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Please go the the updated version of my lens at www.squidoo.com/thegiftfiver. (Yes, it's a misspelling but it was actually there first.) Thanks, Jennifer.
Whether it's the cost factor, the relationship factor, or plain old feeling insecure about it, a lot of people get very nervous about giving gifts, no matter the occassion.
There are two main philosophies when it comes to gift giving: give something a person wants and give something a person needs. (Of course, if you can get something someone needs and wants, that's the best of both worlds).
What to Give When You Don't Know What to Give
The Old Standbys
By the way, I steer away from bottles of wine and lottery tickets, the wine because you never know who either has a problem with liquor (they don't drink or can't drink) and the lottery tickets because how would you feel if they won $300,000?
Either way, the key with this type of gift is to include the gift receipt . . . just in case.
What Einstein Told His Barber: More Scientific Answers to Everyday Questions
Most small sized books with a quirky title fit the bill for this type of gift.
Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 07/26/2008)
For Someone Who Doesn't Have a Lot of Time
or For Someone Who Doesn't Have a Lot of Money
Ayurvedic Spa Treatments
Actually, this is just a book, but go to SpaWish.com or SpaFinder.com and really make someone's day by getting him or her a gift certificate that is good for spas all over the country. And yes, this really is a good gift for a man as well as a woman.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House
This is by far the best book on housekeeping that I have ever come across and it makes a good gift in and of itself, but it is in this list to represent you going out and buying a Spring Cleaning at your local Merry Maids (or other comparable service) for someone. Make sure that the business you hire is bonded.
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/26/2008)
For Someone Who Likes to Write
My favorite gift to give a writer is a glass blown pen that can be dipped in ink and written with. It is beautiful and very elegant. These pens are nice to write with or good just for displaying. You may also want to pick up a matching ink well.
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For a White Elephant Gift Exchange
or a Yankee Swap
For those of you who don't know, a "white elephant gift exchange is a popular party game played during the winter holiday season in the United States. The objective of the game is for guests of a party to each contribute one gift to the game, and ultimately each guest walks away with one gift from the game. Along the way is a random drawing to determine the order in which players get to unwrap gifts or 'steal' previously opened gifts." (from Wikipedia.com)
Gifts are generally capped in the $10-$15 range.
What you give is going to depend on what type of party you are going to. Is this a gathering of friends, who would appreciate an Action Figure Jesus doll (something I once received) or are you better off getting a $10 gift card to Blockbuster's paired with some microwave popcorn? Your call.
SET Game
I used to work in a toy store and was surprised at how well liked this Mensa-winning game is with both children and adults. Everyone I know who has played it has ended up buying it for someone else as a gift.
Amazon Price: $9.89 (as of 07/26/2008)
EINSTEIN FIGURE
How could I resist? Accoutrements has a whole assortment of action figures that range from Edgar Allen Poe to Jane Austen to Crazy Cat Lady and beyond. It's a fun little gift that makes people laugh.
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
Milk/Dark Family Assortment 1 lb
Yum. Again, just representative. I would have added a See's Candy item, because I love them most of all, but they were all out of stock.
Amazon Price: $16.95 (as of 07/26/2008)
For Someone Who Likes to Cook
MIU Stainless-Steel Professional Mandoline Slicer
My mom highly recommends this kitchen gadget with the funny name of mandoline. It makes slicing everything from carrots to potatoes a snap.
Amazon Price: $79.98 (as of 07/26/2008)
Salter 11-Pound Square Stainless-Steel Digital Kitchen Scale
I only learned this recently, but those who know swear by it: recipes come out twice as good if you weigh the ingredients instead of measuring them by volume - it's simply more accurate. This is especially true for baking.
Amazon Price: $44.58 (as of 07/26/2008)
Metrokane Rabbit Wine Opener Gift Set, Silver
I know this isn't really a kitchen gadget, but everyone I know who has a rabbit wine opener swears by it.
Amazon Price: $43.09 (as of 07/26/2008)
Music for a Teenager
One Suggestion
- Find the MySpace page of the teenager in question. (If you don't know it, click on the MySpace link above, click on the "Search" tab that is in between the browse and invite tabs on
the bar directly under the MySpace logo. Go to "Find a Friend" and try to find your teen. You can use a name or an email address.) - Each MySpace page has the option for a song to play when anyone accesses the page. Take note of the artist and song.
- Buy an album from that same artist. Make sure to get a gift receipt in case the giftee already has the CD.
- If all goes as planned, expect a stunned teenager with a newfound idea of how cool you are.
Alternative Ending
- Go to www.Pandora.com, an offshoot of the Music Genome Project.
- Type in the song you have found, or if they don't have a record of that, try the artist. Pandora will analyze it and come up with other artists and songs like the one you have entered.
- Pick an album from an artist that they
subsequently play. - If all goes well, prepared to have a shocked teenager who will have no idea how you were able to come up with something he or she actually likes.
For People Getting Married
or engaged
- The best thing to give newlyweds is cash to use for their honeymoon - just make sure they are going to open the envelopes before they go away. For fun, give them small bills to use as tips when they are away. For extra flair, get all the ones made into a pad, like a pad of paper so that they can actually peel off money as they go along.
- As uncreative as you might find it, the other good thing to give people who are getting married is something off of their registry. Yes it won't be a big surprise, but it will definitely be something they want because they are the ones who put it there.
Most places with registries will allow the couple to buy things that have not been purchased on their registry at a discount after their event has passed, so you might want to think about getting a gift certificate instead of an actual item to make your gift "go further."
For Someone Who Likes to Watch Birds
aka Birding
Steiner 8x30 Safari Binocular
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 07/26/2008)
Wenger Outdoor Gear WG24704 Bahn - Birding Field Bag
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Late for the Sky Bird -Opoly
Amazon Price: $25.00 (as of 07/26/2008)
For Someone Who is Jewish
or rather, for someone who likes Judaica
Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, Baby naming, Bris, or even just a birthday. Here are some suggestions for what to buy. There are two types of Judaica - items that you only need a finite number of (like mezuzahs) and items that you can have a lot of (like menorahs, challah covers, kiddush cups, etc.).
With the second type, you know your recipient won't get stuck with something s/he can't use, but if you find something of the first type you think s/he will love, go for it. There's always redecorating.
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- For the disorganized, try a filing cabinet.
- For the really disorganized, hire a professional organizer to come in and do the grunt work.
- For the t.v.-aholic, get a book with information about what happens behind the scenes of one of his/her favorite shows. Better yet, see if you can arrange a visit to the studio.
- To be continued . . .
Tell Me What You Want
What You Really, Really Want
Is there a category you would like me address? Let me know. Or just drop me a line.
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Jordan Mercedes
I love your site. I enjoy giving gifts but I often have option overload and can't make up my mind. I really appreciate your ideas and it makes giving a gift fun. Thanks- Posted June 14, 2007 |
A Word on Regifting
If you get a gift that you don't want and can't return, what are you supposed to do with it? There aren't that many options, but regifting is one of them. I am very much in favor of regifting when done with style.
Some people feel slighted when they receive a gift that you didn't shop for. I feel that if you see something you think someone would like, even if it is something that someone else gave to you.
Good News
of a sort
Sometimes, all you really need to do is show up.
