December 13, 2011
For friends or families
For the fitness fiend
For the wine connoisseur
For just about anyone
By Lt. Col. Jacqualine Arnold, USA-Ret., CFP®
The holiday season is approaching; in a few short weeks, you’ll likely exchange gifts with family members, friends, and coworkers.
This is the time of year we get so wrapped up in purchasing gifts and celebrating the season, most people don’t pay attention to how much they actually are spending.
With the current economy, high unemployment rates, and no guarantee employment will continue, you should be extremely conscious of your spending over the next few weeks. When it comes to giving or receiving gifts, you’ve probably heard the saying, “It’s the thought that counts” — although for many, that’s not what we believe in our hearts. It’s only human nature to hope for gifts equal to — or better than — what you’re giving.
Before making holiday purchases this year, think about the person or family you’re buying for and their interests. Giving gifts from the heart not only can save on holiday spending, but it also allows you to demonstrate your creativity and express your thoughtfulness, and the gifts often are more greatly appreciated by the recipient.
Here are four money-saving tips and gift ideas to consider:
1. For friends or families
An entertainment book, containing discounts for local restaurants, travel, movie tickets, sport venues, rental cars, etcetera, is an excellent holiday gift for a couple or family. If you are located on or near a military installation, the morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) office often sells these books at a discounted rate.
Other ideas include a movie rental gift card, a paid subscription to Netflix, or movie passes.
2. For the fitness fiend
Almost everyone has at least one person in his or her life who is physically active or health conscious. Or maybe there’s someone you care about who would benefit from some type of physical activity.
For someone who enjoys the gym, check out his or her current gym bag. Is it time for a new one? Or what about buying a new set of workout towels or workout socks; travel-size bottles of hand-sanitizer and personal items such as shampoo, body wash, and lotion; equipment such as a jump rope or weight-lifting gloves; or a prepaid class or session with a personal trainer? Be creative with the presentation; put smaller, inexpensive items with another item together in a basket or gift bag.
For a recipient who prefers to exercise at home (without the large gym equipment), consider these ideas that require less space. Prices vary, and depending on the stage of physical activity (beginner to advanced), you have several options, including light to heavy weights, stretch bands, an exercise ball or a medicine ball, or dumbbells or kettle bells.
For someone you want to encourage and motivate to become engaged in some type of physical activity, begin by providing a special holiday invitation offering your time to work with him or her (perhaps weekly, depending on your schedule). You don’t need to be a personal trainer to begin a walking program as a starting point to help and encourage others — although you do need to be sincere, compassionate, and patient. These qualities alone are a special gift to share.
Another great gift idea is a subscription to a fitness or health magazine. Two popular magazines that provide outstanding training programs for the beginner to the bodybuilder, as well as information on health, diet, and nutrition, are Oxygen and Men’s Health.
3. For the wine connoisseur
Wine lovers are notoriously hard to shop for, so sometimes it’s best to opt for something inexpensive and fun rather than a pricey gift they might never take out of the box, especially if you want to watch how much you are spending on gifts. Below are a few ideas; visit www.winespectator.com for more.
Visit a local wine store for recommendations of popular ones that fit within your budget.
- Consider buying a subscription to a magazine or a book about wine.
- Maybe recyclable and shatterproof wine glasses ($3 each at www.govinowine.com) are a good idea for that slightly klutzy wine lover.
- Provide tickets to a local wine-tasting event — you can volunteer to be the designated driver.
4. For just about anyone
Gift cards or certificates are great options for personalizing your gifts. Not only do they save you time, they allow you to choose a dollar amount according to your budget. Cards are available for bookstores, apps, music, a favorite restaurant, movie theaters, clothing stores, groceries, and more.
Bank gift cards, like cash, are a delight for those whose favorite activity is shopping, whether at the mall or online. But not everyone enjoys shopping. If you are buying for a special, finicky person or someone in need or who has other special interests or activities, a gift card can be a nice gesture. The gift card allows them to choose how they want or need to use the gift.
When looking for gift cards, consider those with no additional fees and no expiration date, and check out websites that offer discounts on gift cards or gift certificates, such as www.giftcard.com, www.plasticjungle.com, or www.restaurant.com. Look for websites that offer guarantees with your purchases.
Whatever gift ideas you are considering, keep your budget in mind, and don’t overspend. Establish a holiday budget, share it with an accountability partner (someone to help you stick to it), and enjoy the holiday season.
About the author: Lt. Col. Jacqualine Arnold, USA-Ret., is a deputy director in MOAA’s Benefits Information and Financial Education Department.