Invest in holiday gifts that keep on giving

Giving a monthly gift is novel idea but not cheap.
THE WASHINGTON POST
Giving someone a plant for the holidays: Pretty lame. Giving someone a plant every month? Now you're talking. Those of-the-month clubs -- or "cult," as momma Marie referred to one repeatedly on "Everybody Loves Raymond" after being enrolled in a fruit club for her birthday -- turn an average gift into a sensation.
Cookies? Why not make January maple oatmeal raisin and June lemon butter daisies?
Hot sauce? Bone Suckin' Sauce Hiccuppin' Hot one month, Cholula the next. And monthly clubs cater to everyone: those who love wine, bacon or potato chips. (Even a T-Shirt-of-the-Month club for the clotheshorse on your list.)
Risk involved
Steven Florio, an editor at Cargo, has researched lots of monthlies for the magazine: sausage, tools, kitchen gadgets, dinner, beer. There is so much variety out there, he says, but you've gotta do a little research. Are they sending out reputable brands of sauce, meat, chips? "That's the risk of these things," he says. All you need is to have a flop showing up on your friend's doorstep for three, six or 12 months. "Great, you got me a crappy gift and it's gonna keep showing up -- thanks," jokes Florio.
Monthlies aren't cheap -- but it is the gift that keeps on giving. Just when everyone else's present is a distant memory, another goodie arrives in the mail. Because, as with any gift exchange, there is always the joyous feeling of one-upmanship. Florio likes to call friends and rib, " 'So, did you get your gift again?' It's a nice little guilt trip."