taken before you give it. Do a little research into the customs and culture of the person youโre about the give the gift to. Adjust your gift so that itโs appropriate or avoid the gag altogether.
When Not To Give A Gag
While gag gifts can be fun, thereโs a time and a place. And, that place is not anniversaries, weddings, or any other meaningful or special occasions unless you are very close to the person and you know they would actually find it funny. But, this is a huge risk, especially at weddings. Mother’s Day is probably not a good idea either!