Impossible Gifts Made Possible

We are closing in on the ho-ho-home stretch for Christmas, but as of two days ago 52% of Americans had not finished their holiday shopping. The same survey showed that 29% of men (and 19% of women) had yet to even start their holiday shopping. And that's OK. Some people prefer to wait and enjoy the excitement, beauty and spirit of Christmas shopping at Christmas time (or that's what they're telling themselves right about now).

Here are the top three gripes* of last-minute shoppers:
1. I don't know what he/she wants.
2. He/she doesn't need anything.
3. I'm broke.
* Gripes are completely made up by SB Gift Girl. (But you know I'm right.)

The good news: all three gripes can be taken care of with the same list of gift ideas. Since it is the thought that counts (really), your job is not to shop for something your giftees need -- chances are they are capable of buying that themselves.Your job instead is to come up with something that says, "I like you, and I thought you would enjoy this."

Here are some quick ideas for impossible-to-buy-for giftees and/or can't-afford-to-buy-anything gifters.

DIY gift certificates - If you have a computer (or a pen) you can create a gift certificate for personal services -- a gift of time, which is a precious commodity for anyone on your list. Think about what your giftee would like help with, and think about what your skills are. For example:

• Photography
• Dog-walking
• Errands
• Handyman help
• Personal training
• Tutoring
• Closet organizing
• A date for a picnic, a hike, or a fun adventure you know the giftee would enjoy

Lottery tickets - Your measly $10 gift might make your friend a millionaire! See if you can come up with a clever presentation...for example, tape each lottery ticket to a wooden skewer and tuck the sticks into a potted poinsettia plant, or use the tickets to frame a picture of your giftee's dream car or fantasy vacation destination.

Re-gifting - Re-gifting is OK in my book...if you get a gift you're not going to use, this can be viewed as a form of recycling and a wise cost-cutting measure. Proceed with caution, though -- the gift should be (a) unused and (b) appropriate. Please. Double-check for hidden notes or gift cards from the original gift-giver, and be certain that your giftee was not involved in the original transaction.

Homemade gifts - Yes, time is tight, but if you're not shopping you might have time to put together something homemade. Again, think about your skill sets, and don't be afraid to stretch a little. Quick (but thoughtful) ideas (find info online) might include hot cocoa mix, painted ornaments, homemade liqueur, a set of refrigerator magnets made from vintage earrings or buttons, a jar of your special marinade...?

Cash - Cash on its own is kind of a tacky gift for a friend or loved one -- currency needs a card or some sort of dressing to avoid seeming like a tip or payoff. If it's given with a sense of humor, then it's even more fun. Tape a bunch of one-dollar bills end-to-end, roll them up, and stuff them in an empty Kleenex box (to be unreeled -- great drama). Or plop it in a funny coffee mug. Or peeking out of a stuffed toy. Then you've got a gift that's memorable AND useful.

Funny gifts - If your giftee has a good sense of humor, you might be able to come up with a humorous gift that will (a) mean a lot and (b) not cost much. Could be a goofy re-gift, could be a funny book of certificates, could be the moose head that hung in your fraternity house. Only you will know what might work...

It's the thought that counts. So keep thinking!
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Last-Second Gift Ideas

One year our family gift exchange somehow went haywire, and two of us bought gifts for the same kid...which meant one nephew was left giftless. This error was discovered when we were celebrating Christmas in the remote north woods of Wisconsin, where there are few shopping opportunities on a good day, much less December 25. My quick-thinking sister-in-law spotted the crisis while we were just about to open gifts, and sent her son to the nearest gas station/mini mart, where he loaded up on squirt guns, jumbo packs of gum, water balloon kits and lots of candy. A Christmas crisis averted!

Goes to show you, Santa's not the only one who should check his list twice on Christmas...

Here are some on-the-spot solutions to keep in mind if you have an unexpected gift-giving opportunity on Christmas day:

• Check your closets and cupboards for new, potentially giftable items.
  
  
• Do a quick shuffle and re-tag gifts -- rob Peter to gift Paul. Peter will understand.
  
  
• Re-gift (but follow the rules of re-gifting -- see 12/22 post)
   
• Add a ribbon to a nice bottle of wine or liqueur.
   
• Wrap up a vase, home decor item or piece of jewelry you can live without.
  
  
• Go sentimental: pass on a minor family heirloom or a great book.
   
• Turn cash into something less gauche than cash -- attach $20 to a packet of microwave popcorn with a note that reads, "Enjoy a movie on us!"
  
  
• If all else fails, head to 7-11 or the grocery store that's open on December 25...then get creative (think gift cards, candy, wine...).

If you celebrate Christmas, I hope yours is very merry -- and your gifts are big hits!

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Kids are Gift-Givers Too

Children need to learn about the art of graciously giving and receiving gifts while they are still young enough to pay attention to their parents. This phase does not last long, so it's important for us to act quickly.

Young children and teenagers alike can take part in creating meaningful, affordable gifts to give to family and close friends this holiday season. Children generally do not have a lot of cash, so homemade gifts are most appropriate (and, of course, most appreciated). It's so fun to see kids get excited about giving a gift they have created...

Here are some easy (and fun) ideas for gifts kids can create and give:

• Christmas tree ornaments
  - Craft stores sell inexpensive clear glass ornaments, which can be painted with glass paint or filled with  beads, tinsel, feathers, glitter or other holiday goodies
  - Regular matte glass ornaments can be decorated with metallic Sharpie pens or glue and glitter
  - The old flour-and-salt dough recipe is an easy (and inexpensive) classic for creating cute ornaments
  
  
• Bookmarks
  - Cut a 2 x 8-inch slice of kid's art, a cute photo, computer art or a plain piece of paper inscribed (by your young one) with the recipient's name and stamped or doodled decorations... laminate at Kinko's (FedEx Office, whatever), punch a hole and add a tassel or ribbon. Ta-dah!
  
  
• Refrigerator magnets
  - Fimo clay (sold at craft stores and art stores) is like perma-Play-Doh... comes in brilliant colors, and can be baked to permanent hardness. Kids can create little sculptures, bake them, and glue them to magnets for lovely refrigerator decor to be coveted by grandmas everywhere.
  
  
• School art
  - Art projects from school that are destined for the back of your closet might just merit a place of honor in someone else's home.
  
  
• Gift certificates - the gift of time: Older kids (and adults, for that matter) can create certificates for time and services -- always appreciated!
  - Wash the dog, the car or the dishes
  - Babysitting or dog-walking
  - Yard work, house work, laundry or help with errands
  - Breakfast in bed
  - What else? Drop hints!

Timing is Everything

Attention, holiday shoppers! There is a lot of adorable Christmas paraphernalia on retailer shelves and catalog pages this year, with no shortage of Santa toys, Santa statuettes, Santa tea towels, Santa boxer shorts, snowman candles, reindeer platters, gingerbread pajamas, candy cane tee shirts, mistletoe napkin rings, elf snow globes or dancing pine trees...the list is endless.

If you find really great Christmas-themed gifts that you know your giftees will love (be honest, now!), my best recommendation is to give them ASAP, so they can enjoy it throughout this holiday season.

If you wait until December 25 to give someone a Christmas-themed gift, it will be used and appreciated for exactly one day, and then either recycled, sent to the landfill, or boxed up for 11 months. Even seemingly neutral holiday themes (including skiers, snowflakes, pine trees, peppermints or any red/green color combo) do not carry over well as attire or decor in January and beyond. Trust me.

Here are four golden opportunities for advance gift-giving of (appropriate, lovable, tasteful) Christmas-theme presents:

1. St. Nicholas Day is December 6. In many parts of the world, people share small gifts with each other in honor of this saint (known as a generous protector of children and the model for current day Santa Claus). Share your knowledge of this holiday and dazzle your giftee.

2. If you want to get creative, you can call December 14 the first day of Christmas and give a gift then. Interesting fact: the 12 days of Christmas on the Christian calendar actually are the 12 days after Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany (January 6)...but if your gift is a good one, the recipient probably won't call you on this technicality.

3. Holiday parties with friends or co-workers can be an OK time to give Christmas-themed gifts (as long as you are certain that the recipients celebrate Christmas, and the gift is one they will want to keep and use from year to year).

4. Secret Santa gift exchanges often lend themselves to more humorous, less personal gift-giving, so the funny light-up Santa hat, festive cubicle decor or popular CD of holiday music can be quite acceptable (again, be sure of what he/she celebrates in December).

Please be a smart shopper! If you find a lovely holiday-themed gift that your friend or loved one will appreciate and keep -- hooray. But a lot of the holiday-themed junk on the market is truly junk, so it is up to you to be a prudent shopper. Future posts on this blog will help you find alternatives to the caroling chipmunk toilet paper dispensers or glow-in-the-dark nutcrackers, I promise....


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