DON'T FORGET THEM!!!

 

Well, we are into the thick of it now - preparations and gift buying for the holiday season. Most of us are overwhelmed, stressed and suffering from temporary AADD and wondering what the heck to get for everyone.  Here's a good way to remember all the people in your life.

 

First, and perhaps the hardest, you have to find some quiet time for yourself so you can still your mind.  Do whatever works - go for a walk in the park and take a notepad and paper, or head over to your local coffee shop, go to the library, play hooky for an afternoon when no one is home - just go where you can be quiet and relax.

So okay, now that you're settled in just sit and think about the entire year.  I'm not talking special occasions, think more along the lines of daily routines.  Who pops into your mind?  How important are they to you - enough to warrant a small gift?  Yes?  Good!  Now jot down their name in your book.  Don't worry about what to get now, that comes later.  Just concentrate on the who's who list you're making. :-))

 

Still stuck?  Okay, here are some people who do a lot to help make your life easier - medical people, service people (the maid, the pet sitter, etc) your daughter's friends and parents, your hobby circles (book reading club, Mah Jong group, PTA, whatever), your hair dresser, landscaper or mechanic (you can always give him a gift for his wife - and he'll love it!), your child's teachers, the babysitter, your business associates, your lawyer, your wedding planner, your coworkers, your boss, the mailman, the UPS or FedEx guy/gal, the garbage men, your butcher, baker, candlestick maker (heh, sorry, had to do that). 

So okay, now that you have your list, bronze it so you don't have to go through this again next year.  And don't forget to add new names as they come into your life throughout the coming year.  And that is half the battle of gift giving.  The other half is the what. 

There are countless people in our day to day lives who constantly make our lives easier, and we don't often think about them during the gifting season, but we should.  Try to imagine how much more difficult your life would be without that dog sitter when you want to take that cruise or 2 week vacation...  Tips are nice, but adding a small something something along with the cash makes a huge, tangible impact - one they'll remember throughout the coming year, one they'll appreciate that much more.

So that's it for today, next time I'll blog about some great and inexpensive ideas for gifting! 

Happy shopping!