Holiday Gift Ideas

Are you puzzling over a gift idea for your loved one? Don't gravitate to the same old same old. Think outside the box when it comes to gift-giving ideas. Physical items are not the only option. Do your parents need another knickknack for their already overcrowded shelves? When the time comes, who wants to deal with dusting, packing, selling, and/or donating those baubles? No one needs more useless stuff.

Years ago, a friend explained she was going a different route on holiday gift-giving. Her proposal? Give helpful items or experiences. I stole her idea and haven't looked back. Trust me, Grandma and Grandpa will thank you. =)

• One year, I gifted a monogrammed tote to my son's teacher. It was a huge hit. The tote comes in different sizes and colors, with zippers or without zippers, with monogramming or without. So many options! Oh, and check out the must-have wristlet and pouches. Land's End

• Gift a cooking class or a wine-tasting,

• Movie tickets,

• Tickets to live theater or a lecture series,

• Send a donation to their favorite charity,

• Schedule a day together. Go to a museum, restaurant, garden, or even the beach. (Their choice!)

• Plan a picnic,

• Do they love bookstores? Take them to one and let them stroll the aisles.

• Take them out for coffee or tea,

• What about plants, seeds, or gardening items for the gardener?

• Does Grandma have fond memories of a special dessert? Does Grandpa miss bagels from his hometown? Check out the web. I bet you can locate a website that carries that memory. Zabar's, a New York institution, is a perfect place to start.

• Spend the day helping clean out the garage or a closet,

• Gather pictures around a theme and turn them into a book. With many options to choose from, here are three choices. Shutterfly, Mixbook, or Vistaprint.

• Have a tree planted in their name. Arbor Day Foundation

• Sign them up for a library membership if they don't have one. Libraries offer an abundance of freebies. Streaming services, ebooks, audiobooks, classes, and museum passes to name a few. Check out your local library to see what they have to offer.

• Do they have an eReader? A great gift to go with that library membership.

Post a comment letting me know your ideas. I would love to hear from you. =)