Christmas Gifts: Made in America!

This time of year, we all think of giving big, beautiful gifts to our loved ones. These days, that typically means electronics, toys, and other consumer goods generally made in other countries. This year, during a time of economic crisis in the US, let's think outside the box and keep American money inside America. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in commerical wrapping paper?

NON-TRADITIONAL GIFTS:

• Restaurant gift certificates, from the fancy new dinner place to their preferred lunchtime haunt.
• Gift certificate from the recipient's preferred hair salon or barber.
• Contribute to a gym membership or purchase bootcamp sessions.
• Car detailing, car washes and oil changes for anyone with a car, truck or motorcycle
• Maid service for a day, month, year, life. (one of my personal requests!)
• Rather than a new computer, think tune-up and upgrading by the local friend trying to get his repair business up and running.
• Tickets to local concerts, sporting events and movies.  Even certificates that just pay for the concessions might be welcome!
• Photo sessions with a local photographer are good for everyone from babies to golden anniversary couples.
• Think about gift cards for paintball, laser tag or rock climbing at local venues for anyone over 10. Make it a family event!
• Spa certificates for mani/pedis and massages will soothe the savage beast.
• Newspaper and magazine subscriptions. You should be able to find out if they are printed in the US (daily and weekly media are more likely to be printed here due to time constraints)
• Are you the big spender who usually buys the TVs, video games and other high-dollar gifts? This year, think about driveway sealings, lawn care and driveway snow clearing services, or a golf course membership. Also, consider plane tickets to visit grandma or a weekend getaway for your sister & brother-in-law (while you watch the kids!)
• Prefer a tangible gift? Consider the many local craft people who spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. Others make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. Search out that local tailor who makes custom dress shirts or evening gowns for a one-of-a-kind clothing gift.
• Check out sites like Groupon, LivingSocial, Morgan's Deals, and AmazonLocal - most items on these sites are from local service providers.
• And, while it might seem cheesy or cheap, consider homemade certificates for things like "One whine-free bathroom cleaning" or "one husband-made family dinner where the children act like people instead of monkeys". When redeemed, these mean SO much more than any material product.

TRADITIONAL GIFTS:
If you want to still give traditional gifts, check the labels. Look for that Made in America label. Sometimes it might cost a bit more, but isn't it worth it to keep the money in the US? Need help finding American goods? Try searching on these sites (not the greatest, but they can help you find some things): www.ibuyusmade.com, www.americansworking.com, or  www.madeinusa.org.

OTHER HOLIDAY IDEAS:

• Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a larger tip than usual.
• Go out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.
• Find a venue showcasing local bands.
• Give your the postal carrier, trash company, and sitters monetary tips.

This Christmas consider where your money is going when you spend it on gifts. Encourage American small businesses to keep following their dreams. When we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

Note: I received this message with a lot of China references. I have rewritten it to remove the negative comments about another country while trying to keep the idea that we can think outside the box for holiday gift giving as I thought it was important enough to share. It's hard for me to be negative while also talking about the holidays...