| ow your gift list is ready to tackle and you are | | | | aisles trying to find the best possible prices for |
| probably already shopping for those on your list, | | | | her mom’s gifts. |
| but the question is: Can you help someone that | | | | Ellee’s range is under $5 per person for |
| you know better enjoy the holidays by doing their | | | | the gifts her mom gives, and she reports being |
| holiday shopping for them? | | | | able to mark off several names from the list with |
| Our friend Ellee reports that for the past five | | | | items she found in an online store such as the |
| years she has shopped for the gifts her mom | | | | following: |
| gives the 31 members of her family. As her | | | | * Gourmet popcorn |
| mother’s strength, mobility, and | | | | * Gourmet pretzels |
| endurance faded, but her desire to be an active | | | | * Gourmet saltwater taffy |
| participant in the traditional holiday gift-giving | | | | * Thai iced tea |
| process actually seemed to intensify as she held | | | | * Tortuga rum punch mix |
| on to every expression of involvement she could | | | | * Tortuga gourmet cooking sauces |
| muster, Ellee realized that one of the greatest | | | | * Tortuga conch chowder |
| gifts she could give her mom was to do the | | | | For those secret pal and other at-work gifts that |
| shopping. | | | | fall within the $5-$10 range, she’s |
| Ironically for a woman who defies help around the | | | | considering the following: |
| house, resists all forms of interference that | | | | * Artifical flowers, like Orchids |
| suggests she is losing her grip on things, and | | | | * Tortuga Gourmet wildflower and citrus honey |
| resists changes to her lifestyle that might even | | | | * Artistic wood earrings handcrafted in Thailand |
| make things like preparing her meals a little easier, | | | | And, for her own list of family and friends, |
| Ellee’s mom readily relinquished the | | | | she’s looking seriously at things in the $10 |
| responsibilities for gift buying. | | | | - $25 range like the following: |
| She gets confused in big department stores, | | | | * Artistic wood necklaces handcrafted in Thailand |
| doesn’t really understand the things the | | | | * 2.2 pound bags of fresh natural spices |
| younger generation appreciates, and never got | | | | * Tortuga Rum Fever cook book |
| into using the Internet for shopping online. The | | | | * Thai silk pillow cases |
| perfect solution was to let someone else do the | | | | For those extra special people on her list, like her |
| shopping. | | | | mom, Ellee is deciding between a piece of |
| Besides, Ellee is known for being a superb bargain | | | | SilverLily jewelry or a piece of Thai silk clothing. |
| hunter who shops all year and knows a good deal | | | | And, should a rich old aunt or uncle ask her to do |
| when she sees one. Her mom is not financially | | | | the shopping for them, she says she is definitely |
| able to afford much more than a token gift for | | | | going for gemstone jewelry and teak furniture to |
| each of those on her list who range from a | | | | fill that list. |
| two-year-old great-granddaughter to her first | | | | Look around you. Do you have a relative, |
| born daughter who’s approach 64 years | | | | neighbor, or friend who is physically unable to shop |
| old. The mix of men, women, children, and age | | | | but who’d get a great deal of pleasure |
| groups means a wide variety of items must be | | | | out of giving? Consider giving them the gift of |
| sought, and Ellee tries to find things that are | | | | your time and do the shopping for them. |
| useful and in many cases consumable so they are | | | | Shopping online makes it very easy to give these |
| not lingering around as dust collectors, regifted, or | | | | people one of the best gifts you could offer |
| donated unused. | | | | them: an online shopping spree. In fact, let the |
| This year, Ellee says online shopping sites are a | | | | giver sit with you while you navigate so he or she |
| major convenience due to time limitations and the | | | | will feel involved. |
| mere cost of spending time milling around bargain | | | | |