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Lavish Them with Gifts, Lazy-Style
Call me a Grinch, but the holidays are never more daunting than when you’re sitting down to make your shopping list for friends and family. After so many years, you’ve probably cycled through the same items many times over (I know I have!). So here are some ideas and commentary from the folks at Cardpool.com who suggest they’re for “lazy gift-givers.” I sure hope my family isn’t reading this, but I probably fall into that category. Hope you find this as helpful as I did, and if you’ve got additional please add to the list in the comments below. Happy holidays!
1. Cardpool.com
Gift cards. That are up to 30% discounted. What’s not to love? That means you can buy the people on your “nice” list cards for some of the top retailers, restaurants, movie theaters and even airlines without breaking the bank.
2. Whatever of the Month Clubs
For everyone on your list, there’s a gift of the month club – bacon of the month, beer of the month, jam of the month (for the Christmas Vacation fans out there) – get your creative juices flowing. Murray’s in New York even has a meat of the month club delivered nationwide – a gift that keeps giving year round.
Who doesn’t love movies? Purchase a gift certificate for Hulu Premium so your gift recipient can stream the newest shows without all the ads.
You can use your own photos to print out aprons, coasters, mugs, key chains, etc. This is one of those gifts that will make you look like you really gave it the personal touch. Just upload a photo on a site and let it do all the hard work.
Spafinder takes the spa gift certificate to the next level. Let your recipient pick out the spa and the treatment without putting your bank account in the red.
Unemployment-Friendly Gifts: Significant Other
Just because you’ve been laid off doesn’t mean you feel good laying off on giving. We’ve come up with a list of thoughtful, unique and inexpensive holiday gifts for every friend and family member.
Significant Other: $25 Experience
It’s more than likely your partner has interests, right? Maybe it’s cooking, maybe it’s fashion. (Maybe it’s something weirder that you really don’t feel like sharing with others.) Anyways, if your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife is curious about anything, consider booking two tickets to the next panel discussion, cooking class or lecture that focuses on their passion. While cooking courses can get expensive, events at a local winery, kitchen store or community center often don’t break the $30 mark…
Unemployment-Friendly Gifts: Your Favorite Kid
Just because you’ve been laid off doesn’t mean you feel good laying off on giving. We’ve come up with a list of thoughtful, unique and inexpensive gifts for every friend and family member.
Your Favorite Kid: Balloon Power Boat
If you love fun design, you’ll love Kid O, an e-commerce site that carries high-design toys…
Recession Briefing 12.18: Christmas Wallets Opening Up
What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.
The average amount of money Americans predict they will spend on Christmas gifts this season is now $743, up from last month’s estimate and a healthy increase over Americans’ Christmas spending forecast at this time a year ago. (Gallup)
Are you wondering why you’re not getting as many holiday cards this year? The U.S. Postal Service says there was an 11% decline in cancellations of first-class cards and letters from Dec. 1-13 — when most Americans mail holiday cards — compared to 2008. (USA Today)
About 1.7 million homeowners were on the verge of foreclosure in the fall, a looming “shadow inventory” of homes that will be put up for sale in the coming years and weigh down prices, a report said. (Associated Press)…
Unemployment-Friendly Gifts: The Host/Hostess
Just because you’ve been laid off doesn’t mean you feel good laying off on giving. We’ve come up with a list of thoughtful, unique and inexpensive gifts for every friend and family member.
Hostess: Homemade Fudge
Hopefully you’ve got plenty of holiday parties that will take your mind off of the job situation for an hour or two. Instead of buying a bottle of wine for each, consider whipping up a few batches of fudge, using the easy Baker’s Chocolate recipe available here…
Unemployment-Friendly Gifts: For Dad
I was laid off in October, but the idea of entering my Mom’s house on Christmas Day empty-handed feels worse than charging up my credit card. So we’ve come up with a list of thoughtful, unique gifts for every friend and family member. The best part? They’re all inexpensive.
Dad: Something Practical-But-Entertaining
Of course he doesn’t want a tie, but what does Dad really want?…
All They Want for Christmas
The Black Friday shopping rush may be over, but if you’re like millions of people you’re probably still struggling with what to get the most difficult friends and family members in your life—your hippie aunt, your banker brother, your unemployed best friend. Choosing the right gift can be tricky business. Spend too much, and you’re flaunting your wealth. Spend too little, and you’re seen as cheap.
As you enter the home stretch of holiday shopping, let the recession be your guide: Recession-themed gifts are cheap (we’re still in an economic downturn, after all), they’re timely (what better exemplifies 2009 than the recession?), and they’re usually good for at least a chuckle—just so long as you have a little fun with it. After the jump, we’ve put together a roundup of our favorite cheap, chic, gift-giving strategies perfect for this holiday season…
Unsung Heroes – Recession Moms
Today we’d like to offer a big thank you to our moms, without whom we would not running a website, or even tying our shoes, frankly. We know how hard you work, how deeply you care, and how much the future depends on you.
In his new book Elsewhere, U.S.A., social scientist Dalton Conley explains the challenges of today’s multitasking moms, who play an increasingly important role in the economic life of families: “Blending work and home responsibilities is no easy feat, especially in a 24/7 service economy that allows many of us to work from home at all hours.”
Five Priceless Mother’s Day Gifts
The National Retail Federation reports that spending is down more than ten % this year for Mother’s Day gifts. Expensive jewels and perfume may not be feasible for the cash-strapped, but don’t despair. You don’t have to break the bank to make Mom smile. Here are a few ideas for priceless gifts she’ll treasure.
1. Breakfast in bed
Mom took good care of you, now it’s her turn for a little pampering. Make her breakfast in bed, complete with a small vase of fresh flowers from the garden. A fragrant tea, like jasmine or Earl Grey, is a delightful thing for her to wake up to.
2. Memory Jar
Buy a pretty jar or vase or other container and fill it with memories. Write each one on a small piece of colored paper, then fold it up. Tie a colorful bow around the container and call it a “memory jar.” You can add new memories each year for a fabulous Mother’s Day tradition.
3. Spring Flowers
Spring has sprung, and now’s the time to enjoy nature’s eye candy…
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