Buying presents is a living hell for most people and if you're fed up of crawling around shopping centres searching for the elusive gift that will not only make the recipient think you've spent a fortune (when infact you've only shelled out £3.99 for a cracked plate in the bargain bin) but that will also make up for all the times you've messed up this year, then why not consider something that will give you much more kudos for a lot less hassle?

Personalised vouchers are exactly what they sound: hand made (or by computer if that's where your talents lie!) they give the recipient something that they really want, be it a week's worth of ironing done for them, the right to 10 hugs at the moment of their choosing or, for the more financially inclined, a tenner to spend how and where they like.

The only equiptment that you need is:
* paper or card for the voucher
* pen, pencils or a computer for decoration
* your imagination
* (for the really generous sorts) a cheque book

Before you put pen to paper, spend some time thinking about the recipient: what would they really appreciate? What are their likes, their dislikes? Is their anything they can't do but which you could help them with?

Try: offering to babysit so that they can go out for a break, cooking their favourite meal for them, or - the perennial favourite -lending a hand with the house work.

Or make the dreary (but very much appreciated!!) cheque or cash look that much better - make up your voucher and slip the money inside. A £10 "Christmas Choice" voucher with some time spent making the presentation relevant to the recipient is always a winner!

We've all received shop bought vouchers in the past - to be used only in shops we don't go to (who made this rule? And why does everyone stick to it?!), they sit in your purse and wither past their use-by date until you bin them, but perso
nalised vouchers offer so much more and whoever gets it will cherish the thought and time that's gone into it.

Making vouchers is a cheap and simple way of making people realise how much you appreciate them. And it saves you trudging round packed shops searching for the perfect gift! What more can you ask for?!

Try it and see: personalised vouchers win every time!