Thoughtful Inexpensive Gifts for Seniors

Hmm, just what can you get that fit the category? First of all, as a very old senior, I'm not so sure I want a gift from a cheapskate like you. Why is it that you buy expensive gifts for everyone else, but when its time to consider one for me, you believe I'm just not worth that much. Yeah and, you know what you can do with that piddling little gift!

All right, now that I'm over my snit, I'll suggest some gifts you can get for seniors that won't empty your wallet. You know, the one with the lock on the outside and moths on the inside, because you open it so doggone seldom. Here's a quick idea. For my spouse, me and all the other senior early bird diners, we always appreciate a gift certificate to our favorite restaurant. It doesn't require you to go through catalogs or run around shopping. It is something simple and easy for busy young whippersnappers like you to purchase.

Our daughter, who has enough money to buy a string of restaurants, frequently gives us $25 gift certificates to one of our haunts, a local Olive Garden restaurant. Not that I'm calling her a cheapskate, but you can't buy dinner for two these days, even at early bird prices, with that amount in any eatery, except maybe at McDonald's or Burger King. We always use the gift certificates for lunch at Olive Garden, and the bill usually comes to about $22, leaving tip money for that snooty waiter who keeps ignoring us while coughing in our scalapine.

Gift certificates for other uses are always welcome, such as for theaters, stores and many retail outlets. They can also be spent on products posted online for hundreds of items and services. In my non-humble opinion, gift certificates make the best presents, because the senior can spend them at a convenient time and place, and can buy specifically what is wanted. Too many gift givers, not knowing what to buy for a senior, will come up with something absolutely unnecessary, such as a cap, t-shirt, necktie, handkerchief and whatever.

Something very welcome our daughter gave us is at least as useful as an Olive Garden certificate, although more expensive. It was a year's subscription to NetFlix, which I believe costs about $250. It provides us with several titles a week, and we enjoy watching first-run and nostalgic old movies on our computer's big screen or little portable DVD player that cost about $75. Other that great entertainment, movies you show at home are not interrupted by annoying commercials, and you can stop the film at any time for a snack or potty break.

I know the title requires an inexpensive gift, but if you want to open your wallet a bit more, how about the gift of a weekend at a local hotel for a senior couple. With dinner included and breakfast in bed, two nights could cost from $200 to $400. There, that isn't too costly, is it? Remember, for the hotel room, you don't have to rent the one with the mirror in the ceiling. If you want to go a bit higher, say $500 to $600, you could buy the couple an air and hotel package to a seaside or mountain resort hotel.

All right, all right, I'll stop here. I won't make you feel guilty about being such a cheapskate by suggesting more costly gifts you can get for your own special, very lovable senior.