Kathy’s Home & Garden Tips – Save Some Money and Still Be Thoughtful This Holiday

With the Covid-19 pandemic onset this year, many people are just wishing that we could get to 2021 and forget 2020. We still have the holiday season to navigate, and many find themselves not in their typical financial situations. Unfortunately, the many lockdowns and other business shutdowns have forced many to close altogether, and many people are out of a job in record numbers. We all have friends and family in this situation. It is not just restaurants and other entertainment venues but all the various businesses that serve them, from laundry services to equipment sellers. 

It is a good idea this year to perhaps think of other types of holiday gifts. 

The gift of time and your self can be a godsend to people who are vulnerable to the virus and need to stay home. Send a pretty card with shopping vouchers or offer to shop for them. Gift a winter of snow maintenance to someone who can really use it. Make a gift basket with sanitizer, masks, gloves, and wipes. Help people not schooled in technology find a way to connect with family through Zoom or FaceTime. 

Your time and expertise can be the best holiday gift you can give. 

Another inexpensive choice that is always useful is a gift certificate to help small businesses still hanging on. It may be a while before we can eat in a restaurant in many areas, but gift certificates can be used for take-out. Helping out local businesses is an excellent idea for this holiday season. 

Another entertainment choice could be to give a certain number of payments to someone’s favorite streaming service. Give however many months you can afford. It would be a welcome gift for someone to have their Netflix paid for a few months as we spend so much time at home. Make a basket with popcorn, candy, and treats for a movie night and include a gift card to stream a few movies. 

Another good gift for anyone is a basket of everyday essentials such as body wash, toothpaste, shampoo, and other daily necessities. This is especially helpful for folks experiencing financial hardship. Think of things people need every day. Grocery store and gas gift cards would be welcome too. 

Food gifts are always a great gift idea. Make homemade cookie and brownie mix, pack in mason jars tied with a pretty ribbon with instructions on a cute card. Foodies will love flavored vinegar and oil in a pretty container. Google homemade food gifts, and you will find many to choose from.

This year we need to think more about giving what people can really use, and that can be inexpensive as they can be gifts of our time and ourselves.

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO