Our holidays have become so commercial, especially here in the U.S. I often wish I could wave a wand and return to the days when we made paper chains, strings of popcorn and cranberries and home made ornaments of pinecones for our trees; when the floor under the tree was not a mound of gaily wrapped gifts but only a few packages for each family member. It will never happen although many of us strive each year to make the gift giving both more manageable and more meaningful.
However, this column is not about curtailing gifts but what to consider; especially for those who "have everything" and golden people in general.
Golden people can often be divided into two categories: those who have the necessities, don't want more "stuff" and may be difficult to buy for because they don't seem to need anything. The less affluent are the seniors who live on fixed incomes and don’t need the same types of gifts. This latter group may also have the basic necessities and not want more "stuff."
For the first group, let me suggest a few items that we like to receive at our house:
- Tickets for special events
- Gift certificates for meals out or travel
- Gift certificates for massages and other beauty treatments
- Books or gift certificates for them
- Audio books or videos
- Magazine subscriptions
- Charitable gifts in our name
Tickets for special events can include theater, sports, music;whatever suits the tastes of the recipient. Also, most movie theaters now sell gift books. Although my husband and I can afford to go out to eat, we tend not to, or to only frequent the restaurants within close proximity. We’ve enjoyed gift certificates to other restaurants because they make us try new places. Massages and other beauty treatments are among my favorite; the men can enjoy massages also. We love books, actually prefer paperbacks, but make certain the store has a return policy because a duplicate title is of little use. If you're uncertain, a gift certificate is the best option. Also, we don't want coffee table books (except the one on Paul Newman and I have it!). Audio books and videos are always welcome but the rules are the same as with books; duplicates are of little use. Magazine subscriptions are welcome if you're sure of the person's tastes and that you're not duplicating.
Charitable gifts are wonderful. One size fits all; there's no need to worry about duplication or personal tastes. One year we "received" rabbits. The trio of bunnies were purchased through The Heifer Project International and helped impoverished families increase their protein intake and their income.
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