[Slonopotam845]

We generally make an effort to select an appropriate gift for the person and occasion.
In USA the host can suggest the gift they need by registering at a store and selecting the items they need.
I do not like the host asking for cash by saying "no boxed gifts", but sometimes it is easy and convenient to give cash as gift.

Economists don't really like presents. They think they are irrational. No gift giver can know what another person wants most, and any present is just a wasteful approximation. The only gift anyone should ever give is cash. It is optimally efficient.

[tgs]

apart from gift cheques, Gift Vouchers are very much in vogue nowadays. The person who is the receiver has the option of choosing the product/item depending on the value of the gift voucher. I believe it actually helps people who have to break their heads worrying about what to buy. but, I have also seen some people who prefer to gift items only assuming that giving a cheque/voucher is not proper.