Solving Those Tricky Holiday Dilemmas

Now that most of the holiday season is past, and we still have a couple months before stores start decorating for the next Christmas, it's time to think about solutions to some vexing problems we face every December.

The Person Who Gives You a Gift but You Got Nothing for Them

Nothing is worse then receiving a present in this way, a veritable gift of guilt. Now you are faced with the contemplation of having to buy one in return. I'm sure the giver had good intentions but I wonder if they really understand the pressure they created when they did this. Not only is money tight lately, but everyone I know went light on Christmas spending this year. And here we have some Santa Claus getting presents for every person they ever came in contact with in 2006.

I say stop feeling guilty. There will always be those people who do this. You didn't get them a present for a reason, so why not stick to your guns. Sure, they may feel slighted, but that is their fault for not being in the true spirit of giving. When we thought Santa was real, did we ever get him anything besides milk and cookies? And yet, he kept giving us gifts. People should follow his lead, give a present if you like and don't expect anything in return.

I call anything that has a catch to be more of a favor then a gift. Last time I checked people didn't wrap up favors as presents.

Having To Answer "How was your Christmas?" about 10,000 times.

I think this one falls under other holidays like New Years and Thanksgiving. By the time you get halfway through your day you feel like making stuff up. So when you start getting tired of rattling off the list of presents you got, the meal you ate, and how Uncle Bill fell asleep on the lawn, AGAIN, use your imagination.

What did I get you ask? Only a Lexus, a complete new wardrobe, a vacation on a cruise trip, and thousands of dollars in gift cards. Did I mention the hunting excursion to the African plains my parents bought me?

I would tailor your responses to your audience however. Saying you got a communicable disease can be a disaster under certain circumstances.

It's Hard to Find Unique Gifts

Every year it's the same thing: go to the various malls and stores, try and find gifts I think the recipient would like. But notice how much of the merchandise is all the same, year in and year out. And you have to compete in a sense with the previous Christmas. All year long you look for hints and clues from the people on your list, but most times it's a crapshoot. No wonder why everyone buys gift cards nowadays.

I think gift cards, by the way are a great way to go, and you can take the concept even further. For a family member who just had a child, I gave a Date Night package. It was a dinner for two and a movie. The topper would have been if I was able to get a gift card to cover the babysitting but where the heck do you find one of those? Now that would be one hell of a present. Someone really should look into creating gift certificates for babysitting, but that's a topic for another time.

If you are good at something artistic, make gifts for people. If you write, maybe create short stories personalized for each person on your list. If you can draw or paint, maybe do some artwork. Work with wood? How about crafting a piece of furniture hand made for that special someone. Just make sure you don't have a rep for being cheap, or the presents won't end up on Ebay if by chance you become famous.

Charity Gifts

Made fun of in the Festivus episode of Seinfeld, I have to say these are the worst gifts ever. Some well-intending person gives you a card for a gift, and it's a donation to a charity. Yah, well-meaning and all, but those things are tax-deductible, they get some of that money back. I'm all for people buying a gift on sale but when you buy something for someone going in with the intention you will get back money in return, well that goes against the whole concept of giving presents.

Even more ridiculous are these carbon credits. Someone paid for me to be able to run my AC at 60 degrees every day this summer. I get to pollute more and I have mulligans for doing so. That's a heck of a gift, but not one I would want. Give me something I can use, not abuse.

I will say this though, I think buying someone the ability to name a star is a pretty cool gift and the only one of this category to consider. At least I can look up in the sky and spot something named after me.

Maybe someday if we can fly around in space people will visit the Chris Cameron star.