| There are some things that come at a very high | | | | bunch, love the trappings of Christmas more than |
| price: personal loss; bereavement; divorce; financial | | | | any other generation. We invented the tackiest |
| hardship. We can do nothing about many of the | | | | Christmas decorations ever! |
| worries our friends and family are struggling to | | | | For people who are having a hard time this year, |
| cope with this Christmas. Or can we? | | | | the silent and unwrapped gift is the best option. |
| Psychological articles that teach us about pride tell | | | | Psychological articles observe that a favor or |
| us that paying our Grandmother’s heating bill | | | | kindness to a friend can create positive emotions |
| is a kindness but it can also lead to her | | | | for both the giver and the receiver. Taking a |
| experiencing a loss of dignity and distress at | | | | friend with financial problems out to lunch is |
| having to resort to a ‘hand out’ to help | | | | thoughtful but not always appropriate – the |
| her out of trouble. Baby boomers with a genuine | | | | friend might feel ‘compromised’ if they |
| desire to help might also run into difficulties when | | | | cannot reciprocate – but going on a forest |
| trying to alleviate suffering for someone else. | | | | hunt for pine cones to make a home made |
| There is a long list of opportunities for those | | | | Christmas wreath will produce the same warm |
| discreet and silent gifts that are never gift | | | | companionship and not embarrass anyone. |
| wrapped and never mentioned before other | | | | Especially if it is followed by a guilty sharing of hot |
| people. Paying the car insurance; fixing the roof; | | | | chocolate topped with marshmallows! |
| paying the school fees; helping to make home | | | | It is always better to adopt some tact and |
| made gifts for a friend who cannot afford to buy | | | | diplomacy when dealing with elderly people who |
| any this year; driving an elderly friend to the | | | | need help at this time of year. Financial help is an |
| shops so they can do their own shopping; baby | | | | especially touchy area and baby boomers feeling a |
| sitting for a pal so she can spend a rare evening | | | | cash gift is the only sensible option should be as |
| out on a Christmas treat with her husband. | | | | casual as possible and do not make it a big |
| These things are never gift wrapped yet always | | | | production – the more fuss made, the worse |
| appreciated so much more than the standard box | | | | the person will feel. |
| of chocolates or a bottle of perfume. They | | | | Try presenting cash gifts in a festive card – |
| might be unorthodox gifts but they are | | | | baby boomers are resourceful enough to know |
| sometimes more appreciated as they produce | | | | how to make a money gift acceptable for people |
| that warmth of feeling we all love. Baby | | | | who need the financial help more than another |
| boomers adore Christmas and being a social | | | | Christmas gadget. |