Unique Gifts: Ideas for All Seasons
by Darlene Arechederra
"We Make a Living by What we Do, But We Make a Life by What
We Give." -- Winston Churchill
There's an alternative to buying gifts that sit on a shelf
waiting for the next garage sale. For something completely unique, why not
consider gifts that *keep on giving* for your friends, co-workers or loved ones?
The Animal Lover
Give a goat. How about a pig? You'll be providing food and
income-producing animals (cows, chickens, sheep, pigs, water buffalo). These
animals in turn provide milk, eggs, and wool. Families then share one or more of
their animals' offspring with other needy families.
Why not give a gift in the name of your favorite animal lover?
Visit Heifer Projects International,
http://catalog.heifer.org for more ideas and information.
Animal shelters always need extra help. Ask your local shelter
what its needs are. Donate the items, or have a bake sale, garage sale or other
fundraiser to provide for the need.
The Crafter
Why not give your crafter some craft supplies or gift
certificates to a favorite craft store? The crafter can in turn create gifts to
give away, or perhaps sell them for some extra bits of money.
The Gardener
Know someone who loves to garden? Buy the seeds or plants
(vegetable, flower, fruit, etc.) and tools that make it easier for them to
garden. If they have a good year, they'll be able to share the abundance with
family, neighbors and friends.
Does your gardener like to *can* or freeze their produce? How
about providing them with canning jars, lids and other supplies.
Military/Soldiers
Donate your unused frequent flyer miles. Help pay for soldiers
who arrive in the states for a 2-week leave or emergency leave. These soldiers
are brought into the US, but then have to purchase last-minute tickets at higher
prices to travel the rest of the way back home to their families. Find more info
at http://www.HeroMiles.org
Send a care package to the troops. For ideas of what *not* to
send this year, follow this link:
http://www.army.mil/operations/oif/FAQ.html
For care package ideas, there are 2 downloadable and printable
pages of ideas here. See top of page at this link:
http://www.asa.themilitary.net
Send Phone Cards for the soldiers, enabling them to call home.
You can give them about 100 minutes for only $20. More info can be found at
http://www.uso.org
For Children -- a Gift for the Future
A $50 bond purchased today could be worth $100 in 20 years. For
more info about other funds and ideas about growing kids' money over time, pop
into this site:
http://www.child.com/moms_dads/family_finance/gift_fund.jsp
The Parent/Grandparent/Senior
A roll of Postage Stamps can last a long, long time. This is a
great gift, especially for the elderly or those living on a limited income.
Give a year's worth of TV Guide. Your kindness through this gift
will never be forgotten. Many, especially those in nursing homes, cannot afford
even a weekly newspaper.
For Those in Need
Giving to your local food pantry helps those in need. Most
pantries are reporting their donations have been down, so they'll need some
extra help to replenish their shelves.
Purchase groceries for a needy family. Help them plant a garden
in the Spring. If they have no gardening area, consider sharing yours.
A small donation can feed many people at your local Salvation
Army Soup Kitchen.
Look into Legitimate Charities. This site offers an
alphabetical list of National Charities:
http://www.Give.org/reports/index.asp
For Just About Everyone
Find exactly the right gift at
http://www.Surprise.com Categories range from the Caffeine Fiend, to the
Chocoholic to the Empty Nester. There are also ideas for particular occasions
and personalities.
Simple, targeted gifts mean more to the recipient -- and provide
an inexpensive way for you to show your appreciation. Be different! Give a gift
that keeps on giving -- and truly make a difference this year!
Author and ezine editor Darlene Arechederra inspires busy women to put the fun
back into saving their money. Her complimentary newsletter serves up heaps of
motivation with a unique, down-home style of writing. Join her today at
http://www.RatRaceRemedies.com