[jeanleona]

I have had a ball lately.

Many of my neighbors are elderly and can not get out to shop.

I take an assortment of stockpile items to their house and let them "shop" for Christmas presents. Presents that they will give to family, friends and caregivers.

They all know what a bargain shopper I am.


Even though I don't want to have them pay anything for the items I can tell that they feel better actually BUYING the gifts.

Many of the items were free so I let them pay the tax.

It seems to allow them the fun of actually shopping for their gifts.

I ask them beforehand who they might like to shop for and try to bring over items to match.

It really has been fun,

Today one wonderfull neighbor picked out items for 6 gift baskets.

They are full of lotion, nail polish,candy, Glade candles, bodywash...

I don't think any basket "costs" more than $3.00

I have had so much fun doing this.

My parents died recently and this has been such a good way to get me through Christmas.

I probably am benefitting much more than them.

Other neigbors want to get in on the action next year.They want to be part of the bargain shopping and "personal shopper" service.

I don'y have any kids but I think it could be fun to include kids as well.

Thanks for reading my long post.

[Aprilmar10]

great idea!

[abmitch01]

that is a great idea

[luvumom]

That is so nice of you!! Good idea.

[jackireno]

You are a special person. What a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer. This is what xmas is really all about!

[CouponMouse]

Great idea! What a wonderful way to help people on fixed incomes.

[twinners]

What a great idea! Such a nice thing to do!

[dmyersquin]

Sounds like our house. My neighbor told me some razor gift sets she bought at Target full-price and I told her that were marked down now and I could buy them with a coupon. So I took back her 2 sets and was able to buy 4 sets. Now she has been coming over to buy little things for people.
My mom took my daughters to an assisted living facility on Friday to pass out Christmas cards. I decided to bring enough "gifts" that each person could pick out something. So, I was shopping for 88 people. Amazing how many things you can get free or cheap. It was a big hit.
I also always look for things we can send to a family in Germany. They use the coupons then share the goodies with the soldiers.
Keep up the good work.

[ctsunshine]

That's such a great idea!!!

CTSunshine

[honeybabysaunt]

I love your Christmas spirit!

[dchamberssc]

What a great idea! I am single again, and my adult son has begged me to quit sending him razors and deodorants! So I have been filling carry on bags that I got for cheap and giving them to some less fortunate. I don't need all this stuff, but find the bargain hunting a sort of hobby, and have had lots of fun giving out bags of goodies to people I know on smaller incomes. I'm amazed at how many bargain shoppers on this site are so giving, and it definitely inspired me. So thanks to you all, and Merry Christmas

[xmaspickle]

what a wonderful way to honor your parents...my parents are both gone also and I try to do things I know they enjoyed in their older years...what a blessing that your hobby & shopping skill gets to trickle down to people who can no longer go out for themselves..and just like you found..it does you as much good..with no parents & no kids you have found a way to look forward to christmas...

another idea with the nail polish..my son is a scout and one year (not around the holidays) another scout needed service hours and decided to bake cookies, bring games & cards to a rest home/senior center and just give the people time..time to talk, read together, play games, whatever..I was an asst. scoutmaster and couldn't think of much I could do..but I gathered my manicure stuff, some smelly lotions, nail polish remover, files, etc...and just put in a basket..I set myself up a space on one of their dining tables and asked ladies in wheel chairs if they would like their nails polished...boy, did I set off a chain reaction..I just massaged their hands with lotion, cleaned off the lotion and any polish, painted the color of their choice..I mean really easy stuff...and they cried, talked my ear off, showed off their hands to each other, etc..apparently sometimes a real manicurist will come in and do nails..but it costs $$ and just like everyone else some can't afford it or be able to pay as often as they liked...one woman had lost 2 friends in the last couple of days and had spent the day crying in her room..when she heard there were nice boys stopping by she came out of her room...she was giving me lots of hugs before I left...so simple for us able bodied..so huge for them

so truly you are ministering in such a meaningful way...may all of us find a small action to touch a life somehow...it gives us our hearts double back...

may you be truly blessed this year...

[Devins mom]

I think that is wonderful.

[newbie2008]

What a great idea! I love shopping; window or otherwise... and I could do something like this... no problem! Wonderful of you to help make their holidays a bit brighter! It's a true win-win situation all the way around! Merry Christmas!

[dmyersquin]

This is what I am doing too, the nail polish thing. I have been able to buy lots of nail polishes free while they are on clearance, using coupons, etc. My daughter is almost 9 and quite the manicurist. We visit at assisted living places and see who wants their nails done. I told her to offer the person the bottle of polish to keep so they can do touch ups later.
Keep up the good work, Diana

[Kate94651]

What a great idea!

[Jenn'sCup]

Great idea and so thoughtful of you to help them out.

[GrannyGodley]

Oh, I am so glad you folks are doing these kind acts for the seniors. My mother lived in an Assisted Living facility for nearly 6 years. And yes, they do love to have people come by and sing with them, preach at them, visit and/or play games with them. They love to have their nails done. Many of them don't have soap for their baths when the caregivers go to assist with their baths. They don't have family providing as they should. Assisted living doesn't provide the soaps, shampoos, lotions, etc. Family has to. So when you can give out of your stockpile, it is so great. Also, the idea of letting them pick out items to give others is WONDERFUL!!!!

At the facility Mom lived in, they were given "money" as winnings from playing Bingo. They would save their "money" and once a month they had an auction. They could buy soap, kleenex, etc. They really had some heated auctions. I kept Mom very well supplied, but she was always so proud when she was able to "buy" something at the auction. It sort of gives them a bit of fun as well as a sense of dignity. At this stage of their life, they need all the fun and dignity we can provide.

[HappyGal]

that is wonderful...i bet they all talk about how you made their day

[lob24]

You are wonderful!

[rachellynn]

This is wonderful

Another great thing to do is donate prizes for Bingo. Sometimes I bring a big bag of goodies and donate them for Bingo prizes at the assisted living home I work part time at. They normally only get tiny things like a fun size candy bar.. They were so excited when I brought in 20 boxes of Turtles for bingo the other day. I also brought in a lot of the Sure deodorant when I went and they loved that

[tootsie roll]

Wow! Many of you have been so helpful to the seniors in your communities!

My 82-year old grandmother lives with my parents, and regularly visits the area senior center for bingo, dinners, and other activities. My parents often load up her car with lots of P & G goodies from their basement (my dad has worked for P & G for over 35 years and has accumulated lots of full-sized products to be used as samples). Some of the items are a year or two old, but still work just as fine. She once brought in a trunkload of Downy, and she said that her friends at the senior center were thrilled - since many of them are on a fixed income, Downy is a luxury.

It really is the small things that make the biggest difference

[mskayjay]

I absolutely love reading posts like this, especially on days when folks are in an uproar over sale items not being in, hassles in stores, grumpy clerks or fellow shoppers...... I stockpile in a very very small way.....2 or 3 of things on sale and give them to a women's shelter. I love knowing it is going to someone who really appreciates it.

So glad you think of these oft forgotten members of our communities. Merry Christmas!

[nmacias05]

What a wonderful thing to do!

[nikiz]

What a wonderful Christmas thread, it brings tears to my eyes. Now that I've started stockpiling, I will have to do this at our local Senior center, I did not think of it before, and really didn't realize how much of a need there was out there for seniors. Thanks to all who shared their stories, and inspired another person to help out. Happy Holidays!