What's in your Gift Closet?

It’s 6PM on a Saturday night and you suddenly remember that your best friend’s birthday party is in two hours. You panic because you realize you forgot to purchase a gift. You debate whether to run out and pick something up or whether to go to the party empty handed. You opt to go empty handed because you know you won't have enough time to get dressed and shop for a gift. If you are someone who hates to show up to an event without a gift but often find yourself showing up empty handed because you forgot to or didn't have enough time to purchase a gift; a gift closet is the perfect solution for you. What is a gift closet? A gift closet is a term I use to describe an area in your home where you store common gifts and gifting supplies for upcoming gifting occasions. Your gift closet doesn't have to be an actual closet. It can be a shelf, a drawer, or a storage box or bin.

How do you stock a gift closet? Ideally, your gift closet should contain gifts in the following four categories: 1. home and entertaining 2. personal use and enjoyment 3. office 4. children and teens. I recommend purchasing five to ten items for your gift closet. I do not recommend purchasing all these items at once. It is a good practice to create a list of possible gift items for your gift closet and take this list with you when you shop for other items. This will enable you to quickly scan a store for items to purchase for your gift closet. To get you started, I've compiled a list of gift ideas, gifting supplies, and stores where you can purchase gifts. Keep in mind that you don't have to spend a lot of money on these gifts, I've never spent more than $25 for the items in my gift closet. Sale areas in certain stores can be goldmines for your gift closet. You'll be sure to come across a lot of great, inexpensive gifts. One concern that may arise is that the gifts in your gift closet are too generic and not thoughtful enough. You can remedy this concern by writing a thoughtful note on an accompanying blank card. So the next time you go shopping get started on your gift closet so you'll never be in a situation where you show up empty handed.

Gift ideas for your Gift Closet

Gifts for the home/entertaining

Candles

Picture Frame

Votive Holders

A Throw

Planter

Vase

Reed Diffuser
Book Ends
Glass/Ceramic/Wooden Bowl

BBQ Tool Set

Cocktail Glass set
Serving Dish
Wine Stoppers

Gifts for Personal Use & Enjoyment
Journal

Bath/Body Set

Tote Bag

Recipe Book

Cosmetic Purse

Photo Album
Address Book

Jewelry/Watch box

Travel Kit
Money clip

Gifts for the Office
Stationary Set

Paperweight

Business card holder
Pen/Pencil set

Gifts for Children
Wooden Blocks

Stuffed Animal

Coloring Books

Story& Activity Books

Rattle
Baby Blanket

Gifts for Teens
Costume Jewelry

iTunes gift card
Sporting Apparel (hats or t-shirts with state/local college team logo)
Gift certificate for movie tickets

Tools and Accessories (all can be purchased at your local dollar store)

Scissors

Tape

Ribbons/Bows

Gift Bags

Wrapping paper (non gender or event specific)

Tissue Paper

Blank Note Cards

Stores where I've purchased gifts for my Gift Closet

TJ Maxx

Target

Local dollar store

Barnes & Nobles

Bed Bath & Beyond

Bath and Body Works

Victoria's Secret

Local Flea Market

Crate & Barrel

CB2

West Elm

Pier 1 Imports

The Container Store

Marshalls

The Importance of Little Gifts

I recently came across an article in the Lebanon Daily News discussing the sudden appearance of gift wrapped presents in a neighborhood in Spring Garden Township. According to the article, the police believe that the gifts were left behind by a group of people who are trying to start a neighborhood association. Some of the gifts included a bungee cord, pencils, children's clay, a plastic dog bone, a paint brush, and beer. One neighborhood resident commented, "I think that we have forgot about little gifts and how important little gifts are." I love this story because it shows how small meaningful gifts were used to create goodwill in the neighborhood. I'm sure these small thoughtful gifts were very appreciated by the residents. These days when buying gifts we tend to purchase the biggest, shiniest, most expensive, newest, or trendiest gift. We seem to have forgotten that small gifts can give a recipient just as much or more joy. A few years ago I received a notepad and pen set from a friend. It wasn't the largest gift or probably the most expensive, but it was one of the most thoughtful gifts I've received. Primarily because my friend purchased the set in pink, one of my favorite colors, and had the notecards engraved with my name. My face lit up when I opened the gift. My friend took the time to add little touches to the gift she knew I would appreciate. And I did. The next time you have to purchase a gift take a moment to think about the small things you could do or purchase that will really mean alot to the recipient. Think about the recipient's favorite color. Is there a favorite item the recipient lost that you could replace? Can you provide assistance or a service that would make the recipient's life easier? Remember you don't always have to spend a lot of money on a gift. The most appreciated gifts are usually the small thoughtful ones. What small gift have you received that meant more to you than the larger more expensive gifts you've received?

Smartphones and Women

I read an interesting article in the NY Times today about women and smartphones. According to the article the number of women using smartphones in the last year more than doubled. (NY Times). This wasn't suprising to me. Nowadays, women are just as tech savvy as men. They are regularly visiting websites, like CNET, Gizmodo, and Engagdet, that focus on gadgets and technology. And now, there are even gadget and technology sites, such as Popgadget, that are geared towards women. My female friends and I research tech products to death before purchasing. We get just as excited as men about groundbreaking technologies and new products on the market. And, as the article said we care about design. The women I know detest bulky gadgets. We don't need any extra load to haul around in our handbags. Thus, the all in one features of smartphones are particularly appealing to women. But, it's very important to us that all the features work equally well. I don't want a smartphone that has great reception, but, slow loading web pages, or weak pda functionality. Smartphones make great gifts for women. Giving a woman a smartphone as a gift is not in the same league as giving a household appliance. So, you don't have to hesitate anymore before purchasing a smartphone for a woman. But, before you do there are a few questions you should ask.


1. First, what is more important to her - design, features, or both? Some women appreciate colorful, glammed up phones, some want a sleek cool design, some want cutting edge features, while others want a combination of design and features.

2. What types of phones has she previously used? Are they simpler to use or do they have every feature in book? You don't want to get an entry level phone for an advanced user or vice- versa. There are phones on the market for every level.

3. How will she use it? Will she use it primarily to make calls, to text, to access the web and email, or for planning and scheduling? Obviously some phones are better suited for certain purposes.


Once you've answered these questions you'll have no problem finding the right smartphone.

GiftRx - Shopping Plan of Action

I like to have a plan of action before I go shopping for gifts. Usually, the night before a planned shopping trip or the morning of the day I'm going shopping, I make a list of all the gifts I plan to purchase. Then, I list the stores I'll have to visit to purchase these gifts. Once I've compiled my list of gifts and stores, I either visit the stores' websites or call the stores and get their hours of operation. The store that opens the earliest is the first store I visit on my shopping trip. I also prefer to complete my shopping in the morning so that I can avoid crowded stores and long lines. The next step on my plan of action is to plan my travel route. I plot each store's location, so that I can figure out whether a store is easily accessible by public transportation, or, whether I'll need to jump in a cab to get to the store. I often try to shop for gifts at stores that are in the same vicinity, so that I can keep my travel time to a minimum, and, avoid lugging gifts long distances.

Whenever I don't follow this plan of action, I find that I'm stressed and fatigued after a day of shopping for gifts. I really recommend creating a plan of action before you go shopping for gifts. I guarantee that it will help you complete your shopping more efficiently. Use my plan of action as a guide to create your own plan of action.

My Plan of Action for Gift Shopping
1. Compile list of gifts you plan to purchase
2. Gather store addresses for the gifts you plan to purchase
3. Look up the store(s) hours of operation
4. Plot Travel Route - take into account, transportation, proximity of stores, and stores' hours of operations

GiftRx - Dose 3 - Keep Track of Gift Ideas

This may sound a little weird but I'm always thinking about gifts. If you were to take a peek at my email inbox or my PDA, you'll find a gift list for everyone I expect to buy a gift for. I even have a file folder where I store print-outs of products I've seen on the Internet and magazine tear-outs of cool products. I gather gift ideas throughout the year because I want to avoid last minute gift shopping. When its time for me to buy a gift for someone, I can always refer to the lists I've made and files I've created throughout the year. I almost immediately know what gift I'm going to get that person. This technique promotes efficient and stress-free gift shopping.

I know most people will not be able to make lists and keep files of magazine tear-outs and Internet print-outs. It's definitely something that takes a bit of thought and a little effort. However, if you find that you are one of those harried, last-minute gift shoppers, a modified version of my technique might work wonders for you.

Since most of us sit in front of a PC all day and periodically browse the Internet, I think the easiest way to keep track of gift ideas is to create a general folder labeled Gift Ideas in your email account. If you are really organized you can create several folders and label each folder according to gift recipient. For example, one folder would be labeled, Gift Ideas for Mom, and another folder would be labeled, Gifts for Dad, and so on. Anytime you come across something on the Internet you think a recipient might like, forward the link or page to your email address and file in the appropriate folder. If you've created one general gift ideas folder, make sure to note the recipient and the occasion in the subject line before filing in the folder. A week or two prior to any occasion that requires a gift, go to the appropriate gift ideas folder and pick a gift from the folder. This should alleviate some of the stress of having to find a gift. If you find this technique helpful and easy to do, later you can try creating a file folder where you can store magazine tear-outs and Internet print-outs.

GiftRx - Dose 2 - Set a Budget

Now that you've compiled a list of all your gift recipients and set up your reminder service, See GiftRx-Dose 1, its time to start thinking about a budget. Today, many people unfortunately buy into the idea that the more expensive the gift, the more appreciative the gift recipient. This faulty logic is why many people overspend and buy inappropriate gifts. In reality, the people who really care about you and love you will appreciate any gift regardless of its cost.

In order to avoid the temptation to overspend, you absolutely MUST set a budget BEFORE you go shopping for a gift. First, look at your finances and determine how much you can spend on the gift. Second, determine whether the occasion you are buying the gift for warrants an inexpensive gift, moderately priced gift or a more expensive gift. Third, ask yourself, who am I buying this gift for? Most likely, you will want to spend more money on a close friend or a family member than on an acquaintance or a co-worker. Once you've completed this exercise, you are ready to set your budget. Remember, the budget should be realistic, and must include the cost of the gift, taxes, shipping costs, gift wrap and card.

Initially it will be difficult to set a budget and stick to it. Don't give up. If you consistently set a budget prior to purchasing a gift, eventually it will become habit and you'll never buy a gift beyond your financial means again. Remember, gifts should be given in joy. Gift giving is a means to express love, appreciation, and gratitude. If you regret purchasing a gift because of the financial strain the purchase put on your pocket, the meaning behind the gift becomes inauthentic.

GiftRx - Dose 1 - Be Prepared and Get Organized

I love thinking of unique and interesting gifts for my friends and family. There is nothing I enjoy more than seeing the look of appreciation and joy on someone's face when they open a gift they really love. However, I realize that, for many people, choosing a gift for a special occasion is met with fear and anxiety. Many people often choose inappropriate gifts because they are overwhelmed by time restrictions, price, choice, long lines, and crowded stores. As a result, people equate gift shopping with stress.

Well I'm happy to tell you there are ways to alleviate the stress associated with shopping for gifts. Gift shopping can be tons of fun if approached the right way. The keys are preparation and organization. First, make a gift recipient list. This list should include the names of all the people you expect to buy gifts for throughout the year. Occasionally, names will be added or deleted from this list. Once you have prepared this list its time to get organized. I recommend utilizing an online reminder service. My two favorite reminder services are Birthday Alarm http://www.birthdayalarm.com/ and Google Calendar http://www.google.com/calendar. Once you've registered with these services you can input birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and other events into a calendar. And most importantly, both services allow you to set event reminders and choose the frequency and timing of reminders.

If you are unsure of a person's birthday, Birthday Alarm allows you to send an email to that person requesting details about their birthday. Once that person has inputted this information, it is automatically added to your calendar.

Google Calendar also has lots of great features. Not only does it help you to keep track of events and send reminders, it also allows you to create invitations for events and even supports mobile phone notification. You can also share your calendar with friends and family.

Creating a gift recipient list and setting up a reminder service are two easy ways to keep gift shopping stress free. What are some of the things you do to keep gift shopping stress free and fun? This is the perfect forum to share your suggestions.

Stay tuned for another dose of GiftRx!