by L. Woodrow Ross

Created on: December 08, 2008   Last Updated: December 19, 2008

The poor state of the economy is causing most of us to tighten our budget in regards to Christmas gifts. We still want to give an appropriate gift to our friends and co-workers, but the pressure is on to economize. Don't despair, here are ten ideas that will stimulate your thinking and get you on track to share some thoughtful, desirable gifts this Christmas.

1. If you know the reading habits and genres of the recipient, a book is a wonderful gift and they are available in a wide range of prices. This is a thoughtful gift and will show that you are attentive to the personality of this person. If you are computer oriented, you can purchase some heavy, glossy paper an make some personalize book marks with photos and personal messages.

2. Magazine subscriptions are another source of reading material that would be welcome to many friends. Just be sure to check with the spouse of the friend to be sure that you are not duplicating a subscription that they currently have.

3. For the friend who is a "kitchen" expert and loves to cook, a nice basket filled with dish towels, oils, spices or cooking wine is an excellent choice that will please them.

4. The gardener friend is an easy category. Small hand tools, ceramic pots that you can hand paint with flowers, plant foods and similar items in a basket are good choices.

5. Wine is an excellent gift for those who enjoy it. A nice bottle of wine accompanied by cheese and crackers would be welcomed and who knows, they might even share it with you!

6. If you are a landscape or nature photographer with a reasonable skill level, you could select some of your best shots and place them in an album or enlarge an image and frame it tastefully. If you have personal photos of friends, you can get images printed onto cups or other items that would be cherished.

7. Theater tickets or a gift certificate for passes are a thoughtful gift and allow the recipient to tailor the entertainment to their tastes.

8. "Music soothes the savage beast". You may not have a beastly friend, but a nice CD or a DVD is a good gift for those who like music and movies. Try to select categories that you know will appeal to them.

9. If your friends are birdwatchers, a gift of birdseed, a guidebook of bird species, a DVD about birdwatching or a nice birdhouse would be good choices. If you are a woodworker, you can build the birdhouses. Not only will you save money, but you will be able to tailor the houses to the species in your area. Bird feeders are another excellent gift in this category.

10. For the hiker, a trail guide for your area is one choice. Boot socks, bandannas, caps with appropriate outdoor logos, water bottles, and countless other items are available at reasonable prices.

These items are just a few of the choices that are economical as well as thoughtful. For an expanded listing of ideas, consider going on-line and checking out www.Personalizationmall.com and see some ideas and images. Another site, www.stretcher.com lists 25 items for under $25 that will give you some great ideas.

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