Gift Ideas

I have seriously done none of my Christmas shopping yet. I mean I haven’t even started. I haven’t even thought about what I’m going to get for whom. Maybe I’m still hoping my family is going to draw names for a change and I’ll just have to get 1 gift instead of many.

I don’t know. A girl can dream.

Some of you obsessives think my behavior is sacrilege. While others, the procrastinators, are underwhelmed by my frenzy.

It takes all kinds to make Christmas.

In an effort to help myself think through my gift list, I thought I’d share some gift ideas for those of you who may still be wondering what to get that one quirky relative. Here you go:

1. For someone who seems to have everything: Get a giftcard to their favorite store, somewhere cool like the apple store. Take my word on this one, it’s not cheesy. It won’t mean you haven’t thought through it. You will save this person the energy of going to return whatever else you get them. Just skip all the steps and go with the gift card. Even people who look like they have it all appreciate free cash.

2. For the single in your family: how about trying a year long subscription to a dating site? You can’t give them a significant other after all, but this is as close as you can get. They will act shocked at first. But secretly they will appreciate it and it will go much further than a pair of pretty earrings which they can pick up on their own at Claire’s for $5.

3. For mom: offer to babysit her kids for a long weekend while mom and her husband take a long weekend somewhere. Or give her some vouchers for babysitting. Make it easy to redeem and arrange it so she has to use them or else. Tag along a certificate for a massage and you are golden.

4. For dad: gift certificates at the family’s favorite restaurant is always a good idea. Dad usually has to pay, and this will end up to be quite handy in February when dad is still paying off credit card debt from Christmas spending. Be careful spending too much on dad’s favorite hobby. This may seem brilliant the week before Christmas, but remember that what you give to dad is indirectly a gift (or not so much a gift) to mom. Taking dad away from the family on yet another 6 hour golf day is really kicking mom in the shins. Think twice before you do it!

5. For a sibling: siblings are hard. No matter what you get them, they are going to feel like they got you the better gift or that you got the other sibling the better gift. It’s the whole sibling rivalry thing. Try to give all siblings similar but different presents. For example, choose a category, like books, and choose a different book for each. Or how about the category of fitness, but a different warm up suit for each. You get the idea.

6. For the kids in your family: The temptation is to give them another DS game. Don’t do it. Kids are losing their communicative and verbal skills thanks to game boys. Don’t be a part of the downward spiral of cultural depravity. Buck the system and choose a book instead. Nowadays kids are in so many activities and sports, offer to pay for one of the kids athletic fees – if you can afford it. Parents will appreciate this more than you know. Honestly, I still like giftcards. In this regard, kids are just like adults and like the idea of free money in their hand at Target the week after Christmas.

7. For cousins: Give it up. Stop the cycle at the immediate family.

8. For friends: something sentimental is best. By now you’re low on cash and nerves. The idea of walking into a mall will make you vomit. Pick up some journals at Marshalls, tag along a short poem, and perhaps a starbucks gift card to be redeemed by the two of you, and make it a day.

9. For your spouse: since I have so much experience in this area, I’m going to defer it to perhaps someone who is reading this blog who is willing to post a comment with some ideas. Personally, from a single person’s perspective, I’d say try something personal perhaps in the R rated category, but make it personal and intimate. Boys, I may think twice and focus on some early marriage memory and build on that, if you get my gist.

10. For your pet: ok, ok, I’m getting carried away here. Frankly, I don’t care who gave whom the dog, I refuse to spend $1 on a dog. Call me Scrooge. It’s a fact.

All right. I hope this helps you out. If you have other brilliant ideas to share, leave a comment. I’ll post it for the world to see.

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