Gift Ideas: Presents Ideas For Family Friends And Significant Others

Gifts for:

Best friend: You know everything about this person, except what they want or need for Christmas this year. Instead of giving your best pal a traditional gift, give them their favorite thing of all, you! Buy them two tickets to a football game or a girl's day out to a hip spa in your area. If you can afford to be a big spender this Christmas, buy them a weekend get away for the two of you and schedule in some of your favorite pastimes, such as shopping, skiing, trying new restaurants, or visiting art museums. Your best friend loves spending quality time with you, so they certainly won't be disappointed to receive a gift like this.

Parents: Your parents are the people who have given you everything, so what can you possibly give them in return. Your parents deserve a little get away. If you have the budget, send your parents on a long vacation to Las Vegas, Florida, or even Europe. They will never forget a gift like that. If a week-long vacation for two is way out of your price range, don't worry. They don't have to travel far to get away from it all. Send them to a nearby spa for a couples' massage and a dip in the whirlpool. They'll leave the spa feeling relaxed and 20 years younger. The best part is, you can find great deals on couples' massages for less than $100. That's only $50 per person for a gift they'll love! You can't beat that.

Significant other: earrings, watches, ties and expensive chocolates are tired gifts; you've already done that every year since the time you started dating for some special occasion or another. Instead of giving a material item, give your significant other something the two of you can enjoy for a lifetime. You know those hobbies you say you want to pick up together someday? Christmastime is the perfect time to splurge on the hobby start-up gear. Buy a couple of bikes or one tandem bicycle and helmets, golf clubs for two, or a series of cooking lessons and some culinary gear. Start that home movie collection that you've always wanted; buy a new big screen TV, a DVD player, surround sound, and a few of his or her favorite movies. There is nothing your significant other should cherish more than combining special interests and time with you. The habits you get into now may very well become the pastimes you enjoy most 50 years from now!

If you are operating on a very strict budget this Christmas, adapt this idea to make it more affordable. Instead of paying for these gifts all by yourself, collaborate with your best friend and significant other. Have them pay for your half and you pay for their half. Shop around for the cheapest deals in town before you settle on a travel deal, game tickets, bikes, or expensive electronics. This will take the surprise element out of gift giving, but if that's what it takes to go on a vacation and get a new home movie system, who cares? Your closets loved ones certainly won't and neither will you!

If that doesn't work, cut out the superfluous gifts. You know that everyone in your office doesn't need a gift, and your entire family (including people you hardly even know) isn't expecting to get a gift from you. So take them off of Santa's list and save your money for the important people.