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Sentimental Gifts Top Gift List

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By LAURA CONE

The Sun

Published: December 17, 2008

Barbara Cominoli found several ways to cut back on spending for the holidays during the recession. She scaled back her Christmas card list to save money on stamps.

"I have unlimited calls so I make 30 to 40 Christmas calls," she said. "People are so happy when I call rather than just send them a card."

When it came to gift shopping, Cominoli said she spent more time this year coming up with creative gifts.

Cominoli of Sun City Center plans to give her son Anthony, 37, his deceased father's identification bracelet she recently discovered. She went to Boggs Jewelry, 4848 Sun City Center Blvd. to have Anthony's name engraved under John A. Cominoli's name.

"I'm so excited when I found the bracelet this past week that belonged to my deceased husband," she said. "I think my son will love it. I was trying to think of what I could get my son that did not cost so much money."

She said the cost of having the bracelet refurbished and engraved was about half of what she would typically spend on a gift.

"It was a more sentimental gift," Cominoli said. "I put more thought into it this year."

Mary and Bill Watson of Sun City Center said being on a fixed income has helped them cope with the recession.

While many experts warn against giving gift cards this year because companies such as Linens and Things and Circuit City have gone under, cash gifts are generally appreciated.

"We write checks mainly because everyone lives out of town," Bill Watson said.

While they sometimes shop on line, Mary Watson said they like to frequent shops in Sun City Center such as Boggs Jewelry.
Boggs sells diamonds, chains, rings, watches and clocks as well as offers repair services.

Jan Falcione, a volunteer who runs the Mary and Martha House thrift shop in Ruskin, said the recession has meant more business.

"I have to tell you the sad part is the worse the economy gets the better we are doing," Falcione said. "We are also very pleasantly surprised people are still so generous given the state of the economy. We are a very small staff so everything goes to our mission."

She said their mission is to support women and children in crisis including families who have had hard times due to the economy.

They carry new and gently used clothing, housewares and furniture as well as toys for people shopping for grandchildren and great grandchildren.

For more information on Mary and Martha House Inc., call (813) 645-7874.

Editor Laura Cone may be reached at lcone@mediageneral.com.

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