Tips & Tricks Thursday – Holidays: Gift Giving 11/05/2018

I’d lost track of time and just yesterday saw that Thanksgiving in the US is next week! For some, that means eating traditional foods, visiting friends and family, and hopefully reflecting on your blessings. For those of us who do not have friends or family close enough to host or visit, it means a day of eating a small version of a traditional meal and spending time reflecting on our blessings. As far as holiday food, there are quite a few recipes and tips for trying to make these foods as healthy as possible. You can click on this link to go to the Recipes unit–>

It’s also the time when many people look forward to the holidays to come. In the US, some of you may be in the mad rush for Black Friday sales. Maybe you’re thinking about gift giving in December. I’d like to share one of our holiday traditions, give some ideas about gifts to ask for and gifts to give. More importantly, I want to hear what YOU have been thinking of about this especially if you have low vision and are stressed about how you’re going to manage this part.

My Family’s Tradition

Twenty years ago I came to the realization that trying to figure out what to buy as gifts was very stressful because the people around me had a lot of THINGS. When I was asked what I wanted, I really couldn’t come up with anything (my needs are simple). I sat down and wrote a letter to those friends and family members who would be involved in this tradition and basically said,

“We really have so much when others don’t. We would like you NOT to buy us anything this Christmas.” Instead, please donate to either your favorite charity or one of ours.” It took a little convincing – my mother never did stick to it, bless her – but it’s a tradition we still keep. We DO give money to the families of our young nieces, nephews, great nieces, nephews. Our charities have changed since my parents passed away to include charities that do research for the diseases that my parents had: Dad had advanced dry AMD & cancer; Mom had Alzheimer’s Disease, cancer and a stroke. We don’t to those in memory of them. We ask our friends and relatives to do the same.

These presents always fit, don’t have to be returned and make the giver feel as good as the receiver! Sometimes you can find charities who have gifts where part of the money goes to the charity (I have a collection of stuffed critters given to me with donations to the World Wildlife Fund. ::smile::) If you are going to try this, I recommend you start early. There may be some people in your circle who will take some convincing!

I’m working on a page with several of the charities that support people and research in macular diseases. Some of them have products you can buy where part of the cost will go to the charity. You’ll see more about that in another post today.

Other Ideas for Christmas Presents

Things

There are quite a few products for those with low vision. You can do a Google search for “gifts fo those with low vision” and find LOTS of ideas! Search amazon.com (or the version for your country) for “low vision” and you’ll find a lot of ideas there, too.
Go to pinterest.com and search for “gifts low vision.” Great ideas there.
Put together a gift basket of related items such as kitchen items: big letter measuring cups & spoons, bump dots to put on controls of stove and microwave, a cookbook in large print and preferably about eye health eating, talking meat thermometer, liquid level indicator.

Do YOU have any ideas? We’d love to hear them.

Services or Time

Give your time. Do you know someone who lives alone and has difficulty getting around or doing some things for themselves? How about making up a packet of ‘coupons’ for them for things like rides where they want and need to go, help with their housework or repair work, cooking a meal, running errands, mow the lawn, work in the garden, or any other things where you will be giving them YOUR TIME. You can make the coupons by hand or find ones to download and print. The New Day website helps you do just that.
There are more and more ‘errand services’ popping up. The Care.com has a service called Errand Runners where you can search your area for someone to run an errand for you. It says that the average cost is $12.50/hour but it varies. Search Google for “errand services” and add the name of your city or area. You can also search for senior care, pet care, housekeeping. You could arrange for one of these services for a family member or friend (or for yourself!).
Are you the one who lives alone and has difficulties? Make a list of things you’d like to have help with and when someone asks you what you want you can say, “Would you take me to the mall” or “Help me organize my kitchen” or “Go with me to a Christmas play/concert/activity that I haven’t been to in years” or “Help me sort through my mail” or “Come and play Scrabble/cards/other game with me.”
You could enroll someone in or you can ask for the Amazon Unlimited program for e-books, audiobooks, and magazine. Until November 30th, they’re running a special where the first 3 months are $0.99, after that it’s $9.99/month.
You could enroll someone in or you can ask for the Amazon Music Unlimited which has a 30-day free trial and then it’s $7.99/month.