5 last-minute holiday gift ideas for boomers
For those of you who haven't finished shopping for that boomer spouse, relative, or friend, you're probably starting to sweat. At this point, you'll be facing last-minute crowds or paying humongous amounts for rush shipping.
Relax - and try some of the ideas on this list. Not only will they help ease your stress level, they'll help your recipient live long and prosper. You can shop for many of these online and then prepare your own gift coupon. Voila! No shopping crowds, no long lines, and no traffic.
Gift idea #1: Class at a local community college or center. Has your loved one ever mentioned wanting to master a new skill? Learning a foreign language or musical instrument has been shown to enhance your brain health. Or create a gift coupon for a class on a hobby or special interest that your favorite person has always wanted to take - learning new things will sharpen their brain.
Gift idea #2: Tickets to a concert or play, then go as a group. At this stage in life, people may value experiences over stuff, and strengthening social contacts improves both your emotional and physical health as you age.
Gift idea #3: Ballroom dance lessons. Dancing has also been shown to improve the odds of staving off Alzheimer's and dementia.
Gift idea #4: Coupon for a massage. Regular massages are a great way to stay healthy and relaxed. Better yet, be the giver of the massage. Here's a way to spark your romantic life, which in turn helps your health and longevity. Being part of a happy couple improves your health and longevity, so this gift can indeed be win-win.
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Gift idea #5: Borrow the iPad or Kindle and load it with some new reading material. If your favorite person owns one of these digital reading devices, sneak away with it for a few hours and purchase one of the many books that show them how to live a long, prosperous life. But make sure you pay for the book - if you're not careful, the charges might go to their account.
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Bonus idea: Reach out and call someone you haven't connected with for awhile. Better yet, Skype with them if you want a face-to-face chat. For many people who live alone, the time spent together is priceless, and it won't cost you much at all.
Have a great holiday season, and best wishes for 2012!
Steve Vernon
View all articles by Steve Vernon on CBS MoneyWatch»
Steve Vernon helped large employers design and manage their retirement programs for more than 35 years as a consulting actuary. Now he's a research scholar for the Stanford Center on Longevity, where he helps collect, direct and disseminate research that will improve the financial security of seniors. He's also president of Rest-of-Life Communications, delivers retirement planning workshops
and authored Retirement Game-Changers: Strategies for a Healthy, Financially Secure and Fulfilling Long Life and Money for Life: Turn Your IRA and 401(k) Into a Lifetime Retirement Paycheck.
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