To all of those people that say gifts are not important in a relationship, you are wrong. Now, do not misconstrue this. I am not saying that my significant other needs to buy me elaborate expensive gifts to prove they actually love me. It is far more complex than this. You do not even need to spend money to give me a gift that means something. Whether it be anniversaries, Christmas, Valentines Day or my birthday, I don't expect the world. I just want a guy that will try enough to let me know that when that special time in my life rolls around they are thinking of me. It is a simple, two-step formula. I want to know you are 1) thinking about me and 2) know me well.
Consideration
This aspect of gift giving applies to families, friends and significant others. If you forget to get someone a gift for a special occasion or holiday, and they went out of their way to get you one, it just ruins the balance of the relationship. 
It says a lot about the status of the relationship if they remembered an occasion to express love or thoughtfulness.
Thoughtfulness
Gifts really do not have to be extravagant to be thoughtful. You can express how much you know someone through a gift that might not cost anything.
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I find the most thoughtful gifts are the ones that cost the least. For instance, I got a cheap fill in the blank book for my friend for a Christmas gift.
I had to fill in each page with a reason why she is my best friend. It took me hours and it was not easy but by the time I was finished I had a book filled with all of the good memories from our friendship. I did not have to spend much to give a thoughtful gift and the same goes for significant others.
I prefer my boyfriend make me a home cooked meal on Valentine's Day than take me out to some fancy restaurant. He made some of my favorite foods and it was the cutest little candlelit dinner.
For his birthday I painted him a cooler, each side one of the many things he loves. 
He refers to his car as his other girlfriend. I just presented it to him last night and he sat there just staring at it and taking pictures for about an hour.
Gifts are not the most important thing in a relationship, but I think the ones who make an extra effort deserve some credit.
