www. sapphirelily. net | SAPPHIRE LILY | HOLIDAY | 9
If you have your addresses on a computerized database, consider printing out your mailing list on clear address labels. Years ago, an old college friend commented that she thought it was tacky to use address labels on holiday cards and letters. I told her that my choice was to either use labels or not mail our annual holiday letter to the 250 people on our list. Now that she has a young family, I’ ve noticed she has started using address labels, too!
E-mail a holiday letter to those with whom you correspond electronically. You can easily personalize this for each recipient. Attach color photos highlighting the past year. Another alternative is to create a holiday web page, and include the link to it in a personalized e-mail message.
Mail packages early to avoid longer lines at the post office and ensure they will arrive in time. Or, better yet, sign up with Stamps. com and avoid the lines altogether. You can mail large packages without standing in any lines-- as long as you have an accurate way to weigh them before you purchase postage online.
==> Thoughtfully plan your gift-giving. Give from the heart... not out of obligation. Decide whom you choose to give to and make a list. This will help you avoid overspending through impulse buying. If you think back to the most cherished gifts you have received, they are often homemade or from the heart. A gift of time-- such as a gift certificate redeemable for an activity you can do together-- can be very meaningful. Among the most prized gifts I’ ve ever received have been homemade cards with a heartfelt note written inside. Value goes far beyond the cost of the gift.
A great resource for homemade gift ideas is a book called The Perfect Mix. It contains creative edible gift ideas, including wrapping suggestions and tag instructions, along with a source guide for supplies. The book offers more than 90 recipes for soups, breads, muffins, cookies, and other gifts. The gifts I’ ve created from this book have been very well received and appreciated.
Instead of exchanging gifts with friends, consider having a holiday or post-holiday party with them. Avoid parking hassles, gridlock traffic around the malls, and long lines at the register by shopping online and through catalogs. A number of retail stores now offer merchandise online, as well. If you are purchasing a gift that needs to be mailed, you can arrange to have it sent directly to the recipient, thus avoiding the extra steps of wrapping, labeling, and mailing the gift.
Spread out your purchase of gifts over the weeks of November and early December. It’ s easier on the budget, and less stressful than waiting until the last minute. Wrapping gifts can take a lot of time. Instead of wrapping all of them, use a gift bag with a nice bow tied at the top, or use a decorated gift box.
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