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Things to Keep in Mind While Selecting Gifts for Your House Maid
- Opt for Diwali Gifts That Can Make Her Festival Enjoyable:
Diwali is all about festivities and celebration and everyone deserves to enjoy it. So, while choosing a gift for your maid, you should think of something that will help her and her family celebrate the festival. You can opt for gifts like sweets and clothes. Everyone loves wearing new clothes on Diwali and so you can give your maid a nice saree, which she can wear on the occasion. You can also gift a small packet of crackers for her kids and family to celebrate Diwali together. She will be truly delighted to receive a gift full of love and will be thankful to you. - Select Gifts as Per Your Budget:
Another useful tip for selecting the right gift is to set a defined budget for your Diwali gifts. You should define your budget beforehand, even before you start looking for good gifting options for your maid. This will help you come up with something that is feasible for you and is also a good gift. With so many expenses at hand during the festival, you do not want to overspend. This is why you should clearly define the price range within which you wish to gift your maid. Though there is no set rule for how much you should spend, Diwali bonuses are in general equivalent to one month's salary. However, your budget is entirely up to you. - Gift Her Something that She Actually Needs:
If you wish to give something meaningful to your maid, then it is best to go with something that she actually needs. Your maid might have mentioned something before that she needs for her household. If you are having a hard time figuring out what she needs then you can ask her straight up. Ask your maid what she needs and give that to her as a Diwali gift. For example, she might want to buy something for her kids on the occasion of Diwali. You can offer to buy it on her behalf. Maybe she needs winter wear but does not have the money for it. You can buy her a sweater or gift her a blanket in this case. Gifts like these will be appreciated more since she actually needs it. Most maids are upfront about what they want and will start putting in their requests days and weeks ahead of Diwali, but in the odd chance she does not tell you, ask.
Popular Diwali Gift Ideas for Indian House Maid
Gift of Cash
On the occasion of Diwali, the best gift that you can possibly give to your maid is money. As your maid works hard to make ends meet, it is a great idea to gift her with some extra money on the occasion of Diwali. This will not only serve as a gift but will also give her the freedom of spending it according to her wish. You might not be able to guess what she really needs and so if you gift her with some extra cash then it is up to her to buy anything she wishes with it.
Winter Clothes
Diwali falls at the start of the winter season and it is a good idea to gift winter wear to your maid as a Diwali gift. Sweaters, shawls, blankets and even socks are good gifts. If she has enough of these you can gift her warm clothing for her children and family too.
This woolen sweater is red in color and has a V-neck. It is ideal for daily wear during winters and has full sleeves that provide ultimate comfort. You can view the size chart and select the appropriate size before buying the gift. The solid pattern sweater is made entirely of wool and will keep her warm as the days turn cooler. You can buy it from Flipkart for Rs.465. Gift this to your maid on Diwali and see her smile with happiness.
A Day Off on Diwali
This may be the hardest gift you ever had to give anyone. It's Diwali! There are so many chores, the house has to be cleaned, sweets and food to be made, and what about all the cleaning up after the guests who are going to start arriving anytime now? All of these are valid reasons, and people are known to offer incentives in the form of extra money, food or clothes to get their maids to stay longer on Diwali.
But think about it. Diwali is meant to be enjoyed and celebrated and so, it will be a great idea to give your maid a leave on the day of Diwali. During such festivals, you certainly need a lot of help with the household chores. However, you should realize that even your maid might want to celebrate this festival with her family. So, if you give her a holiday during the festival, then she will really appreciate it and may take a while for it to sink in that she has a day off. Plan things in advance, enlist family to help you with the chores. And do give her a bonus as well!
Handbags or Travelbags
Like every woman she too must have need for a bag as she goes about her day. Buy her a sturdy bag in the design she perfers for daily use. Or you can buy her something she will love to flaunt when she goes out whether to shopping or to visit family! You can oberve her and decide, or even ask her. There is no dearth of options for good quality bags at reasonable prices. Consider bags like this elegant black handbag for Rs. 639 on Amazon. Well designed with a lot of space and several compartments, it is a good option for day-to-day use.
Homemade Delicacies
Good food and celebration make Diwali special. It would be a good idea to give homemade delicacies to your maid that she can relish with her family. During the Diwali season, people usually make chakli, phirni, sev-chivda and a myriad sweets. You can share some of these with your maid as well to help her celebrate the festival. This will be symbolic of your care and goodwill. Who doesn’t like to celebrate Diwali with delicious sweets and snacks? So, if you are making some for your family and friends, then ensure that you also give these to your maid.
Good Quality Slippers
These slippers by Flite make for an ideal gift for your maid this Diwali. Your maid has to work in different places and most of the time it involves a lot of walking around. She definitely needs good quality slippers that she can wear on a daily basis. These slippers are sturdy and perfect for casual wear. They have a slip-on closure and are devoid of any heels. They can be easily worn during all the seasons and provide a good grip and comfort while walking. They are made from synthetic material and you can buy them from Amazon for Rs. 224.
Good Quality Festive Clothing
Gifting a good quality saree to your maid this Diwali could be an excellent idea. She can wear it on the occasion of Diwali and celebrate it with her family in a festive spirit. This blue and gold printed silk saree has a vibrant and attractive look. It has an elegant peacock border, and comes with a blouse piece. The material of the saree is crepe and the blend of hues make it look amazing. It is ideal for wearing at the festival of Diwali. Gift this to your maid by buying it from Myntra for Rs.499. Other options include salwar kameez sets depending on her preferences.
A New Mobile Phone
Your maid may well have a mobile phone since today it is an essential gadget for everyone, but hers might be in poor condition or a very basic model. Buy her an upgraded model so she can do more with her mobile and her time too. If she is not comfortable with smartphones you can give her one of the latest feature phones which are more durable and long-lasting. It is a good gift that you can give to her on the occasion of Diwali. Shop this Micromax X772 from Flipkart for Rs.1,099. There's a lot of range available at entry level for both feature phones and smartphones so look around before deciding.
Kitchenware
Good quality utensils are some of the most appreciated gifts on Diwali. Cooking ware, kadais sets, bowls/plates and other kitchen items can make excellent gifts. Ask her what she needs or you can give her this Stainless Steel Bowl set with air tight lids. The set comes with four bowls of varying sizes each with a high quality plastic lid. Something very useful for her kitchen for sure - she can use it as storage, use it as a lunch box or even for serving. Order it on Amazon for Rs. 499
Firecrackers and Sweets
What is a Diwali without crackers, right? If you are looking for ideas to gift to your maid, then crackers could be your option. Gift your maid with a combo pack of crackers. You can find crackers in the nearby market. You can choose the crackers according to your choice and then present the same to your maid as a gift. To add to the gift, you can also give her sweets like Kaju barfi and rasgulla to make it even more special for her. A 400 gm box of Haldiram's Kaju Barfi will cost you Rs.500 on haldiramsonline.com. You can pair this with a 2 box set of 15 cm Electric Sparklers for Rs.82 or browse for more options on cockbrand.in. These crackers and sweets will help her celebrate the festival with her family.
Cotton Bedsheet
Gift your maid with this cotton double bedsheet this Diwali. A good quality bedsheet comes in handy in any household. During festivals, a lot of people are likely to visit at someone’s place which is why it is a great idea to gift a bedsheet to your maid. This beige and red color bedsheet have a checkered pattern. It is suitable for a double bed size and has 1 bed sheet and 2 pillow covers. The bed sheet is made up of cotton material. Your maid will be happy getting this thoughtful gift from you on the occasion of Diwali. You can buy this bedsheet from Amazon for Rs.429.
It's Her Festival Too, Let Her Go Home Early to Enjoy it with Her Family
Diwali is as important to your maid as it is for you. It is obvious that you might need house help considering the fact that you will have a lot of guests over. But at the same time, you should also be mindful of the fact that it is a festival for everyone. Even your maid would love to spend this day with her family and she will be really happy if you let her go early that day. Even better? Ask her to take a day off to celebrate Diwali with her loved ones. You can ask her to come a day prior if you want certain preparations to be done for the festival and then on the day of Diwali you can let her take an off. She will be thankful to you for your empathy.
Are Diwali Gifts Necessary For Your Maids and Helpers?
Sure it is!
Strengthens Bonding Between Employer and Employee:
Diwali is an important festival and it is a trend in India to give gifts to your maids during this festival. It is a good way of strengthening the bond between you and your maid. It is a fact that maids work really hard to make a living for themselves and have to do odd jobs at times while working at your place. Gifting them with Diwali gifts is a good way of showing some care and building a good bond. After all, they work for you and it is due to their help that you can focus on other activities as well. A good rapport will translate into feelings of being appreciated on her part, and consistent good work done for you.
Diwali Gifts Are A Mark of Goodwill:
Since Diwali is celebrated all over India with great enthusiasm, everyone expects bonuses at work. In the corporate world there is this culture wherein the employers give Diwali bonus to their employees. Accordingly, since maids are not on an official payroll, you can give them Diwali gifts plus some cash as a substitute for lumpsum bonus. After having worked for you for a while, maids naturally expect some gift from you on the famous occasion of Diwali. It will certainly cheer them up and you can bring a bright smile on their face by simply giving them a nice gift. This small gesture of yours will mean a lot to them.
Diwali Gifts Symbolise How Much You Appreciate Their Hard Work:
Give a thoughtful gift to your maid this Diwali to show her how much you appreciate her. Your maid works really hard to assist you with household chores throughout the year. Giving a gift will be a good way of showing her that you value all the work that she does. Buy something that she can use at her place like kitchen items and the like. You can also gift her sarees or kurtis that she can wear on the occasion of Diwali. She will be surprised to receive a gift from you and this simple gesture from you can strengthen your bond with her. Your maid will be more excited to work for you since she will feel valued.
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Treat your maid well
Sometimes we forget that the less fortunate who work for us are people too and have their own lives. They may be poor and do work that we are unwilling to do ourselves, but they deserve to be treated well. It is by the efforts of your maid that your own life is comfortable at home, and though you pay her, it is hardly equal to the inconvenience you'd face if you had to do all the housework by yourself. If you are a working person or have a spouse who works, aren't you entitled to days off for festivals, holidays and when you're unwell? Well, your maid does too, so don't grudge her the small things like wanting to leave early on Diwali.