What to buy the neighbors for Christmas
If you're on friendly terms with your neighbours, you will probably want to get them a little present for Christmas. However, in these tough economic times, you don't want to spend a great deal of money, especially if your neighbours don't have a great deal to spend either. You can still buy them something that shows you care though - some of the following ideas may be useful.
Most people appreciate a bottle of alcohol, especially in the run up to Christmas. You could keep the cost low as you like by going for something like a bottle of wine, or a bottle of local beer. If you want something a little more expensive, then try your local off licence for a good bottle of port, or your neighbour's favourite tipple. If you shop around, you should be able to get a good price.
Christmas may not be the most obvious time to buy houseplants - but then again, it can be a pleasant surprise. Choose something seasonal, such as a poinsettia or Christmas cyclamen. Your local florists will probably have a selection, but you will probably get better prices by going to a garden centre. You can make the pot looking even more Christmassy by decorating it yourself.
Everyone enjoys receiving food items for gifts at Christmas. If your neighbour is elderly and has difficulty getting out and about, then you could buy them a small gift basket with basics, such as cheese, port, biscuits and chocolate. Otherwise, anyone would appreciate something to nibble on over the Christmas period - you should have an idea of their likes and dislikes, so buy according to that.
If you enjoy crafts, then you can save a lot of money by making your own gifts - and they will certainly be much appreciated. Think about your talents and what you could contribute - a knitted scarf could be ideal, a wreath for their door or a candle, or a hand-made set of place-mats or cushion covers. If cooking is more your thing, then you could make a batch of biscuits, or even a Christmas cake.
If your neighbours have children, you may want to buy for them instead of, or as well as, their parents. This should be a fairly easy purchase - all children love sweets and chocolate. However, if you know their parents don't like them to eat too much chocolate, then consider something else small - toys from a pound shop could be perfect. Failing that, money will always be welcomed.
Giving money to adults is not quite as acceptable as it is to children. If you're really stuck, however, a voucher could be a great idea. For a woman, vouchers for a beauty treatment should go down well, and anyone loves a book or CD/DVD voucher. It does, of course, mean that your neighbour knows exactly how much you've spent on them, which may or may not be a good idea.
Your neighbour could live alone or be elderly. In this case, you might want to consider doing something for them rather than spending money on them. If they have difficulty getting to the shops, ask if you can do it for them. Alternatively, you might want to invite them to join your family for Christmas dinner. An extra person at the table won't make much difference to you, but it could really make their day.
If you are going to buy for your neighbours, don't leave it until the last minute. Think about what they might like, then investigate the cheapest options. There is bound to be something you can come up with that doesn't cost the earth.
