by kellie abrahamson Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, but in this economy even he is feeling some serious seasonal strain. We all want to give our kids the world but between layoffs and increased food costs that may not be possible this year. Cutting back is just a fact of life but that doesn’t mean your family’s Christmas has to suck. Take advantage of the insane sales retailers are rolling out and get the kiddies one big thing they can share (hello, Guitar Hero: World Tour!). With the rest of your holiday budget look into these inexpensive but …

by erin thursby Just because something is secondhand doesn’t mean it won’t make a great gift for someone. Whether it’s the elevated age of antiques or something from the Goodwill, these items can make great gifts, if you choose wisely. antique stores Don’t let the name “antique” intimidate you. Some antique stores also sell vintage items, which aren’t as expensive. Plus you can find something really special. If you’re having trouble finding an item (like a butter dish) in the regular store, try an antique store. Very often you’ll be able to find it there. Dishes and tea sets abound …

by erin thursby There’s something in the back of your closet. It’s been there since last year, ever since you opened it at Christmas and stifled a scream of horror. But it’s no use hurting your Aunt Ida’s feelings over a Christmas gift. Some of the gifts you get are wrong for you but perfect for someone else. That’s where regifting comes in. But there are rules you must follow to avoid a social faux pas. Remember who the gift was from. There are horror stories of people regifting the item to the person who gave it to them in …

by brenton crozier Hold it right there friend, your loved one would not appreciate you naming that star after them. Nope, it’s not a good idea. With Christmas, Hanukah and what have you quickly approaching, you’re probably scrambling to cross names off your list and be received as thoughtful, maybe generous and possibly even creative. Luckily for you, EU is chock full of ingenious gift ideas and Netscapades is taking a back seat to no article in this regard. I’m a complete supporter of customized gifts including coffee mugs, baseball caps, mouse pads, T-shirts and so much more. It’s the …

by madeleine peck Originally, I was assigned to take a look around at locally made gift ideas, and also to come up with suggestions for making homemade gifts. But after thinking about it, I realized that unless one is gifted with a certain skill set, home made gifts aren’t as welcome as one might hope. That said, there are a few caveats: cookies, cakes, pastries and knitted scarves are always welcome. In fact, when it comes to scarves, I tend to think odder is better. Wit is always welcome too: in lieu of extravagant gifts think about the recipient and …

by daniel goncalves For photobugs like me, this October this year was all about technology and I was like a kid going to Santa’s workshop for the 2008 PDN PhotoPlus Expo in NYC. It’s basically a camera and gadget type of Disney/Wonderland for adults. All the major camera manufacturers had booths showing off their full product lines and new arrivals. Some of the newcomers include waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof point and shoots from Olympus, the Stylus 1050W and the 1030W. Pretty cool in case you ever forget your camera in the freezer, let if fall or get creative in the …

by erin thursby You’re pondering what to get a relative or a friend and you want to get them something unique, but you haven’t got the green to spend. Fortunately there’s a whole world of gifts out there on the internet. You can even find some fairly fun stuff for under $10-just make sure you take a look at shipping costs! under $10 Crate and Barrel is expensive but stylish. That’s where Crate and Barrel 2 comes in. Less expensive and more urban, their website (cb2.com) is the first place you’ll want to drop in for some interesting but low …

by jennifer mccaren Christmas and Hanukkah are on the way (along with winter solstice and the rest of the traditional winter festivals). Even in Florida, where we expect temperatures to hover in the mid-60s even on our shortest days, this is a time for reflection on the past year, and a time for centering ourselves as we await the return of the sun. It’s also a time for giving gifts to our friends and loved ones. The statistics on environmental impact from our gift-giving traditions are not pretty. 83 million square meters of gift wrap land in British landfills each …

by erin thursby Gift baskets are the ultimate easy solution when you’re stuck. Unfortunately, most gift baskets are sort of, well, girlie. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make your own or go online to get a manly basket. Because manly baskets are out there… the beer basket You can search for beer baskets in google or go to simplyclassicgiftbaskets.com. I think making your own up would be fun if you have the time. Throw in at least two beers, or you can head to a specialty store and buy different types of beer for him to sample. Toss in …

by erin thursby Giving someone a food gift, whether you made it yourself or bought it with love at Hickory Farms or a local chocolatier, is a holiday tradition. But there are some rules you should know about keeping food gifts fresh during the holiday season, particularly if you ship your homemade goodies off to Aunt Faye’s. If you’re giving a perishable item two weeks before Christmas, make it clear that it’s a food item and have the recipient open it NOW. Don’t let your gift be the green cheesecake under the tree. Don’t ship fruit. I know that there …