Gifts That Matter Focus On Meaning

yo Boe? ee =P = ee &_412e0__-. _-e@ eo —e ~ee —~2e=58 TS ia Ho liday Hints 3 eee eo oc se-2 Oc e-—a~ es ese S2e3e-2 Gifts That Matter Focus On Meaning (NAPSA)—The most memorable gifts are often the ones that focus on meaning. According to a recent Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll, nearly one-fifth (19 percent) of consumers planned on returning someofthe gifts they received. Insteadof a gift that may wind up being returned, try giving something that is memorable. Here are sometips to get you started: e Give the gift of time— Time is one of the most precious gifts you can give to someone. Offer to help a friend or family member with houseworkor with a task that’s hard to find the time for. Volunteer to babysit or weed the garden. Or invite them to a home-cooked dinner made by you—the thought and time you put into the meal and details will make a memory that will be guaranteed to last all year round. e Ditch the gift card— According to a recent Deloitte survey, nearly half (47 percent) of consumers have an average of six unused gift cards laying around. Whether they got lost in the back of a wallet or just simply go unused, gift cards aren’t always the best answer for the hard-to-please person on your list. Take the time to pick out a tangible gift to ensure it won’t be fast forgotten. Make a memory, give a memory—tTheholiday season also marksthe end of a year’s worth of great memories. Help family and friends treasure favorite moments Creative and meaningful gifts will be remembered. from the past year by creating a personalized desktop calendar or flip book from an online photosite such as Snapfish.com. Available in a variety of colors, layouts and sizes, the photo gifts are easily customizable with favorite photos and original text, so you can create a one-of-a-kind gift that can stay on display year-round. e Pay it forward—Theholi- day season can be a great time to give to those who are less fortunate. Surprise loved ones with a meaningful donation in their name to a local food bank or a donation of products to a charity like Toys for Tots or Meals on Wheels. Get even more creative with a gift that’s beautiful to look at and also gives back. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America has partnered with online photo site Snapfish.com to create a Make-A-Wish custom cover photo book that can be personalized with your own photos. Thirty percentof all proceeds from the sales of the books will go directly to Make-A-Wish.