What's the most generous gift you've given someone?

[Aeolus21]

Recently I am sort of in a pinch as to how much I should give one person for a going-away gift. This is for someone I've known for several years and will be saying goodbye to until he leaves the US (to live in the Philippines). I feel obligated to give him a gift, but coming from a guy who (unfortunately) is the rare gift-giver, I am not sure how give him something to remember me by.

So I guess the thing that will help me out is knowing what's the most generous gift you guys have given somebody?

[Slater]

A year ago, I was at NYLF and spent most (or at least a very big chunk) of the money I brought with me to buy a bracelet for SonicRose's birthday as well as buying her Metroid Prime for the same package.

but since the guy you're looking at is a guy, don't get those things.

[Ashley]

I'm not sure my list of generous gifts would fit your needs, either. Cologne, a football jersey and an MP3 player don't really fit the bill. My advice would be to find out what is something he will need, or something he will use often that you could get. Pratical, and yet when he uses it he will remember you and your friendship. Or you could ask his mom

[EireWolf]

A car.

But as for what to give your friend... Think about what you would like to receive from him if you were the one moving.

[Jasdero]

For a guy, eh? Gosh, I usually give my guy friends video games as presents. Err.. might that work for you?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

maybe get him a game

but get him the COLLECTORS EDITION version

[Aeolus21]

Thanks guys for the input. For the thread, I actually wanted to know how generous you guys are to somebody, as opposed to suggestions on what I should give him. For me, I was thinking of instead of buying him something, maybe perhaps create something for him (maybe like a photo collage of the things we did in the past years). The thing I'd like to receive from him is obviously happiness, but just something to remember me by.

Though the thread is partly to know how many people prefer making presents for someone instead of buying things (generousity can be in the form of how much time you've worked on something for someone).

[Joshua Christopher]

Well, I am poor and I don't have money to buy presents for anyone, so I always make things instead.
Probably the thing I spent the most time on was an anime music video that I made for a friend's birthday.

[Alice]

I once 'got the ball rolling' on fixing a room for my brother. It was generous because it was difficult, but it was not generous because he had done the same thing, and with more difficulty, for me already.

[Jasdero]

Thanks guys for the input. For the thread, I actually wanted to know how generous you guys are to somebody, as opposed to suggestions on what I should give him.

Ah! Err, well, the "most expensive" gift I gave someone was a Sony PSP for my little brother along with two games for it.

Though the thread is partly to know how many people prefer making presents for someone instead of buying things (generousity can be in the form of how much time you've worked on something for someone).

I prefer to make people gifts, honestly. For my brother's birthday this year, I gave him a card that took the shape of a box/cube (yay for Korean stationery!). In it I put 100 origami stars that took me a few days to complete. On each star I put a wish I had for him and his future. ^__^;; It may not mean much to him right now (even though he says it does and keeps it next to his beside), but I hope he treasures it later on. <3 I'll be making more of those for future birthdays of friends, along with a purchased gift.

[kazekami]

If I see something one of my friends would like and I'm able to I usually just get it for them. Doesn't matter what it is or if its a special occasion.

[lionheart]

The most generous gift that I've given to someone would be a $20 sword.

I'd recommend either a display knife/sword or a functional knife, those are relatively inexpensive if you know where to shop.

[LorentzForce]

I too prefer making my own gifts rather than buying them something. But since I'm not really some kind of master origami person, I can't make it entirely out of paper. So...

The best present I ever gave someone (with most effort) would be a Miles David album wrapped in a hand-crafted origami box, perfectly fitting the CD case. Took me quite some time to design the folding steps D:

[CreatureArt]

The best present I ever gave someone (with most effort) would be a Miles David album wrapped in a hand-crafted origami box, perfectly fitting the CD case. Took me quite some time to design the folding steps D:

Wow. That sounds awesome, and like you really put at lot of time and effort into it. What an awesome gift!

[Aeolus21]

A lot of interesting things have been posted here (I didn't know you can do so much with origami, lol). I think I will go towards the "creating" idea, since it's usually a lot more personal.

My plan is to print out a 13'' x 19'' photo of us on vacation and having it framed. A photo that size is HUGE and I think it'll be something that he'll remember for a long time. And since I have the equipment, I can even print it out myself (with the exception of buying a frame seperately). I am still debating whether I want to do any Photoshop work to make it look 'artsy'.

For materials and the time it takes to edit, print, laminate and frame the photo, it's about a $70 investment. But I figured since I won't see the guy for a while... why not?

[CreatureArt]

That sounds like an awesome idea for a gift! It's definitely something that can be kept and remembered.

You could mess around in photoshop - you might come up with something really cool, and if you don't come up with much, or you don't really like it, then you can always print out the original.