Surviving Christmas

In this day of work related relocation and retirement to warm climates away from where we grew up and raised our kids, many of us find we are Christmas shopping for friends and relatives who are out of town. This is a sad fact of life which makes it more difficult to stay in touch and also greatly complicates the Christmas shopping process.


The financial cost and the hassle of shipping gifts is one of the most obvious problems in this scenario. Items which are large, heavy or fragile can be difficult to ship. For example you may find a beautiful crystal vase that you know your Aunt in California will love but you may be hesitant to buy it because you are afraid it will be lost or damaged during shipping.

One solution to that problem is to purchase the gift on-line, from a retailer that is closer to your Aunt than you do, or purchase the item with a guarantee so that if it is lost or damaged in any way, it will be replaced at no cost to you.


Another problem associated with Christmas shopping for out of town relatives is you may have a great deal of difficulty selecting gifts for these relatives. You may have been very close with the relative when they lived nearby but distance can make it difficult to stay in touch and can result in emotional distance between you and your far away relatives. You may be unaware of her current hobbies and interests which can make it difficult to select a personalized gift she will really appreciate.



Opting for more generic items such as sweaters or scented bath soaps and candles is one way to deal with this problem. Another suggestion would be to get them a card and gift certificate for something the two of you used to do together, or something you know they've always enjoyed (Barnes and Noble for an avid reader, a local (to them!) garden center for gardeners, etc)


Even purchasing items for the home can be difficult when it comes to out of town relatives. You may see a throw pillow or a vase you think your sister will absolutely love and which would match her living room perfectly, but you may be unaware that she has redecorated the living room! This may seem like a big detail but even if you have kept in contact she may have forgotten to mention she had redecorated. This can make purchasing home related items for out of town relatives quite difficult.


You can help to alleviate this problem by including a gift receipt with the gift when you ship it to your relative. This makes it easier for them to return the item if it does not match their decor and purchase a more suitable item. They will appreciate the gesture of your gift as well as your thoughtfulness.



For my own out of town relatives, I usually hand make or purchase a Christmas ornament each year and send baked goods or candy. Something home-made or personalized (such as the cute hair-dryer ornament I found at Sally's one year for my Aunt who is a stylist), and a bit of Christmas cheer in the form of cheeses, sausages, cookies or candy) is both thoughtful and appropriate for most. Parents and children, as well as others who are very close should be shopped for as if they were with you.


Your biggest consideration in Christmas shopping for out of towners is the shipping time. Despite promises of "order as late as December 22 for Christmas delivery" - I never wait that long. If shipping food items that are perishable (cookies, for instance), give about 5 days lead time, or ship priority and give 3 days. For all other items, ship them at least a week before Christmas - especially if using USPS. Their promises do not hold during the overwhelming demands of Christmas holidays.






Mark it on your calendar now!


Many Blessings
GrannySue