What's WYT Shopping?

Too busy to gift shop during the year and toodinner.
overwhelmed at Christmas? WYT shopping is forWhen you drop donations at the thrift store, look
you! WYT stands for While You're There. It's basedaround. Another person's give-away can be your
on the premise you can buy presents anywhere.give-to. It's the perfect place to find collectibles - like
When you go to the gym, buy a one-monthsouvenir plates for Cousin Walter, who doesn't travel
membership for a friend. Misery loves company.farther than the Travel Channel.
While you're at the supermarket, check the specialtyWhen you vacation, buy local crafts. If you visit
aisle. Cheese stuffed olives for martinis, truffle oil formuseums, visit the gift shops. Posters and books
gourmet cooking, macadamias for memories ofmake special presents for arty friends. A box of
Hawaii - food is a great present because it doesn'tblank cards makes a special present for anyone. It's
need dusting.much less expensive than Hallmark and says you
You've had to make another trip to buy a gift card -cared enough to send the very best - of Matisse,
give someone the gift of not having to make thesePicasso or Warhol.
guilt trips. While you're at the stationery store, buyWhen you're making prints of your vacation pictures,
an alphabetized file. Put a couple of anniversary cardsbuy a frame. Grandparents can never have too many
in the "A" section, birthday cards in the "B" section,pictures of the children they let eat cookies before
get well cards in the "G" section and so on. It's thedinner.
gift that keeps on giving - peace of mind.However, to get the full benefit from WYT shopping,
When you're at the nursery buying plants to replacealways ask for a box for your purchase. When you
ones you've over watered, buy a trowel or pruningget home, wrap it and label it.
shears. Combined with a gift certificate for aYes, this means using Christmas gift wrap year-round.
manicure, it's a gift for someone with a greenerIt also means when others are crazed by holiday
thumb than yours.shopping, you can join me at the mall, where I sit at
The next time you're having dinner out, buy a gifta cafe and scan the crowds for the ghost of my
certificate and give the gift of not having to cookChristmas past.