2020 Gifts For Ourselves and Others: How We Are Spending Our Money

By Erica and Karen

The pandemic changed our spending habits. We aren’t spending money on travel, on lovely meals in lovely restaurants, or on theatre or concerts. We aren’t spending on clothes for occasions and just being out and about. But, we are still spending. On ourselves and, especially now for the holidays, on others.

1. Gift certificates in response to the cry for survival help from the iconic Strand bookstore in NYC.

 

Photo courtesy of Karen Wagner & lustre.net

Photo courtesy of Karen Wagner & lustre.net

 

2. Renewal of Heywood Hill subscriptions, both for ourselves and for holiday gifts. Serendipity in a beautifully wrapped package.

 

“Heywood Hill”, by Herry Lawford, licensed under CC BY 2.0

Heywood Hill”, by Herry Lawford, licensed under CC BY 2.0

 

3. Jenni Kayne. Monochromatic comfortable clothes that are helping us wean ourselves from pandemic wear. Some beautiful blankets and home enhancements too.

 

Photo Courtesy of https://www.jennikayne.com

Photo Courtesy of https://www.jennikayne.com

 

4. New bedding. Need we say more. We tried one of those heavy blankets to help us sleep (or nap), but frankly it didn’t work. And it’s heavy!! We’re sticking with the Frette outlet store.

Photo Courtesy of frette.com

Photo Courtesy of frette.com

5. New tall coffee mugs from Sara Japanese Pottery on Lexington Avenue. They ship too.

 

Photo taken by Erica Baird.

Photo taken by Erica Baird.

 

6. Schwartz chocolate marshmallows. Vanilla is a favorite, s’mores is too. A tradition started by Erica’s sweets-loving Grandmother. Morsels of delight.

 

Photo Courtesy of www.facebook.com/SchwartzCandies/photos

Photo Courtesy of www.facebook.com/SchwartzCandies/photos

 

7. LLBean flannel shirts, particularly the scotch plain one. Better and softer with every wash.

 

Photo Courtesy of LLBean.com