Video games, scooters, new gadgets and the hottest new toys — the holiday shopping list can go on and on and cost quite a bit of money, and choosing gifts can be very stressful and time consuming. Why not simplify your shopping by selecting a single gift that the entire family can enjoy?

Buying one gift eliminates the anxiety of trying to find exactly the right toy or the correct size and color as the perfect gift. When choosing for a group, it works well to focus on a single theme or activity that the family enjoys doing together such as camping, cycling, hiking, or the arts.

Here are some ideas to help you start thinking about what to get for the families on your holiday list this year:

* DVD rental membership. A membership to Netflix, the online DVD rental service, helps bring the joy back to movie watching and provides a gift the whole family will enjoy. Gift memberships are available in different monthly increments providing a family with free, unlimited access to a wide variety of movies for one month, two months, etc.

Netflix subscribers can choose from more than 15,000 DVD titles from over 300 genres including children and family, action and adventure, classics, comedy, documentary, drama, foreign, horror, independent, music and concert, romance and sports. There’s no waiting in line since movies are delivered to the family’s mailbox, no bickering and arguing over which movie to watch, and no late fees.

It’s easy to use: families choose the DVDs they want at www.netflix.com. Their first three selections are mailed to them first-class and usually arrive within three days. Since there are no due dates or late fees with Netflix, families can hold on to their three movies as long as they want. When they are ready to return them, new movies are automatically sent to them once the movies have been received. By having three DVDs out at one time, mom, dad and the kids will be happy.

* Traditional game sets. Bring back the nostalgia of family board game tournaments. Old favorites like Monopoly, checkers, Pictionary, Parcheesi and Trivial Pursuit board games are an entertaining way for the whole family to interact together. Or give a twist on a tried and true standard — many board games are offered in new versions, like Monopoly’s Disney edition, or the Trivial Pursuit 20th Anniversary edition.

* Comfort food basket. Make your own gift baskets that include special foods for a family feast. You may want to do a breakfast theme with bottles of pure maple syrup, pancake mix and fruit; or a movie night theme with assorted popcorn flavors, malted milk balls, jujubes and M&M’s. Even wow them with your own homemade treats. A simple selection of holiday treats will be a surefire hit with the whole family.

* Hire a genealogist or historian to research the family’s genealogy or write the family’s history. Present it to them in a special book you design yourself.

* Collect as many favorite recipes as possible from family members. Format, copy and bind to create a one-of-a-kind family cookbook

* Need to shop for an active family that enjoys the outdoors or the arts? Give tickets to a sporting event, concert or theatrical performance that would interest the whole family. Shows like Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and the Lion King often make seasonal appearances in larger cities around the holidays.

A family gift will not only cut down on your shopping list, it will also be a great excuse for everyone to spend time together. And isn’t that what the holidays are all about?

The holidays are the time of year to share your love and appreciation to the most important people in your life. For many, that includes those people who provide support and services throughout the year. From your favorite babysitter, housekeeper or the hair stylist who always gets your cut just the way you like it, a tip – enclosed in an envelope with a handwritten note – is sure to be appreciated.

But how do you know how much to tip?

Holiday tips will vary according to your means, the city in which you live and the type of relationship that you have with the person being tipped. That being said, here are some general guidelines for a few of the outstanding individuals who might be on your list:

* Newspaper person: $15-$25 for daily, $5-$15 for weekend
* Doorman: $25-$100
* Building Custodian: $20-$30
* Building Superintendent: $30-$100 depending on building
* Housekeeper: A week’s pay or more
* Babysitter: Two nights pay, or a small gift
* Hair stylist: The cost of a session, plus a small gift
* Personal Trainer: $50
* Parking Attendants: A half-month’s garage rate divided among attendants; or $10-$20 per person

If giving cash doesn’t feel quite right, is too formal, or policy prohibits it, why not give a small gift? Of course, the challenge of finding a gift for someone you might just know professionally or see only occasionally is you might not know what one item they would appreciate most.

Gift certificates are a versatile and personal way to show your thanks. And while the USPS does have a policy against monetary gifts to postal carriers, nobody said that you can’t put a gift certificate in the mailbox. But how do you decide from which store to buy their certificate?

Imagine giving a gift certificate where your recipient can choose the store! GiftCertificates.com offers a SuperCertificate® that lets the person receiving your gift pick from over 200 top stores, restaurants, spas, jewelers and more. It’s the gift that’s always appreciated because it also gives the gift of choice.

Other people who might enjoy a SuperCertificate® include:

* Teachers
* School Crossing Guard
* Mail carrier (USPS Policy: “Cash equivalent can’t exceed $20″)
* Co-workers
* Your Administrative Assistant

By giving the gift of choice, you can make the holidays shine bright for someone special with your goodwill. Those who work so hard all year to make you smile are sure to appreciate and remember your generosity.