Ideas for Finding the Perfect Holiday Gifts

The lights are twinkling in the trees around the Decatur Square, a sure sign that it’s holiday shopping season.

This year, I decided to reflect on standout gifts that I’ve received in order jumpstart my holiday planning. What I found, in keeping with today’s frugal times, is that simple gifts planned to fit the personality of the recipient are the best and most memorable.

For years I was in charge of producing the holiday gift guides for the AJC. Between sorting news releases on the hottest gifts of the season and my own propensity for retail therapy, I turned into a gift-giving guru.

But as the excesses of the last decade give way to the financial realities of the present, I’ve decided to concentrate on quality over quantity.

Two gifts currently on display in my kitchen are examples of what I hope to achieve for my friends and family. Each one falls into the category of “my favorite things,” and each was a random, inexpensive gift that fits my personality perfectly.

One is a miniature, old-fashioned ceramic typewriter. Measuring about five inches wide, it has a penholder and a space on the “carriage return” that’s the perfect size for a pad of sticky notes. A gift from a co-worker about eight years ago, it both makes me smile and serves a useful purpose on the counter next to my phone.

Another small gift came from the neighbor who walked my dogs until she left for college. One year, she presented me with a folk art “cat angel” tree ornament. There’s something about the cat’s face and angel wings on that painted piece of tin that I find absolutely charming. After the first year on my Christmas tree, it never disappeared into the ornament box. It hangs year-round from a hook under my kitchen cabinet.

Certainly, every gift won’t be a home run like those two. But by thinking of why these two gifts stand out, I hope to have a better chance of finding other winners.

So, with apologies to late night talk show hosts, here are my top 10 ideas for this year’s holiday shopping:

1. Start local. Browse our wonderful local merchants in Decatur and Avondale for the first round of shopping. Keep a list handy all the time and drop in local shops to see what strikes your fancy.
2. Check out Decatur’s Terrific Thursdays between now and Christmas when the most of the city’s shops will be open late and offering special discounts.
3. Think gift certificates for food or services. There’s no need to get the man in your life another tie — check out a gift certificate at his favorite restaurant or a session with a local golf pro to improve his swing. Local spas and nail salons offer gift certificates, and everyone can use a little treat after the holiday madness.
4. For women on your list — avoid anything with an electric cord. Unless she specifically asks for a power drill, don’t do it. Something fun and whimsical will score a lot more points.
5. Check out “experience gifts.” Think about his or her passions and see if you can make a dream come true. Road Atlanta offers racecar-driving lessons, and a ride in a biplane that flies out of Peachtree DeKalb Airport is unforgettable.
6. If there are new parents on your list, a gift certificate for a cleaning service is a sure winner, as is a babysitting coupon in the box with a restaurant gift certificate.  
7. Consider charity gifts. Heifer International lets you buy a goat, chickens, or even a cow to help a family in a developing nation. Your gift in honor of someone on your list who “has everything” wins on multiple levels. Local charities can also use your year-end gifts honoring your friend or family member.
8. Check out the gift shops of local nonprofits. Some of my favorites are at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta at Egleston, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and the Woodruff Arts Center.
9.  Make your own gift baskets. A trip to the DeKalb Farmer’s Market can score a global selection of food at reasonable prices, and it only takes a little time to arrange some fruit, chocolate, and wine in a pretty basket.
10. Head to the mall as a last resort. When you go, plan ahead, and try to enjoy the experience. Realize it’s going to be busy, so carve out enough time when you’re not too tired. Listen to the holiday music and check out the children lined up to see Santa. And don’t forget a gift receipt for many happy returns.