I like to think I'm good at surprises, but I've never actually had the opportunity to truly surprise someone. The majority of my friends hate being surprised, such as parties, and with gift giving there are hardly any new, unheard of things that are in my budget that I can be like "Betcha didn't see this comin'!" They'd kill me if a bunch of people jumped out at them all of a sudden shouting SURPRISE! And I'm rather attached to my head on my shoulders. On the opposite side I love to be surprised. As long as someone gives me the heads up that I should probably a bra on because pictures will be taken.
Also, I love, love, love to give gifts. It makes me feel good to give something to someone that I know they'll love, or that they need and couldn't get themselves, etc. I'll stretch my pennies super thin to be able to afford a knife set for my friend who's very interested in becoming a chef, or a small little goofy gadget that my tech friend can have on his desk at work. I don't typically have a "just because it reminded me of you" random gift giving technique, because I'll hoard those little things I find until birthdays or holidays. I found that that has helped me with my budget far better than saving through the year and having a lump sum of a hundred dollars or so to split between my family and close friends.
Also, as I ramble on first thing in the morning before my shift starts at work - I'm a habitual over-giver. I spend way too much money on people for that gratification of them being shocked or overwhelmed by the gift. I feel like if I haven't given them something that gains that response, I've failed. I've gotten better thanks to my boyfriend, but I still get a little anxious around the holidays and birthdays that I haven't done enough. I always try and one up myself from the previous year, which just gets exhausting. Thankfully, most of my friends are in the same little social pocket that I am in (financially speaking) and we've now made a hard-deal that we have a spending cap on what we can buy each other.
An example being that when Galen and I first started dating, I knew he loved cars. He's a fanatic, and thank god, because every time something goes to shit in my truck he knows how to fix it - but anyway - I bought him this package where he could drive a lambo or a ferrari around a track. There were package options (i.e. 6 laps instead of 3, driving instead of riding shotgun, picture, video, etc) and I bought him the big one. I was ecstatic about it because I knew he'd never see it coming. I was on an even tighter budget back then so I was sacrificing some proper groceries and bills that in hindsight probably shouldn't have been ignored, but lied and told him I'd been saving - he didn't believe me, but he still cried because he was overwhelmed with the gift. We'd been together for five months and he was trying so hard to remain stoic in the middle of an Olive Garden and failing. It was fantastic. Ever since then I've challenged myself to get a similar reaction out of him for birthdays.
It's been rough. Especially now that we live together, and he comes into my office all the time because he and my boss have become really good friends, so I can't hide any gifts anywhere!! I've resorted to asking my mom, which means bribing my fourteen year old brother not to say anything to Galen (whom he worships, so... I'm really on the losing end of "surprise" when it comes to him).
I have so many more rambling thoughts on this. I could go forever and just yap away, but it's time for me to work. >.>
Love ya, Rudy! <3 Great question!
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