FinanciallysavyChristmasgiftadvice

Withtheholidaysinfullswingasconsumerstrytopush2009intothedistantpastandretailersmakeaconcertedefforttogetthecashregistersringing,IwashardlysurprisedtoseethelatestissueofMoneyMagazinedishingoutadviceonChristmasgiving.

ThereareatotaloffourarticlesonthetopicofholidaygivingintheDecember2009issueaboutgiftstogiveyourself,othersandevencharities.Theartofgiftgiving,unlikeinvesting,isshroudedinmanytraditions,isasymbolofhowwecareforoneanotherandissprinkledwithelementsofindulgence.Becauseofthis,IwasintriguedbyMoneyMagazine’sperspectiveonthisduringoneofAmerica’smostcommercializedholidays.

Onearticleonthe“BestGiftsattheBestPrices”(pg.108)groupeddealsbyreceivertypessuchasFoodie,Fashionista,andGadgetGeek.IhavetosayinthecategoryofFoodie,thearticlehadmesalivating.UnlikeaConsumerReportsrankingofappliances,theauthorsofthisarticleunderstoodtheindulgencefactorofgiftstoutingdealssuchasaLaguiolesteakknivesdealonWineEnthusiast.com(setof6for~$70).ThesamesetisavailablefromAmazonfor$79.95anddependingonshipping,maybeanequallygooddeal.AnothergiftfortheFoodieinyourlifenotmentionedinthearticleisaseason’ssubscriptiontoalocalcommunitysupportedfarm.AroundSanJose,bothLiveEarthFarmandTwoSmallFarmswouldbegreatchoices.