Great Holiday Gift Ideas: Simplify Gift Giving this Season when Buying Gifts for your Client, Colleagues, the Babysitter and Neighbors.

Each year I have faced the same question as soon as December 1st rolls around....what Holiday gifts do I buy my clients, colleagues and neighbors? Do you buy them wine? Then that leads to: what wine do they like? Or do they even drink? Are they on a diet; you could send them chocolates and other great gifts from Hammacher Schlemmer. You want to buy a gift that is personal, yet tasteful and a gift that makes them remember you but more importantly shows them that you treasure and value them. This is definitely not an easy task and being conscious of the flavors and tastes of the gift recipient can be challenging, frustrating, time consuming and costly.

This year I decided to take matters into my own hands and decided to make my own gifts for these special people. Everyone showers or takes baths...so I decided to utilize this common theme to create very festive, tasteful, eco-friendly holiday gift baskets. From small stocking stuffers containing certified organic, soap free shower gel and lotions to medium sized baskets that contain holiday note pads, picture frames, holiday socks and soy candles.



If you choose to make your own holiday gifts; think of general themes that will apply to the folks on your list. In my own personal experience; people favor gifts that are handmade and come from the heart. It shows you have taken time to think of them and to create a gift that is a unique, one-of-a-kind gift. If the recipient prefers using pencils versus pens; you could create a gift baskets that contains note pads engraved with their initials, an engraved cross pencil and other great trinkets that can be used at their office.

It seems everyone I know has a hard time buying the "right" gift for their boss. Gifts that keep giving are a great idea, like magazine subscriptions, books of the month clubs or industry related books are always valued by bosses. No one ever wants to get an over-the-top gift; but on that take into consideration the likes and preferences of your boss conveys your observations skills and may bring you closer with this individual.



Who knows, you may even get a raise! Seriously, though, gifts are all about the thoughts behind them and if you think outside the box and try to personalize your gift, it will greatly appreciated and enjoyed by the receiver.