The Thank You Card Effect

Not many people realize this, but there is a seedy underbelly to all this benevolent gift giving. That’s right—something distinctly rotten about this seemingly cheery, lighthearted exchange of presents. Something sneaky and underhanded and scheming.

It’s something I like to call the Thank You Card Effect. It’s a term I coined, and the theory goes a little something like this:

If you receive a thank you card, you feel obligated to acknowledge the lovely gesture. So you send them a thank you for the thank you card. They in turn think, “Golly gee whiz that was nice of them.” And pretty soon your mailbox has a thank you for the thank you for the thank you card. And so on, until either one of you goes broke or somebody’s hand cramps from incessant acknowledgement of all the kindness being thrown around.

This very simple premise applies to present giving as well. As soon as somebody gives another person a gift, a flood gate is opened. A flood gate which arguably cannot be closed. Receiving a gift therefore comes with it the expectation (dare I say responsibility) of returning the favor.

And the worst part is us poor shoppers are powerless against its draw. There’s simply no escaping the Thank You Card Effect. It’s either play the game or spend every remaining holiday with the indelible label of “Scrooge.”

Granted, some might consider my theory a little “bah humbug.” And perhaps they’re right. But the Thank You Card Effect is not something to be taken lightly. Beware its devious, tricky ways and its ceaseless attempts to unburden your wallet of all that superfluous cash.

It’s either that or embrace the whole “spirit of giving” thing everybody keeps talking about. But that would be so…caring…

by Liz Herrin