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Last Minute Gifts to Say Thanks

We are full swing into the Holiday season, and Christmas is quickly approaching. I live in a mid-sized rural town which is a fairly ideal setting for celebrating Christmas! People are nice; they signal you to let you make a left-hand turn in front of them while they wait. They exchange carts in the parking lot at the grocery store. We watch out for each other’s homes. But I also travel throughout the country on business. I interact with thousands of people throughout the year that I will never cross paths with again. Regardless of where we interact, this is the perfect time of year to share Last Minute Gifts to say Thank You!

A Small Gesture to Say Thank You!

At this time of year, I like to share a small gesture to those around me. The people who make life just a little better, simply because of the interactions we share throughout this hectic month. You can do so as well, with a stash of Last Minute Gifts to say Thank You, ready for giving at every opportunity

Whether traveling across the country or in my small community, I take a moment to notice those who are so helpful, cheerful, and who go the extra mile to make my life better. Of course, I try to be a person who goes out of my way to brighten the days of others as well. For years I have carried a few mini gifts to give to those who make my day great. The gift has varied from year to year, depending on the availability of time to make handmade goodies, or the need to purchase quick goodies on the go. Below are perfectly easy Last Minute Gifts to Say Thank You!

30 minutes of baking, creates an easy Thank You!

A few of the ways I use Last Minute Gifts to say Thank You!

• The Postal Worker-

Postal workers make our lives so much easier. They bring our mail, take our mail, and deliver the loads of boxes that we all order from Amazon. In addition, they also will bring stamps to your mailbox so you don’t have to go to the post office, and are great at noticing what is going on in neighborhoods while we are away at work and travel. For years I have placed a bag of candies in the mailbox the week of Christmas. I am not super crafty, so there is never a cool tag with a poem on it, but usually, I post a too/from, that lets them know we appreciate their work.

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• The Trash Worker, Propane Delivery Person, and the Landscaper.

I usually leave a bag of candies where I know they will find it; on the trash can (in a bag), on the propane tank, and where the tools are stored. It is a small something to say, but it matters. You could also do this with a Dog Walker, Housesitter, Babysitter, Pest Control, or really any other service person that comes to your home.

Bread for the neighbors, candy for the post lady and garbage men.

• Your neighbors-

Around 30% of people in the U.S. report that they have no interaction with their neighbors. Only 20% report that they have regular interactions with their neighbors. I must admit that I have not spent enough time getting to know my neighbors. In the busy life of work, travel, and children, I seem to have let this area slide. But this year, I am going back to my old ways, and am baking bread to give to each neighbor with a Christmas Card and our address.

For those neighbors that I don’t know, I will leave the cards blank. But I will write a little personal note to each calling out how they improve our neighborhood. For instance, there is the neighbor on the corner who puts bows around her property that fit the color of every holiday. The two neighbors at the end of the street have matching Christmas lights draped around their fences. It is a beautiful greeting each night in December as I turn on to our street. There is the neighbor that comes over onto our driveway at least twice a month to blow pine needles and leaves off the driveway. He does not ask for anything in return and always gives a friendly wave. Most of my neighbors brighten my day by giving a slow wave whenever I drive by. That brightens my day.

Last Minute Gifts to Say Thanks

• Finally, the school teachers of my children-

Teachers have to face a myriad of challenges on a daily basis. Have a huge number of metrics to keep up on. Curriculum changes. Small Budgets. Need I say more? When all is said and done, teachers need to know how much we appreciate them taking care of our children, and teaching them so that they can grow into useful adults. Most teachers receive gifts, but fewer than they did years ago. I am opting to purchase small gift cards for my children’s teachers this year. I assume that they have sufficient “Best Teacher” Mugs, and might not want a plethora of candy and sweets. Movie Gift Cards are a great way to give teachers a break during the holiday break.

Last minute Gifts on the Road!

• Hotel personnel, Flight Attendants & Gate agents, Baristas, Fast Food workers, and Wait Staff-

For years I have carried a few boxes of Candy or Mixed nuts with me as I travel throughout the holiday season. When a service person goes above and beyond, I simply gift them. Basically, they have brightened my way, and I wanted to let them know in a tangible way. I also sometimes give a random box of chocolates or nuts to a service person that is tired, cranky, stressed, and rude. This is a little more difficult than to the great service professionals, but typically, it changes their attitude in a minute. They can’t believe someone thought of them, and as I step back from the situation, I notice the next patron receives much better customer service. That is worth the effort on my part.

Last Minute Gifts to Say Thanks

Regardless of whether you give the gifts above, or come up with other great ideas, give something. People need to be reminded that we care about whether they are here or not, whether we interacted today, and that we noticed what they are doing. Basically, that they are valuable.

Remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, and subscribe to this blog to receive additional ideas on how to give your time, talents, and money to make the world a better place. And to read about our Family’s Christmas Traditions, read this post.

What are your best ideas for Last Minute Gifts to say Thank You?