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Give the gift of gratitude this holiday season ... and beyond

How little effort it takes to say “thank you” – yet how much of a (tax-free) return those words can produce. Recently a good friend died in his 88th year. I found out later in the morning of the day of his passing.
MOney

How little effort it takes to say “thank you” – yet how much of a (tax-free) return those words can produce.

Recently a good friend died in his 88th year.

I found out later in the morning of the day of his passing.

I contacted a local florist and said it would be great if the flowers could be delivered that afternoon.

Later in the day the man’s daughter (her parents lived with her and her husband) sent me an email to say the flowers were beautiful, and how much she and her mum appreciated the gesture.

I made a quick call to the florist to say the flowers had arrived promptly and how much they were appreciated.

But that wasn’t all.

A couple of weeks later I went out for dinner with the daughter and her husband.

During the evening I asked what sort of arrangement the florist had created. They described the flowers and the husband told me:

“The florist called us to confirm somebody would be home for the delivery. We were just having lunch a couple of doors down from the florist so said we could drop by to pick them up.

“As we were about to walk out of the shop, the woman came up to us and gave us a box of chocolates – I guess in lieu of the delivery for which you had paid.”

If we hadn’t had that conversation, I would never have known about the chocolates.

 I thought this was a wonderful example of unconditionally “doing the right thing” and wrote an online review of the shop, telling the above story.

So as we celebrate another festive (and for many people a gift-giving) season, let’s remember one of the most valuable, one of the easiest yet one of the most often forgotten gifts you can give is a simple, non-financial one: a verbal or written “thank you.”

And don’t restrict such gifts to only this time of year.

Whenever somebody does something for you, say those magic words – and know you just brightened that person’s day.

Mike Grenby is a columnist and independent personal financial advisor; he’ll answer questions in this column as space allows but cannot reply personally. You can send questions to grenby@gmail.com.