It’s that time of year when holiday gift lists are growing and gift suggestions are crowding your inbox. In many ways, with rising costs this year, many of us are scaling back our giving (and likely our receiving) so what you buy (or receive) may carry more importance than in previous years. When it comes to giving, be careful what you buy. Experts warn that there are several mistakes you can make as a gift-giver: For example, too often you may hope to “wow” your recipient, rather than provide a useful and reliable gift; or you may be in search of the perfect product when your recipient would rather have an experience instead. And what you give may also be as much a reflection of you and your perspective as a response to what would be ideal for the recipient. With estimates that the average gift giver will be spending about $900 this holiday season, every one of those dollars needs to be wisely spent.

So what should you give your older loved ones? There are lots of websites with an array of recommendations, most of them featuring price-sensitive, practical, and yet pampering gifts. For some choice selections, take a look at the ideas put out there by such sites as Daily Caring (here and here), Better Health While Aging, Katie Couric, and CNN. CBS News also put forth holiday gift ideas for seniors and the Blue Zones website (which supports healthy living for longer years) has a list of 7 Do-It-Yourself gift ideas that are creative and unique. For that older woman in your life (or even for yourself), check out the special items recommended by Yahoo and New Beauty. Finally, for some extravagant splurges (or fantasy hopes), take a look at the unusual gift recommendations from New York Magazine’s The Strategist.

And what about agebuzz recommendations? In support of our recommendations that you exercise, eat right, and keep your mind engaged in order to promote healthier aging, here are a few of our favorite things:

Strength training:

• • • Dumbbells

• • • Resistance bands

Walking aids:

• • • Nordic Walking Poles

• • • Crampons

• • • Water Bottles

Brain Games:

• • • Crossword Puzzles

• • • Games, Puzzles, and Challenges

Balance Exercises (for free on your Kindle!):

• • • Balance Exercises for fall prevention

• • • 5-Minute Balance Exercises for Seniors

Healthy Eating:

• • • Nut gift basket

• • • Dried fruit platter

• • • Wild Sockeye Salmon