Christmas in recession

Have you stopped lately to realize that not a whole lot is being said about that big recession we were apparently all going through? It’s been a while since I’ve heard the media pump out another story about our deficit, or how to save our economy and as a result, people are drifting back to into happy naivety. Can I say for sure if we’re still in recession? Of course not, I’m not an economist. But I can tell you that myself, and many people I know are jobless and having a very hard time finding employment. Sure, it’s always difficult to find an entry-level job in the field you want to get into, but I’m talking about your basic, seasonal, run-of-the-mill retail jobs.

Is it something about my resumé? Doesn’t seem like it, seeing as the three out of 50 organizations I apply to that DO get back to me are just like any of the others. For instance, I got an interview at Chapters, went in, NAILED the interview, answered all of the questions well…didn’t get a call back.

Anyway, whether the recession is or isn’t still going on, I know I’m not the only one with a shortage of green this year so here’s a few ideas for some inexpensive gifts:

• Chocolate is always appreciated, and not too expensive if you don’t go nuts with it.
• Find some old picture frames and then go grab a few digital prints of your friends’ favourite photos (very inexpensive). Or you can take that one even further and make a scrapbook.
• For any writer’s or musicians out there, you can never go wrong by writing a poem or a song for a loved one.
• Burn them some mix CDs or even some DVDs with there favourite movies, shows, stand-up or video games, but design the CD like a real CD and put together some cover art customized for the person you’re giving it to.
• Be creative! Sometimes the gifts you make are better than the ones you buy, if you put enough thought into them.