How Sally Jessy Raphael Gifts
“The whole point of giving a gift of any type is to bring joy to someone. Period.”
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We asked 20 notable people about their gifting philosophies, gifting nightmares, the best gifts under $25, and much more. We’ll be publishing each of their questionnaires now through December 23 in this new series, “How I Gift.” Today, former talk-show host Sally Jessy Raphael on Hanro underwear, Dustbusters, and when it’s okay to give cash as a gift.
What is your gift-giving philosophy?
The whole point of giving a gift of any type is to bring joy to someone. Period.
What gift have you received that you’re most surprised about still using regularly?
My daughter gave me a pair of white cotton Hanro underpants. I never understood why she did, but I still use them to this day.
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You have to give the same present to everyone for the rest of your life. What is it?
A Dustbuster. Everyone needs them for their rooms, their cars, etc. Each room of a house should have one. No one can have too many Dustbusters.
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What was the most heartfelt, smart, so-you present you’ve ever received? Tell us the story.
I was working for WMCA in New York and had just gotten fired … one of many times, by the way. Then, I received a check in the mail for $5,000 from one of the sponsors from Tea Rose perfume. I had never met this sponsor before, but I really appreciated this gesture since I had just lost this job and was about to be broke. So this was an incredibly kind gift that came at a time when I really needed it.
Is a gift card ever a good gift? Discuss.
I think that gift cards are fabulous because then the person can get what they really want. It’s better for them to have the freedom of choice, in my opinion.
Advent calendars: great or dumb? Defend your position.
I think they are great, especially for children. It teaches them about time but also helps them experience anticipation. Not the best gift for adults, though, since most of them have no patience.
Would you ever just give cash? When? How much?
I would only give cash when it’s appropriate, like at a wedding or a bar/bat mitzvah. But I have not given cash as a gift unless I knew that someone specifically needed money, like to repay a loan or pay their rent. In those cases, I think cash is a great gift.
Here’s $10 to get a gift for someone at Walgreens. What are you buying?
Batteries. People always need AA and/or AAA batteries. I’m practical that way.
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What’s the best gift under $25?
A charitable donation, preferably to an animal charity.
What’s the last thing you impulse bought for someone else?
I was talking with a man who was painting some of the rooms at my house in upstate New York. He told me that he had a fascination with Napoleon. So recently, when I was on a vacation in Europe, I stopped off at Napoleon’s birthplace and saw a pair of socks for sale with Napoleon on them. I knew I had to buy them since they were a great impulse buy for this man.
Who is the best gift giver you’ve ever encountered — and why?
The best gift giver is my daughter Andrea, who gave me those white cotton underpants. On December 26, she starts shopping for gifts for the next holiday and works at it all year.
What was your absolute worst gifting experience (giving or getting)?
One year, someone gave me a unicycle. I was surprised because I’m not athletic at all.
How can all bad gift givers get better? In five words or less.
Really think about the person.
You can pick any five people (dead or alive) to join your game of White Elephant. Who are you choosing?
Pablo Picasso because you never know if you’d get a painting from him. Benjamin Franklin — he’s on the $100 bill, so you may get some cash out of it. A boyfriend just to see if he loves me. James Beard, who would bring something that I’d want to eat. And Oprah, because her gift would be fabulous because she’s rich, and she’s Oprah!
You just got someone you have truly never met for Secret Santa. What are you buying them?
I don’t typically give gifts to people that I don’t know, but it would really depend on how much you’re allowed to spend. That would dictate a lot.
What’s the (physically) largest gift you’ve ever given?
I once gave away a bull from my farm in upstate New York to another local farm that taught children to work with animals. He was definitely large physically.
And the smallest?
I gave someone a small ruby since their birth month was July. But there was also a time when I had gotten a small thing of pâté for Christmas and only gave my daughter Andrea one bite … that’s all she got!
What is your dream gift? Is there any chance you actually get it?
My dream gift is to sell my house in upstate New York and, yes, it will happen.
What was the most disappointing gift you’ve ever received? How did you respond?
One year, my late husband, Karl, gave me a BB gun. My first reaction was, “I don’t like guns.” He told me to try it out and see, but I never ended up doing it.
Is it ever okay to regift?
Yes, it is. I regifted the unicycle that I had gotten to someone, and that person ended up becoming a professional unicyclist because of it.
What’s the best gift wrap?
I’m a fan of the old “box in a box in a box” gag. Whenever I’ve done this, people always end up loving it. It does take a lot of time to do it, but that is part of being a great gift giver.
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Boxes in a Box Prank
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