Neighbor Gift Question - Page 2

queendiva · ‎03-12-2010

I always keep a few beautiful, unique ornaments for just such occasions.

Well under $10.00, no calories and no alcohol. Perfect for a man, woman, single, couple or family of any age.

jackthebear · ‎03-11-2010

@queendiva wrote:
I always keep a few beautiful, unique ornaments for just such occasions.
Well under $10.00, no calories and no alcohol. Perfect for a man, woman, single, couple or family of any age.

depends : we don't have a tree

Marsha2003 · ‎03-12-2010

I have a neighbor across the street that always keeps an eye on my house and lets me know if there's a package sitting on the sidewalk or if there's some other thing he notices that I might not see. I take him a small gift every Christmas to say thank you for being my neighbor. I don't expect a gift in return.

I agree that a thank you note with appreciation for his service and for his neighborliness is all that is needed. If you wanted to give them something for New Year's, I'm sure they would like it, but being a good neighbor is the best gift.

queendiva · ‎03-12-2010

@jackthebear : Yeah, I planned to give an ornament to a neighbor friend who is a widow. She does not put up a tree.

I also bake cookies, so she is getting a musical tin full of home baked cookies and a small candle.

loriqvc · ‎11-06-2011

I agree with other posters that you need not feel any sense of obligation to reciprocate. There are only a couple of neighbors I know well and a few more whose names I know and with whom I occasionally exchange a word or two, but we are not really close at all. However, at the end of the year, all of those neighbors get a little something from me simply because I want to give them something. And there are three or four of them who have never given me anything, and I am TOTALLY fine with that. My joy in the holidays is in sharing, so just being able to give a little token of friendship and happy wishes for the season is actually a gift to myself, as corny as that may seem.

So if you want to reciprocate, I'm sure they'd appreciate the gesture. But especially if this is the first time they've brought you anything, I'm sure there are no expectations, so just enjoy the gift. I hope you have a great holiday no matter what you decide!

speedy girl · ‎06-03-2018

Sounds like they were just making a nice neighborly gesture. I would send a Thank you note and leave it at that. I'm sure they don't expect anything back and if you did get them something now, it might start a pattern of gift giving every year.

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

As someone who likes giving little gifts, I will tell you don't feel bad! The year after we moved in I took a small holiday gift and card to all of our neighbors, some we had yet to meet. I wanted to share the spirit of the season, and I didn't expect or want anything in return!

Spurt · ‎03-20-2010

@LuvmyLab

I think that Thank You Note you were going to write is just the perfect gesture....

Animals are reliable, full of love, true in their affections, grateful. Difficult standards for people to live up to.”

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

I know this puts you in a bit of an akward position. Perhaps you go out of your way to make his family feel welcome, safe, and thought of through the year, and it was his way of saying thanks. People gone in the service worry about their family and appreciate friends and even just acquantces who help and support them. Perhaps that is how he sees you, and appreciates you.

At any rate, I've been in the same position as you, and at that point, it's just best to do as you say, and write a nice note of thanks. You can always give back in some way at another time of the year. When you bake something, take some over, or if you see a need that you can jump in and help fill, do it another time.

I have taken to keeping some basic things around the holidays to give should I need a last minute little gift. In year's past it was nice tins of home made cookies and candy, but with Covid, I figured most people would not This year is was the most beautiful/cute tins of chocolates from Russell Stover and Whitmans I got at the grocery store. They were buy one get one free, so cost only about $5.50 each. I wrapped up about a half a dozen and handed them out as I needed something to give in those little instances. Any left over won't go to waste, cause, well....candy is hard to resist! LOL

Isobel Archer · ‎04-04-2015

@jackthebear wrote:
@queendiva wrote:
I always keep a few beautiful, unique ornaments for just such occasions.
Well under $10.00, no calories and no alcohol. Perfect for a man, woman, single, couple or family of any age.
depends : we don't have a tree

Yes it is very hard to give someone a gift if you don't know them well. An ornament - oh we don't put up a tree. A tin of cookies - oh we don't eat anything prepared by someone else (remember all those posts in the past where people practically accused anyone giving them food of trying to poison them?) Cookies bought at the store - oh we don't eat sugar. etc. etc. etc.