Did you spend hours searching to find the perfect gift for your family members this holiday? …and then more hours finding the perfect wrapping paper and meticulously wrapping each one?
Each year I seem to buy more gifts that are not “stuff” related.
I look for things that must be consumed or experienced.
Example:
Dinner and Movie
Tickets to a professional sports game
Gourmet Dessert
In doing this, I had a hint of a feeling that maybe I’m cheating at the whole Christmas shopping experience??
With my family spread to the wind, it’s increasingly difficult to find “the right gift”. I went through of phase of wearing the perfume “Beautiful”. Once family realized this, I received “gift sets” and now I easily have a 2-3 year supply….never mind that I wear a different scent now.
I know it’s the thought that counts, but no one wants to let a gift just sit and collect dust or dare I say “re-gift”.
After some phone calls to collect information on current interests and favorites, this year I did 80% of my family shopping online. In the time it would have taken to me to get to the mall and back, I purchased various gift cards and tickets that were then shipped directly to the recipient. With the saved time, I did bake more, decorated the house earlier and genuinely felt like I had more “time” to enjoy the spirit of the season.
Now, I am assured they all “loved” what they received….and I hope they did.
My husbands family only buys presents for the kids….which makes things easier and my sister and brother don’t yet have children, so my shopping list is probably slim compared to some.
I’m wondering if others struggle with this dilemma? I suppose I could be creative and make something homemade?? My neighbors husband sketched portraits of their three children for the grandparents. (I am not an artist, and opt for photo calendars on walmart.com.)
If I lived in Germany or anywhere overseas I’d love to source treasures for family members. There really isn’t anything “exotic” about Memphis, unless you count Elvis memorabilia. For this year, it was online shopping, gift cards and ticketmaster.com.
What about you?
One Comment
Sounds WONDERFUL Wendy! I should have done the same thing! I wore myself out trying to get gifts together to send all over the country to family and friends. I work full time, have children and my husband is out of the country for a yera. It was a huge chore getting the packages together to mail, not to mention the multiple trips standing in line at the post office and the expense of mailing boxes! Gift cards are my favorite gifts and I plan to send them next year and save the hastle that I went through this year. Everyone can get exactly what htey want and need.Jennifer T. Air Force Wife, Cabot AR.