Ernst & Haas Management Co Blog

[caption id="attachment_807" align="aligncenter" width="189" caption="Adopting an olive tree brings a taste of Italy to anyone's home, delivering a year's worth of olive oil to the recipient of choice. "][/caption] There's only four days left until the big day and not surprisingly, many of us still have some shopping to finish up. If you are anything like us, you probably don't want to fight the traffic, parking lot, and rude sales people at the mall - especially with the kind of weather we've had lately. But thanks to www.kiplinger.com, here are some gifts ideas that aren't only beneficial for the heart and soul, but also in avoided the masses: 1. Adopt an Olive Tree: Nudo is an olive-tree adoption program that allows you to adopt a tree in an olive orchard and sends the fruits of that tree to the gift recipient of your choice throughout the year. The recipient also receives an adoption certificate and information about the grove in Le Marche, Italy, where the trees are grown. It's a year's supply of olive oil and a taste of Italy, without the airfare! Cost: $109, plus shipping. 2. Battery Charger: More than three billion single-use batteries are sold every year, and with all of your Wii controllers and battery-operated toys laying around the house, a battery charger is only logical. A charger will not only eliminate the expense of batteries, but will also provide hours and hours of energy. Cost: $29.97 for the Energizer NiMH Rechargeable Family Battery Charger. 3. Water Purifier and Bottler: This gift is for the friend or relative on your list that has an expensive bottled-water addiction. Water purifying systems, such as the Filtrete Water Station, filters water into reusable bottles to preserve the convenience of bottled water. Replacement filters, which cost $10 each, only have to be replaced every three months or every 100 gallons. Cost: $36.98 for the Filtrete Water Station. 4. A Charitable Donation: By making a donation in any given person's name, you show that you care about the organizations they support and relieve some of the responsibility they feel to support specific groups. Before donating, be sure to do your research and that the group you choose is operating efficiently and putting the donations to good use. And remember to keep the receipt - this gift comes with a tax deduction as long as you itemize your taxes. Cost: Up to your discretion, minus the tax deduction. 5. Energy-Saving Eco Button: Got any computer geeks  on your list? Or anyone that has a computer? This little gadget plugs into the USB port of any PC (a version for Mac is in the works) and when pressed, sends the computer to sleep or its energy-efficient mode. The button serves as a handy reminder to power down, saving on energy use and the cost of keeping the computer kicking. Cost: $19.99, plus shipping. 6. Community-College Gift Cards: Many community colleges offer gift cards that can be used on books, merchandise, and more importantly, credit hours. This is perfect for anyone looking to complete a degree, or brush up on their French before a trip to Paris. Contact your local institution for a course catalog to include with your gift. Computer software, such as a course from Rosetta Stone, can offer similar benefits. Cost: Up to your discretion, and based on the college's cost per credit hour. 7. A Career Coach: This is great for someone who is unemployed, or who has recently graduated from college. A session with a career coach can help create and polish a resume, and perhaps help someone get that promotion they've been waiting for. Cost: Several hundred dollars in most cases, depending on the coach and the level of services. Seek a free consultation for starters. 8. Reusable Shopping Bags: Many retailers offer incentives for customers to haul their groceries in their own reusable bags. The most user-friendly variety of reusable bags can be compacted into a small pouch and carried easily. Cost: $20 for four bags from Waste-Less Bags. 9. Beverage Carbonator: Appliances such as the SodaStream carbonate water with CO2 in less that a minute, saving on supplies and allowing recipients to make their own drinks. Flavors and juices can be added to the carbonated water to replace soft drinks. CO2 canisters come in different sizes that last for about 60 or 130 liters of water. Used CO2 cartridges can be traded in for full ones for approximately $30. Cost: $80-$200 for the appliance, which usually comes with reusable bottles and one or two CO2 cartridges, depending on the model. 10. Movie-Rental Subscription: A movie-rental subscription allows the movie buff on your list to make a list of the movies they'd like to see, and receives them in the mail one at a time. As each movie is returned, companies such as Netflix sends out the next movie on the list. There's no limit on the number of movies subscribers can watch each month and there are no late fees. Plus, Netflix allows you to pull up additional movies on your TV - using your game console or computer - through your online account to watch instantly, for FREE! Cost: $9.99 a month or $119.88 a year. 11. AAA Membership: In addition to offering peace of mind while driving about, a AAA membership offers countless savings such as free tire changes, free delivery of gasoline, and much more. The AAA member card can also be presented for discounts off the road, too! Numerous retailers offer up to 20% off their services, just for showing your membership card. Cost: $65 a year. 12. A Savings or Investment Account: This is a great way to help anyone looking to sock away some extra cash. For a youngster, a 529 college-savings plan is a good choice. Or, for a recent graduate, a Roth IRA can provide a jump-start on tax-free retirement savings. And for someone who is saving up for a new house or a new car, consider seeding an online savings account with low fees and a high interest rate. Cost: Up to your discretion. 13. Cooking Classes: Cooking classes or seminars can be a great way to cut your recipient's restaurant budget. Check community calendars for seminars or look to chains, such as Williams-Sonoma and Sur la Table, for a schedule of seminars. Cost: Various prices. 14. A Big-Box Store Membership: It's hard to fit a year's supply of paper towels into a gift box, but that doesn't mean you can't give it. By giving a membership to a big-box store such as Costco or Sam's Club, you'll save he recipient money on groceries, electronics, household products and office supplies year-round. Cost: Around $50 for a year's membership. 15. A Gym Membership: With the economy in the state it's in - and the New Year approaching - many gyms are offering special rates and discounts to those that sign up. Not only will you be promoting good health, you'll be paying for it. Who wouldn't want that? Cost: Various prices. We hope you enjoy giving these gifts just as much as you'd enjoy receiving them!