Give a Gift that Lasts

Gift Cards & Gifted Services leave lasting impressions

On this increasingly temporal planet, it has become more and more difficult to give lasting gifts.  So how does one offer a predictable, or better yet, unpredictable contribution to family and/or friends in a way that brings unforgettable memories and/or a daily reminder?  Wouldn’t it be extra thoughtful to share a kindness that has a deeper and continual purpose?

This new economy and changing times require more consideration of spending with a longer lifespan than opening a simple or disposable packaged gift.  Let’s consider how to make a more deliberate impression as we enter the biggest giving season of the year.  After all, what we spend these days and the memories it does or doesn’t create should make us pause before pushing the button on gift selections.  With endless numbers of gifts and experiences, everyone knows home is nearly always where the heart is…

If we look a little harder, we can find ways to enhance the feelings of comfort and joy of someone’s home beyond the holiday season.  Of course, the beginning of the quest for ideas and answers in Lake Magazine articles is always connected to the built environment or water, since this is a publication about lake living.  A room, home, or property is the easiest way to provide a solid memory or introduce opportunities for changes in how a person or family functions within it.  One doesn’t have to possess talent, time, or trade to make a big impact for a family member or friend.

Starting with the biggest impact for use and aesthetics we look at ways to insert design of a room, area, entire home, or on the property.  This could be achieved with an all-investment, support funds, simply covering an element, or teaming up with other family and friends to assure the budget is met for the work to be done.  There are far more benefits than generally expected when adding a deliberate design plan to the functionality and beauty of a home, whether it is for a single person, couple, a family, or a multi-generational household.  Here is a list of ways to provide this uplifting hand for your loved ones:

·        Extend a very generous hand to fund the entire design project!

·        Pay for the design services only for a single space or the whole house.

·        Cover the cost of a special installation like a nursery, built-ins, or customized space.

·        Buy a gift certificate for general help, color psychology, or specialty consultation.

·        Provide the funds for a much-needed change, flooring, cabinetry, windows, doors,

·        Give a gift card for purchases from a design-related store for furniture and furnishings or custom fabrication services like drapes, cabinetry, etc.

·        Gardening, landscaping, and other outdoor pursuits require tools or expert help that can be offered as a gift.

Moving from the overall function and appearance of the home to daily operations, let’s look at the ease of living with or testing the affordability of supportive conveniences.  There is a myriad of ways to connect the family with outside services or products as a subscription.  How wonderful would it be for a new Mom, sick family member, or a person who is not as mobile to receive one or more of these helping hands gifts?  These points of help might be especially fruitful for a young family, a highly active family, or a senior citizen.

·        6 months to a year of food, laundry, cleaning, or other services would be considered a godsend for the right recipients.

·        Delivery service Gift Cards could reduce errands or provide support during a planned gathering.

·        Installation of external or locked shipping and receiving areas for deliveries or online orders is still on the rise throughout the country.  Sometimes all it takes is a well-placed refrigerated or thermal-insulated box with a lock for temporary food or package storage.

Now for Lifestyle enhancements that allow a person or family to function at a higher level.  There are a lot of unexpected gift opportunities to be had when thinking through habits.  Breaking bad habits, encouraging new habits, and supporting existing good habits could be the most impactful type of gift.

·        Bringing in professional organizers to develop a plan and installations for specialty applications, custom (or customized) closets, pantry storage, garage, or coordinated storage for a home office, pantry, and/or laundry area.

·        Security systems, energy conservation consults with installations, air purification, heated floors, and other environmental changes would offer a wealth of much needed peace of mind and comfort.

·        Adding specialty equipment for ease of use; elevator, dumbwaiter/shoot, whole house vacuum etc.

Not everyone can afford to offer such high-ticket items to their family, special friends, or a needy person/family.  However, if you know that one or more of the listed items is a need over a desire, then maybe it is possible for more than one person to pull the funds together to achieve the result.  If these suggestions do not appeal to you, please take a moment to consider other sustainable gift giving ideas with more than a shelf life.