| Extravagant, offbeat gift ideas |
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Not the memorabilia type? If your friend wants to
learn how to play an instrument, head to the local music store and
buy them the desired instrument, plus lessons to start them off,
says Deyette. If they have favorite band or musician, buy them the
band's sheet music.
For everyday fans of music, Deyette suggests buying
them the latest iPod. You can also buy an iPod Nano that comes preloaded
with songs, says White. If they have the Nano, buy the latest iPod
cover or an iTunes gift
card so they can legally download new music for free. CDs are
always good, too, if you know who your friend's favorite musicians
are.
If they love a particular band, promise to take them to a concert
when the band is playing in town, says Deyette. Say to them, ''next
time they're near here, we're going."
Research upcoming concerts in your area at Ticketmaster.
Gift cards in a basket
Of course, maybe you're busier than a plaid suit and have little
time to arrange for fancy gifts. If you're opting for yet another
gift card for someone special this year, at least present it better.
"Giving someone a gift card inside a card is
a little impersonal," says Deyette. "I love the idea of
putting together a basket around it." She suggests including
a pair of cashmere slippers, some chocolates and a bottle of champagne
to go with the gift card. "It's like saying, 'Here, I'm going
to take care of you.'"
One author we spoke with made a similar suggestion.
"Make it a gift in a gift," says Robyn Spizman, author
of "Make it Memorable" and co-author of the "Author
101" book series. She suggests giving a handbag with the
card, or putting the card inside a nice wallet. Besides customizing
the card itself, you can further personalize the card by including
a short poem with the card. "Write: 'Here's a shopping spree
for you from me.'"
If you want to be even more generous, purchase a gift card to a
hotel or airline, says Deyette. In the card, list of a couple of
destinations they could go to and leave check boxes by them. You
provide the means, they choose the inn.
Get gift-card smart
Finding a gift card doesn't even have to be inconvenient. You can
find a variety of gift cards in places you might not think to look,
such as grocery stores and drug stores, according to the National
Retail Federation.
Just be sure that when you buy the gift card, you
fully understand its limitations and that you educate the recipient
about them, Spizman says. Mention any expiration dates. If you want
to research gift cards' terms and restrictions, check out Bankrate's
gift card survey.
As for the gift card itself, be sure to make it personal.
"Don't give someone a generic gift card to Macy's or Neiman
Marcus," says White. "Make it a gift card to a place they
love, such as a favorite store. If they're basketball fanatics,
then get a gift card to an NBA store. If they love candles and fragrances,
give them a gift card to a perfumery."
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