When my husband and I were first married, we did a lot of Christmas gifting. His children lived in Seattle. His family lived in California and Arizona. My family lived in Colorado and Pennsylvania. Our haul in December consisted of eleven boxes. UPS loved us! Forty-five years later, how I give long-distance gifts has changed. My stepchildren have spread out to Alaska, Tennessee, Arizona, and California. My brother is a grandfather and my husband’s niece and nephew have growing children. But I am not stressed. Here are a few tips for keeping long-distance gift-giving from getting out of hand and ideas for long-distance gifts that will please everyone!

Take the Stress Out of Shipping Gifts

• Understand and accept the economy. Times change, so do prices, as in up! Do not expect to be able to afford to gift as you did 20 years ago. Do not feel guilty at not being able to afford gifts you would like to give. Employ other methods of showing your love at holiday time.
• Know your physical shopping limitations. We used to dash all over the malls picking out both fun and practical gifts. Dashing may not be in your vocabulary anymore. Consider online shopping as a great alternative.
• Embrace Technology. Understand the effect technology has not only on gift-giving but on gift sending. If you shop online you can often have gifts wrapped and sent right to their house!
• Try Pick-up Services. Everyone knows the post office is a nightmare during the holidays. But did you know the United States Postal Service now offers pick-up service? Visit USPS.com to see if your area is eligible then schedule a pick-up time and avoid the post office all together!

Long Distance Gift Ideas

Seasonal Food Baskets

Classic Hearthside Gift Basket, $159.99

There’s plenty to go around in this basket laden with sweet and savory gourmet delights. In addition to juicy Royal Riviera® Pears from our orchards, there are goodies from our bakery such as a delectable mini chocolate decadence cake, indulgent cinnamon swirl, and walnut chocolate chunk cookies. From our candy kitchen come milk chocolate Moose Munch® Premium Popcorn and sweet chocolate-covered cherries. We’ve balanced these sweet selections with savory pepper and onion relish, Italia Milano dry salami, and white cheddar cheese. There are lots more irresistible snacks packed into a handsome basket topped with a hand-tied bow.

Snacks To Share, $48

A little sweet, a little savory, and a whole lot to share! Brimming with ready to eat nibbles for everyone to enjoy, petite includes white chocolate gummy bears, trail mix, rocky road popcorn, rustic crackers, and hummus.

Cozy Plaid Merry Christmas 5 Box Gift Tower & 2 Gallon Popcorn Tin, $99.99

This gift is brimming with Christmas wishes. Filled with nine gourmet Popcorn Flavors: Butter, Cheese, Caramel, Cornfusion™, Ranch, Cinnamon Sugar, Cranberry Kettle, Chocolate, and Holiday Cookie Dough – each individually wrapped.

Premier Happy Holidays Gift Tin – Frosted Assortment, $49.99

Holiday frosted cookie assortment delivered in this sparkling gift tin! Included are individually wrapped Holiday cut-outs and 10 different frosted flavors like: gingerbread, mint chocolate, butter pecan, buttercream chip, chocolate peppermint, devil’s food, hazelnut, peanut butter frosted buckeye and the NEW frosted chocolate cherry cookies.

Gift Cards

Amazon.com Gift Card in a Premium Holiday Gift Box (Various Designs), $50

Amazon.com Gift Cards are the perfect way to give them exactly what they’re hoping for – even if you don’t know what it is. Amazon.com Gift Cards are redeemable for millions of items across Amazon.com. Item delivered is a single physical Amazon.com Gift Card nested inside or with a free gift accessory.

American Express $100 Gift Card, $105.44

Merry Christmas Ornaments Target Gift Card, Custom Value

Lowe’s Giftcard, Custom Value

Subscription Boxes

Yum Yum Box, $22.92 / Box, 12 Month Subscription

12+ unique snacks in every box & 16 page guidebook with trivia & games. Free shipping in the continental US Cancel anytime with no hassle!

A Box Full of Sunshine, $75

Why Must Have? Voted Best Women’s Lifestyle Box and Best Splurge Worthy Box by My Subscription Addiction and Winner of the Best Women’s Box at the 2017 Subta Cube Awards.

12 Nights of Wine, $129

The world’s first wine advent calendar is back! Countdown to the holidays with 12 glasses of world class wines, perfectly paired with a socially distanced holiday season.

MEL Kids Science Box, $34.90

Everything you need! Our kits include all the necessary components and instructions to complete a successful project.

Book Of the Month Box, $49.99, for 3 months

Choose from the five best new reads every month and get them delivered.

Fun Gifts

Long Distance Friendship Lamp, $99

Light up loved ones’ lives—across town or across the world—with these in-sync lamps.

Lovebox Spinning Heart Messenger, $100

Send heartfelt messages anywhere in the world with this kinetic, modern take on the classic love note.

A Year of Connection, $30

52 cards and envelopes for writing weekly to someone dear, and a journal to record the yearlong process.

Long-Distance Relationship Gift Map, $58.00+

Personalized map print with any two worldwide locations and customized initials or text. A unique gift for boyfriend, girlfriend gift, long-distance relationships, going away gift, friendship, and more. 

One of the most important gifts you can give is yourself. Share a holiday letter telling the news of your family. When you share your life they know that they matter, that you want them to know how you are doing. Share your life, share your love. Enjoy the holidays!

>READ: 10 GIFTS FOR TEENAGERS (THAT THEY’LL ACTUALLY LOVE!)

>READ: STAYING CONNECTED WITH YOUR LONG DISTANCE KIDS

Don’t get stressed shopping for everyone on your list! Check out our gift guides for Prime Women-approved recommendations and save yourself the time and energy! We’ll be updating this page with new gift guides twice each week, so check back often!