Practical Gifts?

As we gear up for Black Friday and the kickoff to the holiday shopping season, many folks say they'll concentrate on buying more practical gifts for their family and loved ones this year in hopes of getting more bang for their buck.

Will you? What are some of your best practical gift suggestions and where to find them?

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

Comments

[Don H]

Money.

[Kitty]

One year, after a particularly frustrating season of crowded, noisy, overheated malls, rude fellow shoppers and unsuccessful searches for specific items, I declared that "next Christmas, everybody gets a bag of noodles." It's become a family joke. Now, in this economy, it might even be a welcome gift!

[Kitty]

One year, after a particularly frustrating season of crowded, noisy, overheated malls, rude fellow shoppers and unsuccessful searches for specific items, I declared that "next Christmas, everybody gets a bag of noodles." It's become a family joke. Now, in this economy, it might even be a welcome gift!

[jen]

The best practical gifts I ever received:

Tools and a Tool box (I asked for this.) I can't count how many times I used those tools to assemble furniture and fix things around the apartment. Very handy. I highly recommend this as a gift for the first-time homeowner or apartment dweller. It's something they will need, but something they don't think about right away.

A down comforter. Great for Buffalo Winters. Later, after living moving down South, I bought a new year-round one They make them in different thicknesses and warmth levels. ) I just change and launder the cover (also known as a Duvet.) It's so much easier than washing a bulky comforter.

[Mickey O'Rourke]

Don't go shopping on black friday, its way too busy. Stay home shop the week after the holidays.