Today officially begins the Christmas shopping season. While gifts are not essential to celebrating Christmas, I love to give (and receive) them. Here are some basic hints to aid your gift-giving endeavors:

 believe in having a personal philosophy of gift-giving.  Even if you work from suggestion lists created by the recipients, you should have some standards — in addition to price –for choosing from among the options.

As we draw ever closer to the Christmas shopping season (full disclosure: I finished my shopping last weekend), it's worth taking some time to think about your gift-giving philosophy.  To help you along, here's mine:

• The ideal gift is something that someone truly wants (whether he knows it or not) that he would never dream of buying for himself. (Maybe he's always wanted to be a better cook, so a gift certificate for a gourmet coloking class would fit nicely into his stocking.)
• A gift should always match the taste of the recipient, not the giver (If she only ever wears stud earrings, getting her giant hoops with feathers is not your best choice). 
• Gifts should be useful but not utilitarian (unless specifically requested). There have been years when I asked for dish towels and a mixer, but don't assume I want them.
• A gift should speak to the person the recipient wants to be. A friend of mine just learned to drive at age 40. My Christmas gift will be an EZ-Pass transponder to facilitate his travel.
• Gifts are not tools for changing what you don't like about someone. (Ix-nay on the diet books and gym memberships — once again, unless specifically requested.)
• Consider giving an experience rather than a thing. Easy to wrap and you don't have to dust. Plus, it keeps local folks employed.

Above all, there's no need to go off to buy the next big thing or to spend heaps of money so that you can say you did. It really is the thought that counts.