Who's Buying What For the Holidays

Economists are predicting a real Scrooge-fest this holiday season, with consumers parting reluctantly with their hard-earned and carefully-rationed cash.

I don't think so... after all, this is the ONE time per year that we absolutely must give our loved ones, friends, and coworkers some sort of material recognition that they mean something to us. Just a card won't really cover the obligation...

I do, however, think the types of gifts we give will shift a bit from the usual:

The rise of the 'practical' gift - This year we will strive to make a present out of any and every practical thing we would have given as a matter of course at any other time of the year.  Popular gifts will be cell phones, netbook computers, microwaves, vacuums, cookware, yoga lessons, and nasal hair trimmers.

The home-made gift - Always available on stand-by for the cash strapped giver, this year home-made gifts will rise in frequency, if not popularity.  Items made from clay and whimsically painted, like coffee mugs, are usually well-received. Items made from wood or metal are far less popular, and may be lethal.

The 'gift basket' - With easy access on the internet to these services, many people will opt to choose a pre-packaged 'gift basket' to send to their fortunate recipients.  These baskets usually consist of edible items like nuts, salami, and cheese, but there are really no limits.  Be inventive and try something new - like a basket o' gaskets for the plumber in all of us.  Practical too.

And last, but never least..

Gift Certificates - Always the last resort for the procrastinators among us, this also works for the less-than-creative.  In normal years, you would need to keep this down to a minimum to avoid appearing uncaring and cheap, and totally blowing  your cover as someone who gives a sh!t, but in light of the current economic 'troubles', you can feel free to go wild.  The ultimate?  Gift certificates for gift certificates.  Try it - it might catch on...