Christmas, Chanukah, birthdays, anniversaries and other celebratory events provide occasions on which gifts are usually given or received. In its simplest form, the purpose of giving a gift is to honor the person receiving the gift. It is a gesture made to illustrate to that  person that (s)he is held in high regard and appreciation. When this purpose is kept in mind, the giving of the gift is clean.

 It is always important to know what is motivating the giving of the gift being given. This can be a tricky issue because the motive is not always completely conscious, and it may not be until a person has sufficiently reflected on it  until the motive becomes clear. When there is a conditional aspect to giving a gift, it ultimately detracts from the whole purpose of giving the gift.

Oftentimes, gifts are not given "free and clear". They are sometimes given with an additional motive, such as the if-then clause. This means, “If I give this, then I might get that”. Another common clause used is the since-next, which means, “Since I’ve given you this, you owe me that”. Both of these clauses are designed to invoke a sense of indebtedness to the person receiving the gift, which may feel more like a confusing no-win bargain than a gift with no other strings attached except wishes for enjoyment.