The big day may be over but this is still a good time to make a donation to those less fortunate than yourself.
If you donate them to a non-profit charity like Goodwill or the Salvation Army, it’s also a good idea to get a receipt, because you can deduct the value of the donation when you do your taxes. Take some time to:
* Go through your closets, and drawers to look for clothes you no longer wear.
* Get your kids involved and find toys they’re no longer interested in.
* Clean out your basement, garage, and storage areas.
While you are going through this process, you may even find some valuable items you are no longer using that you could sell on EBay or through your community newspaper, like the Penny Saver or Thrifty Nickel, to make some extra money!
Not so great at picking out gifts? Just didn’t have extra money to spend on buying gifts? Maybe you’re not very talented and making a gift was out of the question? Don’t fret! You can still give something wonderful, your time.
Offer to do a specific chore for someone, or better yet, make them a coupon or certificate you can present to them in place of a store-bought gift. Some ideas could be:
* Make a home-cooked meal
* Do a week’s worth of laundry
* Clean their house
* Wash their car
* Do an afternoon of yard work
* Baby-sit their kids
You can tailor the offer to the gift recipients needs and if you know them well, you should have a pretty good idea of what offer would be most appreciated. Have fun with it!
The countdown is on until the big day and you still haven’t gotten a few gifts! Here are some ideas for that last minute gift you need to get:
Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets – Last Minute Gifts – With same day shipping on many of Christmas selections, your gifts will get shipped out quickly. Expedited air shipping for last minute gift ideas. Choose from gift baskets, gourmet food, fresh-baked cookies in tins & bouquets.
Pro Gift Baskets – Holiday Gift Baskets and Christmas Gifts - 10-30% off. Baskets are shipped same day or next day with a variety of shipping methods from Ground to Next Day.
GiftBaskets.com – Your Holiday Gift Giving Center – A leading provider of gift baskets and floral arrangements offering same or next day emergency delivery. With over 100 Holiday gifts to choose from.
Gifts.com Gift Card – Perfect Last Minute Gift - Email or print the gift card that lets them redeem for hundreds of top merchant gift cards.
Going to a holiday party this year? If so, it’s always a good idea to take a small gidft along for the host or hostess. Here are a few great gift ideas:
Wine-Infused Chocolates
Combine two of life’s best indulgences with these spiked treats.
Case of Wine
You can’t beat a consistently good bottle of wine. Zinfandel stands on its own and goes well with most foods and cheeses.
Vases
Pick a uniquely shaped vase and pop in a single stem.
Candles
These go over well, especially scents such as fresh cream and hazelnut
Click here for more ideas!
If you are the gift giver, it is very important to include a gift receipt with the item, especially if the item is clothing. If you give someone an article of clothing, like say a coat, and it doesn’t fit properly, they need to be able to have the option to return the coat and get one that fits properly.
If you don’t include a gift receipt – offer to return the item yourself and make sure you return with a new coat that fits!
My husband received a leather jacket from his mother for Christmas one year and it didn’t fit quite right so she returned it to the store for exchange – but she never got him another one!!
