What does “It’s the thought that counts” mean to you? Please read options

Question

1. They thought about giving a gift, maybe even worked partially towards it, but no follow through. No gift was received. Examples: “I thought about getting you ____, but couldn’t afford it (or insert any other reason)” or “I started to make you____, but it isn’t finished”
2. They thought to give you something, anything, even if they didn’t put much or any thought into what you might want or like. Examples: scented hand lotion to someone who is allergic, a necklace to someone who doesn’t wear jewelry... assuming the people know each other well enough to know or easily find out, getting someone something even if it’s way outside of the scope of things they enjoy
3. Actually putting thought into what the person enjoys, asking the person or others in their life what they might want, even if the gift ends up not being  what the person wanted, it’s obvious thought & effort were put into trying to consider the person. Examples: artistic person, you give painting lessons, they would have preferred drawing lessons. Something they collect, but you didn’t realize they already had the exact one you gifted.
4. Gift has to be loved to qualify
I’ve been thinking about this lately & would love to hear others thoughts. So often people say “it’s the thought that counts” when it comes to gift giving, but personally, I find it a little frustrating when someone doesn’t actually consider the person they are gifting to. I have a family member who loves giving gifts, but to other adults she just gives gifts she would enjoy, without thought of their interests & to kids she constantly buys incorrect sized clothes or toys that are not age appropriate . Sometimes I the point of offense, gave hair dye to another family member who had already clearly told them they were purposefully not dying their hair & letting the natural grow out. 
Of course I would never want to be ungrateful for any gift, but is there a point when “the thought that counts” requires thoughtfulness?

Answer

To me I don't necessarily know that I 100% agree with any of these, it's a combination of gifting anything at all, and gifting something that the gifter thought the giftee would love, they put thought into it, but the it kind of missed the mark if that makes sense.

Answer

Getting someone a gift whether it’s home made, maybe not what they love, but that you TRIED.

Answer

For me it means the other person put effort in.
My MIl tends to buy me clothing... too big or not my style, but I know she went to several shops and has asked several salespeople for advice. She really puts effort in, so for me 'it is the thought that counts' even though i would never wear what she bought me.

Answer

To me it means it doesn't have to fancy or expensive or anything (in fact if you knew me you'd know I'd prefer it cheaper) BUT don't give me anything you can find to give away. I've been given a gift like that before and it is such an insult.

Answer

To me it’s just a matter of people should be grateful that the person even got you anything at all. Cause they have no real obligation to.

Answer

For me it’s when you exhaust all angles of asking or even helping someone for their reaction to be poor. For example, you ask someone what they want for Christmas and they tell you nothing or it doesn’t matter, so you get them something useful or you think they would like for them to be upset because you didn’t really know what they wanted. Or if someone needs financial help but you can’t give much so instead of $200 you give $20 and they don’t think that’s enough, that to me is when it’s the thought that counts because we aren’t all in the same financial stance. 
One thing I struggle with is my husband is a generous gifter but other people we know aren’t (or instead of judging maybe can’t be) but to me it hurts to spend $100 on someone because that’s your per person budget but they only spend $20 on you and $50-$60 on others… I try to give the benefit of the doubt with those situations.

What does “It’s the thought that counts” mean to you? Please read options

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