Gifts against the grain | The Honolulu Advertiser

Gifts against the grain | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Monday, December 12, 2005

ISLAND LIFE SHORTS
Gifts against the grain

Advertiser Staff

Still fretting over whether to get Auntie Lani the gold clutch or Tahitian pearl earrings for Christmas?

Rather than buying more "stuff," consider helping reduce waste with alternative gift ideas. At FrugalFun.com, Reena Kazmann suggests the following:

Tuition to an unusual class.

Membership to a museum or special-interest group.

A gift certificate for a pottery studio session, massage or maid service for a day.

— Zenaida Serrano

FINAL WORD

"Creating new holiday experiences around a few things you and your family love will go a long way toward simplifying Christmas."

Elaine St. James | author of "Simplify Your Christmas: 100 Ways to Reduce the Stress and Recapture the Joy of the Holidays"

KEEP IT SIMPLE

THRIFTY TRIMMINGS

Dressing up your home for the holidays doesn't have to hurt your wallet.

Here are some ideas from Cynthia Townley Ewer of OrganizedHome.com:

Take a quick inventory of your holiday decor in the storage room. You may not need a new miniature tree, after all.

Look to nature as a source for inexpensive decorations.

Holiday decorating dovetails nicely with displaying collections and souvenirs, such as tea pots and dolls.

— Zenaida Serrano