This Holidays

Writen by Laura Warnke

It seems like the same gift giving problem creeps up each year when the holidays loom closer. There are always a few people that seem very difficult to buy gifts for on your holiday shopping list. You know, the ones that are the last to be crossed off your Shopping List. Either you may not know the person very well, or, in some cases, maybe you do know them…perhaps a little too well!

I am sure you have heard the comment, "We don't need (or want) anything for Christmas this year" from someone in your family, especially those who are elderly and may have downsized their household. The truth is that they may not want anything else in their house right now. People get to a point in their lives when they prefer giving away their possessions and want to clean out their house. Other people that can also be hard to buy for include neighbors, teachers, coaches, and scout leaders that you know only from an activity or may have known only for a short time.

Well, what do you do? You still want to give them at least a small gift, right? Ideas that come to mind are consumable items. That way there is nothing to take up space in a small apartment on a long-term basis for an elderly couple, but they can still enjoy a holiday gift from you. But just how many meat and cheese boxes can someone receive? Yes, they are good, but perhaps a bit overdone. In search of some fresh ideas, I have come up with the following:

Food and Drink Gift Giving Ideas

1. Coffee syrups or flavorings along with a great bag of coffee beans for the coffee lover.

2. Dried Fruits and fruit boxes with apricots, prunes, grapes or figs.

3. A Dessert Sauce and Ice Cream Sundae Topping selection of their favorite flavors.

4. A selection of Gourmet Jams, Jellies or Preserves.

5. Two Bottles of wine, one white and one red packaged in an attractive gift box.

6. A nice bottle of top shelf Scotch, Brandy or other liquor.

7. An assortment of hot sauces or barbeque sauces.

8. A warm home baked Rye bread, coffee cake or pound cake.Bring it ready to serve with a honey butter or whipped cream and make it a surprise.

9. A collection of cooking spices and extracts.

Non-Food Gift Giving Ideas

1. A calendar with favorite scenes or themes.

2. A roll or pack of postage stamps.

3. Collector stamps or collector coin sets are available from the US Post Office or the Department of the Treasury online.

4. Gift Cards to the local grocery store or department store.

5. Giving of your time to drive someone elderly around to do help them do their shopping or taking them to a doctor appointment.

6. Fabric, Embroidery Floss or Yarns in the newest colors and styles, for those who are crafty.

7. Picture Puzzles

These gift ideas can also make great gifts for weddings, anniversaries, a house warming, thank-you gifts, and birthdays.

So, get creative and find some fresh new ideas for those hard to buy for people on your holiday shopping list. Give a gift that is well-thought out and it is sure to be appreciated.

Laura Warnke is owner of an online gourmet retail store, The Topping Shoppe, LLC (http://stores.ebay.com/The-Topping-Shoppe-LLC). Here you will find a great selection of dessert sauces and ice cream sundae toppings to purchase. If you want to know more about how to use different types of dessert sauces in your recipes please visit my website at http://www.all-about-dessert-sauces.com.