Gift giving is a true art.<br /><br />1. You need to understand the person to whom you intend to give the gift.<br /><br />2. You need to know what they truly want.<br /><br />3. You must be able to give it to them.<br /><br />Anything less is a symptom of varying degrees, on your part, of ignorance, distance, or insult.<br /><br />But if you cannot <i>afford</i> the right gift, telling the person what you <i>would</i> do if you <i>could</i>, justifies everything—as you present that not-so-perfect substitute.