Presents don’t have to be expensive, just personal

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This article was published 20/12/2015 (3945 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: My mom says you are the queen of cheap, sentimental gifts. I don’t know if you write people back that don’t have love problems, but I do need your help for ideas for my people this year. Merry Christmas.

— The Drummer Boy, Wolseley

Dear Drummer Boy: Hmmm. I call them inexpensive, not cheap — maybe you should too! Let’s give it a go: 1. It costs very little to make gingersnaps or classic Christmas shortbread cookies and decorate them with Smarties or other candies. People love them because you made them by hand, for them. 2. Find out what your relative or friend likes to read and hit a second-hand bookstore. 3. If people love puzzles, they can have a lot of fun with word games and Sudoku books from a dollar store. In fact, if you really think about a person’s tastes in small things, you can do all your shopping at these stores. The trick is not to say in your mind, “This will do for so-and-so,” but to think of what would really tickle them. 4. Some adults really love getting kids toys for Christmas like they when they were kids. For $10 at a dollar store, you can cram a stocking full of little toys, candy treats and a crazy Christmas hat (like deer antlers) and a pair of mitts.

As for sentimental gifts — my personal favourites — here are some ideas: How many people have had a poem written about them, or a list of their best personality traits written out and framed? A card with a beautiful note means more than a fancy gift if the words are personal and warm, sometimes describing a memory you share. You can also insert a gift card to a coffee shop. The whole point is to make it personal and loving — the cost of the gift doesn’t mean anything compared to that.

As for your mom, you might give her a toy drum and sticks, and the sing the Little Drummer Boy for her while you beat on the drums. I bet other people would join in and it would be a few sweet minutes nobody ever forgets and one they might repeat each Christmas.

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6

Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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