If you’re stuck for a #gift idea and want to give something the recipient will enjoy all year long, there’s now a subscription serivce to suit everyone’s tastes. The Strategist suggests a number of bespoke boxes for foodies, wine aficionados and coffee addicts; the beauty-obsessed and fashionistas; avid readers, gamers and outdoorspersons; and doting pet and plant parents. Prices vary, but gift boxes offer multiple months of discovery and delight. Just remind your giftees to #recycle or #reuse the carboard boxes that arrive on their porches every month. #SustainableShopping #LastMinuteGifts
Tag: gift ideas
Go Green With Holiday Gifts
If you’re looking to give gift sustainably, there are a number of “green” options that can reduce your giftees’ reliance on natural resources. For instance, Rolling Stone suggests a solar charger that hangs in a window, reusable boxes and bottles, digital thermostats, and of course, rechargeable batteries. Other options include stylish cool-weather clothing made of sustainable wool, recycled cotton and hemp fibers. And for the ultimate in ecofriendliness, consider a countertop compost bin to help your friends feed their organic gardens. #SustainableShopping
Give the Gift of Charity
Those online deals on Instapots and flatscreen TVs may be tempting, but you can also opt to give to a charity on behalf of the people on your list, aligning your contribution to their interests and causes. CharityNavigator.org can help you sort through and verify the many options online, whether you’d like to protect the whales or help inner-city youth. One good option for giving to those who have served and reducing your levels of household #clutter at the same time is to donate your used clothing and household goods to ClothingDonations.org — or help veterans directly by contributing to the Vietnam Veterans of America. #ShoppingTips
Shop Online to Give Experiential Gifts
You can avoid delivery delays (and save a lot of wrapping paper) if you buy the people on your #gift list an “experience” rather than a physical product. A short course from MasterClass might be in order if your giftee would like to learn a trade from a world-renowned luminary such as Martin Scorsese, James Patterson or Gordon Ramsey; a gift certificate from the local cooking school, massage therapist or maid service might also make a nice gift. Whatever you choose, most businesses can deliver a gift certificate via email, making your shopping almost effortless. #ShoppingTips
Holiday Shopping That Won’t Break the Supply Chain
With supply chain issues affecting shipments of goods at ports worldwide and postal slowdowns in the the U.S., holiday shoppers are eagerly snapping up whatever merch they can get their hands on early in the season.
So far, few of this year’s “it” gift items are selling out — and if Black Friday and Cyber Monday were any indication, supplies of new TVs, voice assitants and other computer-enabled gadgets are meeting strong demand. But things can (and will) sell out.
If you want to satisfy everyone on your list this year, there are several ways to do so while avoiding supply chain issues:
1. Buy consumer goods now. Retailers started the shopping season early to cope with potential supply-chain issues, and regardless if those problems materialize, the best deals will disappear as shopping deadlines approach.
2. Order early to avoid delays. Dec. 11 is the last day certain retailers will guarantee delivery by Christmas due to distribution issues and shipping slowdowns. That’s a full two weeks ahead of the actual holiday, and your Prime membership may not help.
3. Give experiences instead of things. A gift certificate to a cooking class, massage therapist or local restaurant might be a thoughtful gift that doesn’t depend on the U.S. mail to arrive on-time. Digital subscriptions also deliver instant gratification.
4. Buy local, perishable and handmade. Not only will you support people and businesses in your community, but you’ll be able to sidestep any supply chain issues by buying goods and services that are already available locally.
5. Make your own. If you have a knack for sewing, woodworking or some other craft, get creative with your giving. The people on your list will appreciate a one-of-a-kind keepsake that took real effort.
6. Regift and thrift. Quality hand-me-downs make great gifts. If there’s something you own that just doesn’t get the love it would if you gave it to someone on your list, wrap it up and hand it off.
Also consider #decluttering and #donating any lightly used #clothing, household goods and other #stuff you no longer use to ClothingDonations.org. When you #donate used items, they are resold to fund a variety of veterans programs.
The #thrift stores that ClothingDonations.org supplies are a great source of holiday swag and ready-to-gift items, too! #Resale and #reuse is the ultimate in low-impact giving. Happy shopping!