As the recession continues to bite, many of us will be anticipating Christmas with less of a sense of goodwill and more of a sense of dread when we think of the inevitable expense of buying 'the perfect' gift for our loved ones.
But before you 'buy now, worry later' just take a step back and have a look around you. I for one can look in the bathroom cabinet and find 'gift set' sized toiletries at least three years old...unused. In the dressing table drawer lurk two manicure sets, a compact mirror and a set of sparkly nail polishes, all untouched. Moving to the top shelf of the wardrobe there are hats, scarves and gloves in every colour combination...many of them still held together with the little plastic thingy.
My kitchen boasts gadgets and gizmos that serve no other purpose than to gather dust, as do the collection of decorative candles, ornaments and (heaven forbid) 'novelties' strategically placed around the house so as not to draw attention to themselves. I can even spot at least two DVD's still in their cellophane wrapping. And this is quite sad, because all these things have been gifted to me with the best of intentions, possibly after a good deal of thought as to whether I might like/want/need them and with a total value that Greece would probably be quite grateful for right now!
I suspect the above is true in every household across the land. We feel obliged to pay twice as much for half the amount of something nobody would normally have just because it's Christmas. Yet if we actually think about each individual we are buying for, not only is it far less stressful and expensive, you might this year end up giving people something they actually WANT.
Would your mother in law rather have yet another fluffy dressing gown, or would she actually prefer that someone mowed her lawn a few times?
Your high flying, career minded best friend with her impossibly long working hours doesn't need more perfume. But if she came home a few times to find the pile of ironing DONE, money can't buy that.
The budget is tight for your brother and sister-in-law with two young children. They might just be able to afford the odd night out if they had the offer of a couple of free babysitting sessions.
Teenagers can download anything these days, rendering CD's, DVD's, even books, pretty outdated. But how great would it be if they knew they could go to the cinema a few times and have their very own free taxi service home?
Is grandad's living room looking a bit tired? He might not be up to giving it a fresh coat of paint but would love a bright new look.
The possibilities are endless. We all have jobs we don't have the time, money or ability to do ourselves and I defy anyone not to be able to sit down and think of a suitable 'time' gift for everyone they normally buy for. And these are the things that people genuinely appreciate.
It's not difficult to design and print 'business cards' tailored to each gift. And you can present them in ways to reflect the 'service' offered. A little pot plant tied with ribbon with gardening cards tucked behind. Half a dozen bin bags, each with a card stapled on, for filling with ironing, a ribbon wrapped paintbrush - you get the idea.
Make sure you keep track of what you've given, and make sure you chase up those on the receiving end to actually use them (the teenagers probably won't need chasing; in fact make sure they know photocopies will not be accepted!)
And if you think there are people right now who are worrying what on earth they are going to get you, share the idea. There isn't an item on the above list that I wouldn't LOVE to receive at Christmas!