Gave $25 GCs to Target and a $5 loaf of cinnamon bread from a local baker to all electricians, plumbers, cabinet workers, carpenters, and perm employees of my contractor. It ended up being about 15 people. I also give a bday gift to my two head contractors who each get a $200 bday gift and at the end of the project, a $2,000 gift of some sort. Last house I gave a GC to the Four Seasons Hotels for $2,000. This is our third or fourth house together and they work HARD for me--including not saying one word when I move an outlet or ask for the heater vent to be moved to another location. To be honest I find it a bit embarrassing that I don't give the workers more--they really go out of their way every day to make me happy. But I remember their names, greet everyone with respect and try never to talk in a demanding way, and they know that I appreciate their time and talent. If I had the budget I would give each of them $100, but I don't have that in my ability. My token gift and my everyday respect is all I can offer and I hope that it will be well received. It is given with sincerity and all of the most respectful, appreciation and intent. I always build these gifts into my total budget, so that I have enough to do this.

Justgottabe, the ornaments are wonderful. They would be simply beautiful on their own, but the meaning behind them makes them extraordinary. Priceless treasures. I don't have a lot of the ornaments my mom, grandmother and to some degree my sister and I made when I was young, and the beaded felt tree skirts haven't held up as well, but I treasure what we do have. I am still knitting -- might still be knitting after Christmas, but as long as I have these hats done beofre the boys go back to school, I will be satisfied and I know the boys will be fine with that. They got the matching scarves last year and know these are coming (I can't bring myself to pull out wool and start knitting when it's over 85 degrees outside -- and that wasn't that long ago). I did make a pair of baby alpaca cowls and make do some mitts to go with one. Started a crocheted hat too. We have all the kitchen goodies packed up and will mail 3 packages this weekend or Monday and then distribute the rest next week. Made 16 tins of peanut brittle on top of the ther goodies and will make stroopwaffels Sunday or Monday (have to wait for a front to pass through and the weather to improve for the caramel to behave). Jen -- ETA that I think your scarves look great and they will love them. The yarn for the guy is a great choice. I know what a hard time I had finding something I liked for my sons.

Sounds like the concensus is basically pay but verify (any other boomers get this reference?). I have a wonderful housekeeper to whom I always pay double for the visit closest to the holiday, as well as a small gift. She's a very hard working single parent and her daughter has helped out with some of our bigger cleaning jobs, so I generally send along a little gift card for daughter as well. Generally speaking I've always felt that for service providers you interact with regularly the standard should be pay them the same amount you do for whatever it is they provide. I feel that's fair and is the best way to express your appreciation. I've really left behind the concept of thoughtful gifts for business contacts-just show em the money! For a new person I agree-talk to her specifically about what you feel wasn't done to your expectation. It's important to set the tone of 'fair but firm' as a manager once said to me. Love that phrase!

I would not give a food gift to someone who sells food - either you buy the food from him (and then are giving him something he already has) or you buy it from one of his competitors, and that might be offensive. If someone gave me a Starbucks gift card, I would regift it. If you live in a small village there might not even be a Starbucks where you live. In fact, I regift all gift cards that I receive. Personally, I think that cash is the best gift in this case, as it will be the most useful gift. You can put it in a very nice card and hand write a personal note to tell him how much you appreciate him. If I were the store owner, this would mean to most to me. I see this as somewhat like giving a tip, as you might to your pool maintenance person or house cleaner.