Birthday presents - why isn't money acceptable?

[yuberries]

You would think people know best what to do with the resources they have or are given. Why do people shy away from giving money as a birthday gift, and other celebration gifts in general?I love getting money gifts and perhaps gift cards are getting more popular due to this realization, but plain old money is still scarcely used. I wonder why or how did this cultural repulsion came to exist?

Joke question. Is this evidence that a state is needed, since people don’t know what they want and must therefore rely on central planners to give them the proper gifts? lol.

[demosthenes]

You must be smoking only the finest.

I think you might be on to something here. My mom let me choose my own birthday presents, with the clear goal in mind of demonstrating to me that central planning is never the answer.

[yuberries]

@demosthenes

You must be smoking only the finest.

Hahaha [:P]

[Praetyre]

Giving money as a present makes sense only for people capable of making some level of financial decision (which is everyone but infants in third world nations and everyone but toddlers and infants in first world nations). Add that to the fact younger persons tend to receive a greater quantity of presents, and you could have an explanation.

[JAlanKatz]

Because there is more to life than material things. In particular, with gifts, there is also psychic income. The feeling of goodwill from knowing that someone put some thought into your gift outweights the lost value, most of the time, between the money spent and how much you’d be willing to spend on that item.

Also, if someone gives you money, you’re likely to save it, or use it towards your expenses. This person wants you to have an indulgence. If you don’t want the type of gift they give, don’t accept presents.

Finally, when it comes to holidays such as Christmas, giving cash just looks silly. “Oh, here, I got you $20.” “Oh, thanks, and I have $20 for you too.”

[Marko]

@JAlanKatz

Because there is more to life than material things. In particular, with gifts, there is also psychic income. The feeling of goodwill from knowing that someone put some thought into your gift outweights the lost value, most of the time, between the money spent and how much you’d be willing to spend on that item.

Also, if someone gives you money, you’re likely to save it, or use it towards your expenses. This person wants you to have an indulgence. If you don’t want the type of gift they give, don’t accept presents.

Finally, when it comes to holidays such as Christmas, giving cash just looks silly. “Oh, here, I got you $20.” “Oh, thanks, and I have $20 for you too.”

Nah, this sounds far too reasonable. I’d say it is the fault of women! They love shopping. Gifts are a way for them to do more of it. It is all a giant project of cultural imperialism by women! Going around imposing their norms on us!

[JAlanKatz]

@Marko

Nah, this sounds far too reasonable. I’d say it is the fault of women! They love shopping. Gifts are a way for them to do more of it. It is all a giant project of cultural imperialism by women! Going around imposing their norms on us!

Gift givers are allowed to impose norms.

[yuberries]

@JAlanKatz

Because there is more to life than material things. In particular, with gifts, there is also psychic income. The feeling of goodwill from knowing that someone put some thought into your gift outweights the lost value, most of the time, between the money spent and how much you’d be willing to spend on that item.

Hmm yeah I think this may be the primary reason, hence the saying.. it’s the thought that counts.

And about your christmas comment, it would be soo much more efficient if people just exchanged twenty dollar bills for christmas! I’d be up for it! No waste, no regrets, no returns! [:D]