By Nancy Muldoon
Finding the right gift to give someone around the holidays need not be difficult or expensive; but you do want to give a gift that is not only thoughtful but more importantly appropriate.
While it's probably not a good idea to give someone in recovery a bottle of wine or the person who always seems to be rather tardy a watch; you can make a good impression by paying attention to what someone's interests are without having to pillage your checking account.
For the coffee connoisseur, you have quite a few options, of which won't break your bank account. You can choose to buy a pound of coffee at your local coffee house and simply put a bow or fancy ribbon around it and it will only cost about $10. Or you can choose to buy that same individual a fancy coffee mug that will run you anywhere from $5-$10. You can also buy a coffee bean grinder from $10-$20.
If you are unsure about what book to buy the avid reader in your life you can purchase a gift card from almost any book store in the amount of $5-$25, so they can choose whatever they want.
In an office setting you can always bake cookies and cupcakes and display them on a fancy festive platter for everyone's enjoyment. For a co-worker who enjoys a cigar you don't have to buy a whole box, cigars are sold individually and can run as little as $5 dollars a cigar, a cigar cutter is also a nice gift and can cost as little as $5.
If you are going to buy someone a bottle of wine it is important to find out if they prefer white or red, as most people do have a preference. There are many quality wines out there both white and red that are less than $10, if you are undecided, ask someone who works in the store as they are knowledgeable and happy to give you a list of their personal favorites.
If you are still unsure as to what to give someone in the office you can always buy someone a thoughtful card and buy a few inexpensive lottery tickets to put inside the card. There are many holiday themed cards to choose from and can cost as little as $1.
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