Christmas Gift Ideas for the Recently Unemployed

Unfortunately, a record number of people are still losing their jobs every day. The unemployment rate continues to rise dramatically. Being unemployed at Christmas time can be very difficult. Money is tight and the future is uncertain.Instead of shopping and decorating, the days leading up to the holiday are busy with filling out employment applications and hoping for job interviews. You can make the holiday a little brighter this year for that unemployed person by offering one or more the following gift.

Make a Mortgage Payment. One of the top worries of an unemployed person is keeping their home. While most mortgage companies are granting load modifications to make home ownership more affordable in these difficult times, the process is long and arduous and there is no guarantee of the outcome. If you can swing it, paying the mortgage for your loved one can give them a sense of peace and calm during the holidays. No one should be concerned about a possible foreclosure during the Christmas season.

Offer Your Resume Writing Skills. If you have a knack for drafting impressive resumes, give your loved one an afternoon of your time. Helping your friend or relative punch up their resume can give them a leg up in the process of finding a new job.

Give a Supermarket Gift Card. A person's food budget is often drastically cut after losing a job. This can be very stressful and worrisome when there are growing children in the house to feed. Purchase a gift card to a local grocery store worth as much money as you can comfortably afford. This is a thoughtful and practical gift that can really help the unemployed person continue to buy healthy and nutritious food for their family.

Offer Your Babysitting Services. Job interviews and cold calls to stores and businesses to fill out an application and submit a resume can eat up quite a bit of time. Not only does it send a prospective employer a certain message when showing up with a group of kids, this activity is rarely enjoyed by children. Offer to watch the kids for a few hours so your loved can can cover as much ground as possible.

Give the Gift of Relaxation. Being unemployed is stressful. Your loved one is surely in need of a few activities or products that promote relaxation and rejuvenation. Offer a gift certificate for a massage. Make a gift basket filled with aromatherapy candles and bottles of essential oils. Give a gift bag filled with bubble bath and a fictional book that has an inspirational message.

Give the Gift of Warmth. New coats, mittens, hats and scarves can cost a pretty penny. If your unemployed loved one has a family to keep warm this Winter, take that burden off of him or her. Purchase the kids new coats and the necessary winter weather gear. This will be such a relief to your gift recipient.

A Discount Department Store Gift Card can Come in Handy. The varied merchandise at a discount department store makes offering a gift card from one of these stores an excellent idea. Whether clothing, food, cleaning supplies, or toys for the kids' Christmas presents is what is most needed, it can be purchased with this gift card.
Your gift recipient can also have a bit of privacy when choosing what to purchase. Although being financially strapped due to unemployment is nothing to be embarrassed about, the entire situation can be one that causes a bit of shame. Your loved one can go shopping and purchase the things the household really needs, without losing any pride.