GiftIdeas

It's stressful enough when your kids' holiday wish is filled with high-tech gadgets that aren't in your budget. What's worse is breaking down and buying them at the last minute because you couldn't think of better alternatives in your price range.

Forget the material things %u2014 reindeer sweaters, clunky toys, stocking stuffers that end up as, well, stuff. How about a skydiving lesson, a spa pampering or a night at a cozy bed and breakfast This holiday season, a lasting memory is worth a thousand knickknacks.

Not sure what to tuck into that special someone's stocking? Gift cards are definitely one popular option this season. And now at least one major insurer has gotten in on all the gifting action, offering medical gift cards as an alternative to ties, robes and toasters. The cards sold by insurers...

Hot chocolate gift sets abound this year. They consist of a small tin of hot chocolate mix, a package of miniature marshmallows, a mug and a mini whisk and cost around $10. I like to put a dollar store spin on gift ideas I've seen elsewhere and thought it would be fun to expand the idea with some...

"It is possible to go away for a weekend and have a life changing experience," author Joan Anderson has said. "Retreat is a form of pause -- it is a time apart in solitude, a precious space in which we can see our world in a different light." Anderson knows. Overriding both her own fears and the...

I saw a sign yesterday for a local florist advertising $49.99 roses for Valentine's Day-as if that's a steal. Everyone knows florists jack up their prices this time of year, so unless you really need to score some points, there are many more thoughtful, creative and inexpensive gifts that...