Straight from The Horse’s Mouth

What will you give? Holiday gift giving is a large part of our tradition, yet buying stuff often leaves us feeling 'spent' come January. Every year the desired presents get more expensive and are sometimes impersonal. Give someone a PDA, DVR, or PS3 and they plug into technology more than people. (Now, I love my lap top, but it's a matter of balancing VR with F2F that is important.*) What do we do for the folks who just don't need anything? Here's the perfect solution: Give the 'Gift of Your Time' Coupons.

Wouldn't you love to be presented with a coupon that offers a home cooked meal delivered to you after a hectic day? How about a night of baby-sitting, or help with the computer? Think of the person on your list who is as busy as you are. Give them a coupon that offers to come over and work together on a project. Volunteer to sit with your elderly neighbor and compose a hand-written letter for them. Send your loved ones the promise of an hour (or day) of uninterrupted time to really catch up. Your time is precious, to a loved one it might be priceless.

Perhaps you have a skill that the receiver would like to have. It may be how to make your homemade crust, sew, knit, play an instrument or something that would help their children, like tutor chemistry or math. Offer to help the child and meet up to give a hands on, one-onone lesson in your skill. (We have some tutoring going on at THM!)

Maybe the men in your life need bro time. Male bonding is done WHILE WORKING together, not necessarily when sitting F2F and chatting. Give them a coupon that promises to be there when their truck needs a kick and a wrench.

When giving these coupons be sure to follow through. Right on the spot make a date to fulfill your promise, or call a week later and schedule the time you are offering.

On the Internet, go to www.ehow.com and type in gift coupons. There you will find step-by-step instructions for creating your own personalized coupons. Or, better yet, check out Kayla's Kroppin' Korner or Photolicious in Buffalo. I'm certain they'd be able to help you make something festive.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The greatest gift is a portion of thyself." Your present might be the hit of the season.

*For those who are 'acronymically' challenged here are some definitions: VR is Virtual Reality and F2F means Face to Face. LOL!