Last Minute Gift Giving : The Truth About Last Minute Christmas Gifts
by: Janice Wee
A word of advice. Try to plan your gift giving in advance. Don't wait to the very last minute. Last minute gifts would probably cost you more than you might anticipate.
Take a calendar and your organizer. Circle every birthday, your wedding anniversary, christmas and all gift giving dates on the calendar for the entire year. For starters get an extra calendar just for your gifts to simplify your gift giving. Here are some cool calendars. http://www.christmas-giftshop.com/2006-calendar.htm
Plan ahead a few weeks in advance. For each date, who are the persons you intend to get gifts for. What is your budget? What would you give that person?
Shop online for the gift. Now, this is why I say it is cheaper to plan ahead than wait for the very last minute. If you wait until a day or two before the event, you would probably have to go for overnight shipping. If you order long in advance, you can take the cheapest shipping method possible. The shipping cost between the different shipping options can vary considerably.
Some places offer free ground shipping within U.S. for a minimum order size. For this free or relatively cheap ground shipping, you have to order ahead of time. For example, if you want your gift to make it in time for Christmas within U.S., you have to order it by December 16th latest. Now if you miss that 16th December deadline, you would have to go for faster, more expensive shipping options. Between 16th December to 20th December, you would probably have to go for the UPS 3-Day shipping in order to make it in time for Christmas. That costs money. I used the UPS calculator to find the estimated cost of shipping a 1 lb package by UPS, using the 2 day delivery, within U.S. and the shipping cost alone was around $29.42. For UPS next day air saver, the shipping price was $34.03. For UPS next day air, the shipping cost was $36.28. The shipping cost of the package alone makes last minute gift giving rather expensive.
If you missed the shipping deadlines, the next best bet would to skip the excess shipping costs by sending an online gift certificate like these at http://www.gift-certificates.org/online-gift-certificates.htm . These are electronic gift certificates that you can send by email. No shipping costs or shipping time required. Not as impressive as sending a nice package, but still better than nothing.
Another reason why you should do your gift buying preparations in advance is that you can take advantage of free gift cards to buy your gifts. All that takes time. There are a few such gift cards and free gifts available at http://www.gift-certificates.org/hot-gift-certificates.html . Basically, you answer some questions in surveys and get a gift certificate or gift card or free gift in return for your participation. Now if you do this way before the deadline, you would have time to complete the survey, get the gift certificate, go to the store and get the gifts. You save even more money getting your gifts that way. You can find even more of these free gifts at http://www.cheapestsale.com/freebies.html
That said, last minute gifts should be the last resort. Be wise and prepare your gifts ahead of time.
About The Author
Janice Wee is the webmaster of http://www.gift-certificates.org.
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Top 5 Things Your Mother Never Told You about Giving Gifts
Top 5 Things Your Mother Never Told You about Giving Gifts
by: Cindy Carrera
If your mom's like mine, she probably gave you lots of advice on what to do about mostly everything, including giving gifts.
But sometimes what your mother didn't tell you about giving gifts is what matters most.
1. Like, for instance, did your mother ever tell you not to give women appliances as gifts?
Mine didn't.
In fact, I distinctly remember the year she gave Aunt Maxinne a toaster for her birthday.
Do I have to tell you that Aunt Maxinne found it hard to speak to Mom for several months?
Aunt M had been hinting for months about some cologne she wanted, and even at a young age, I knew cologne was way better than a toaster.
So never, even when asked to, give an appliance to a woman as a gift unless it's a wedding or shower gift.
2. And did your mom ever tell you that if you give an inexpensive (i.e., cheap)...
Top 5 Things Your Mother Never Told You about Giving Gifts
Gifts > Top 5 Things Your Mother Never Told You about Giving Gifts
Hiking Gifts ? Gift Ideas for Hiking Presents
Hiking Gifts ? Gift Ideas for Hiking Presents
by: Rick Chapo
Hiking is a healthy, relaxing pursuit for hikers. If you?re buying for a hiking enthusiast this holiday season, here are a few gift ideas for hiking presents.
Hiking Gift Ideas
There is much more to hiking than just boots and an urge to go. For those of you looking for gift ideas for hiking presents, here?s a list of potential hiking gifts.
1. Backpacker Magazine ? If you are married to the person you are giving hiking gifts to, you may want to be careful with this one. Backpacker Magazine is full of beautiful hiking locations with detailed information and recommendations. The problem, of course, is your loved one will have plenty of ideas regarding future family vacations. A year subscription will run you $24.00.
2. Roll-A-Table ? Yep, even hikers need furniture. There is nothing worse than stopping for lunch, whipping up a meal and then dropping it in the dirt. Hikers...
Hiking Gifts ? Gift Ideas for Hiking Presents
Gifts > Hiking Gifts ? Gift Ideas for Hiking Presents
Hiking Gifts ? Gift Ideas for Hiking Presents
Hiking Gifts ? Gift Ideas for Hiking Presents
by: Rick Chapo
Hiking is a healthy, relaxing pursuit for hikers. If you?re buying for a hiking enthusiast this holiday season, here are a few gift ideas for hiking presents.
Hiking Gift Ideas
There is much more to hiking than just boots and an urge to go. For those of you looking for gift ideas for hiking presents, here?s a list of potential hiking gifts.
1. Backpacker Magazine ? If you are married to the person you are giving hiking gifts to, you may want to be careful with this one. Backpacker Magazine is full of beautiful hiking locations with detailed information and recommendations. The problem, of course, is your loved one will have plenty of ideas regarding future family vacations. A year subscription will run you $24.00.
2. Roll-A-Table ? Yep, even hikers need furniture. There is nothing worse than stopping for lunch, whipping up a meal and then dropping it in the dirt. Hikers...
Hiking Gifts ? Gift Ideas for Hiking Presents
Gifts > Hiking Gifts ? Gift Ideas for Hiking Presents
Gifts for Him
Gifts for Him
by: Rick Chapo
I?ll assume ?him? doesn?t refer to me, but still help you out with some ideas for gifts for him. These gifts for him run from the practical to outrageous, but all make good gifts.
Gifts for Him
And here we go?
1. Brother MPrint Bluetooth Mobile Printer ? A practical gadget, this mobile printer lets him print wherever he is from his Palm or PDA device. The printer is wireless and about a half inch thick and five or so inches long. This mobile printer will set you back $380, but look for rebates and specials.
2. John Cleese ? Wine for the Confused DVD ? A humorous take from the Monty Python veteran. Cleese takes you on an epic study of the finer and?less finer points of wine. Cleese covers how to pick, what they are, how they are grown and so on. A DVD that will teach you something and make you laugh a bit. Expect to pay $15 or so at most retailers.
3. Arcade Games ? Remember when you used...
Gifts for Him
Gifts > Gifts for Him
Unique Gifts for Men
Unique Gifts for Men
by: Rick Chapo
It is that time of year again ? time to buy gifts for the holidays. Here?s a list of unique gifts for men this holiday season.
Unique Gifts for Men
Instead of going with a sweater, tie or, god forbid, underwear, men will be more likely to appreciate a unique gift this year. Unique gifts for men can be funny, practical and pretty much anything so long as they aren?t expecting them. You can find the following unique gifts for men by simply searching for the product name on any search engine.
1. Sky Caddie ? If he plays golf, he will bow before you for giving him this gift. The Sky Caddie combines two things men love, gadgets and golf. The Sky Caddie is a GPS system about the size of a cell phone. It will tell him where he is on a particular hole, how far it is to the hole from the trees he?s stuck in and so on. A very cool gift for golfers. Expect to in the range of $350 for this golf gadget. ...
Unique Gifts for Men
Gifts > Unique Gifts for Men
Top 5 Things Your Mother Never Told You about Giving Gifts
Top 5 Things Your Mother Never Told You about Giving Gifts
by: Cindy Carrera
If your mom's like mine, she probably gave you lots of advice on what to do about mostly everything, including giving gifts.
But sometimes what your mother didn't tell you about giving gifts is what matters most.
1. Like, for instance, did your mother ever tell you not to give women appliances as gifts?
Mine didn't.
In fact, I distinctly remember the year she gave Aunt Maxinne a toaster for her birthday.
Do I have to tell you that Aunt Maxinne found it hard to speak to Mom for several months?
Aunt M had been hinting for months about some cologne she wanted, and even at a young age, I knew cologne was way better than a toaster.
So never, even when asked to, give an appliance to a woman as a gift unless it's a wedding or shower gift.
2. And did your mom ever tell you that if you give an inexpensive (i.e., cheap)...
Top 5 Things Your Mother Never Told You about Giving Gifts
Gifts > Top 5 Things Your Mother Never Told You about Giving Gifts
Amsterdam Sightseeing and Hotels
Amsterdam Sightseeing and Hotels
by: Rahul Viz
Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands, and is one of the largest historic cities in Europe. The city lies near two bodies of water, the Amstel river and the IJ bay. For many tourists, Amsterdam is a city which is well known and praised for its entertainment and culture. The city at this time has a population of over 700,000.
Amsterdam is a city, which had very humble beginnings. It was founded in...
Gifts
Gifts > Amsterdam Sightseeing and Hotels
Dance Can Be a Profession!
Dance Can Be a Profession!
by: Muska Assad
I did not know that dance can be used for fun, worship, exercise, or for a profession at the same time. I thought that dance simply involved moving the body in a way that flows with the rhythms of music and used solely for fun or entertainment. Because the country I have come from, dance is being considered just as a fun thing not a as a profession.
My perspective of dance changed after watching the dance performances...
Gifts Dance Can Be a Profession! skirts Last Minute Gift Giving : The Truth About Last Minute Christmas Gifts
Gifts > Dance Can Be a Profession!
Gifts skirts Last Minute Gift Giving : The Truth About Last Minute Christmas Gifts
Audio Books - Is Your Child Gaining From These Benefits?
Audio Books - Is Your Child Gaining From These Benefits?
by: Eliza Bush
Children's audio books on CD were something I'd always regarded with mild suspicion.
After all it's not really reading or is it? As a mother and English teacher, not to mention an avid reader myself, I was fully aware of the importance of reading and had always tried my best to instil in my children and students a love of reading but, I still wondered if I wasn't perhaps missing something...
Gifts Audio Books - Is Your Child Gaining From These Benefits? televisions Last Minute Gift Giving : The Truth About Last Minute Christmas Gifts
Gifts > Audio Books - Is Your Child Gaining From These Benefits?
Are You Soakin? It Up?
Are You Soakin? It Up?
by: Gene Simmons
?And holding it way down inside you like an old sponge? Be careful. Just like an old sponge that?s held its liquid a little too long, we may start to get stinky in a day or two. I?m referring to ?soaking up? all that wonderful information that comes to us mainly through our televisions, radios and computers. Information that is then refortified and nourished through conversations with our friends or relatives.
It...
Gifts Are You Soakin? It Up? televisions Last Minute Gift Giving : The Truth About Last Minute Christmas Gifts
Gifts > Are You Soakin? It Up?