Please excuse the self-indulgence but Christmas is coming and it felt like a good time to share some information about using DOUZO lists.
1. Mix all types of gift
Other lists stick to one type of gift: presents or cash contributions. On DOUZO, you can mix requests for any kind of gift on the same list. You can ask for items from shops or websites, for money towards something special, or for favours or pledges of help.
2. List from any store, site, or stall
The list isn’t tied to any retailer. You can ask for gifts from the big high-street or online names alongside things from local, independent retailers. If the retailer has an online catalogue, you can link through to your chosen item from your list. If the retailer doesn’t have a web store, you can include photos and details for givers to shop in person. It’s a great way to get unusual items from boutiques or galleries, or to point friends and family to buy from the businesses that you want to support, such as charities.
2. Ask for money towards something special
Instead of individual gifts, you might want to ask for money towards something special. Photos and descriptions make the gift more personal by showing givers how their contribution will be spent.
3. Ask for help
Sometimes, the things you need most don’t come in parcels. Maybe you’d really like some help with a home project, someone to have the kids for the weekend, or some support for a cause that is precious to you? You can include these on your list.
4. Buy outright or club together
You can include gifts across any price range you like: lower-cost items that are likely to fit the budget of a single giver or more expensive items. Givers can buy outright or contribute jointly to the bigger things. DOUZO tracks the contributions so people don’t have to organise joint presents between themselves.
5. Keep the gifts a surprise
If people choose gifts from a list, they can be sure that the gift will be welcome, but the surprise of opening parcels can be lost for the recipient. When you set up a list, you can nominate someone else to manage it on your behalf. The list manager will see who has given what and give you a summary when you are ready. This works well for children’s lists where parents can track the gifts and preserve the surprise.
6. Control who can see your list
You can choose whether to have the list freely available on the internet or to restrict access. If you keep your list private, when friends and family open your list, they are prompted to request access from you.
7. All gifts come directly from them to you
We don’t hold stocks of gifts. Your list shows people what you want and helps them, with links, photos and descriptions, to get there. If the gift is from a shop, they buy directly from that shop. There is no possible threat of a Wrapit-style loss of the gifts you have been given.
6. All money comes straight from them to you
We don’t hold your money. Anyone who makes a gift of money sends it directly to you. No commission or fees are deducted from the money that is given to you. When you set up your list, you choose what payment methods to allow: cheques, bank transfer, or Paypal. This inclusive approach works for different types of people and allows friends and family who live abroad to participate.
7. Not just for weddings
Weddings are often associated with gift lists but you can use a list for any occasion. Help people to know what you’d like for birthdays, Christmas, or special anniversaries. If you’re expecting a baby, a list can steer well-wishers to the practical items that you need. If you’re organising an event or fund-raising for a special project, a list can enlist the help of friends and family in collecting items or pledging some form of help.
8. Personal look and feel
You can choose from a range of designs. You can upload photos for your list itself and to illustrate any item on the list. You decide what to call your list, how to describe it and what the website address (URL) should be.
9. Straight-forward price
Some lists base their price on the value of the gifts that are given. Others take commission from any money that is given. DOUZO is £10 for a standard list and £12 for a premium list design – no matter how long you have the list open, how many gifts you list, or how much the gifts are worth. You can find discount codes in magazines and blogs to make this even better value.
10. “Help yourself”
“DOUZO” comes from a Japanese word. It is subtle to translate but has the sense of “help yourself”, “by all means” or “please do”. There’s a courtesy about it that seemed just right for gift giving.
If you have any comments or questions about DOUZO, I’d love to hear from you.
Gap years – and their shorter version, the “snap year” – are more popular than ever. Getting the most out of them means taking time to plan and prepare ahead.
The increases in University tuition fees that will hit UK students from September 2012 haven’t dampened their enthusiasm for time out. Gap year companies report bookings are up by 35% for gap years and 28% for shorter trips. Recent research by P&O Cruises revealed a 300% increase in over-50s embarking on a year out. Gapadvice.org estimates there are 230 000 young gappers, 90000 taking a career break and 200 000 travelling in their retirement. That’s a lot of people setting out on trips, learning new skills, or making a difference to communities.
There are hundreds of options for what to do on a gap year and lots of companies offering advice. Something that comes across consistently is the value of preparation. Preparing helps people to stay safe and healthy and to get the most out of their time and resources.
Exactly what to take will vary with the destination, activities, and personal situation. Travellers can’t – and probably don’t want to – anticipate every eventuality but a comprehensive guide, such as http://gap-year.com/ will help to make sure that nothing important is missed.
If you’re preparing for a gap year, here are a few things to consider:
Finding out about your destination
A great starting point for information about other countries is the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/ . It’s important that you find out what’s illegal and what’s offensive. Find out about local customs and points of etiquette. Learning even a few words -perhaps a greeting, “please”, “thank you”, and “help” – can make you feel less of a stranger. The Foreign Office website is kept up-to-date with information about incidents or warnings about areas to avoid. You can sign up for email notifications about countries on your route so you’ll always have the latest information.
Funding your trip
Mintel research shows that the average young traveller spends £3 0000-4 0000 on their trip. The money goes on equipment, living expenses, flights and travel, visas, insurance, and payment for volunteer projects. Cost-of-living sites such as http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/ can help to work out what you might need. Even if living is cheap, you might aim for extra money to make the most of opportunities for local travel and events.
Raising money and getting organised are recognised as valuable parts of the challenge of taking a gap year. Be as creative as you can in thinking of fund-raising possibilities and enlist the help of friends and family to help you; you’d be surprised how much resale money is hiding in people’s “junk” or how much can be raised through auctions or bake sales. Asking for contributions towards your trip for Christmas and birthday presents can make a welcome boost towards your target.
Packing
You can always make do with locally-sourced clothing on your trip, but your documentation needs to come with you from home.
- Passport and visas. You’ll need a passport to go abroad and this should be valid for six months after your planned return date. The Foreign Office can advise on whether visas are required.
- Insurance documents. Make sure you have your insurance policy and the telephone numbers of their emergency helplines. Take advice to ensure that you are fully covered for the regions you are visiting and the activities you’ll be doing. The bills for handling accidents and emergencies without adequate cover will mount up extremely quickly. Make sure that you are clear about what will invalidate your policy; this could be failure to disclose information from the past or being under the influence of alcohol.
- Tickets and itinerary. Leave copies of both with friends and family. Be aware that some countries will refuse you access without a return ticket, unless you can prove either the means to buy one or a ticket onward to another destination.
- Identification. It’s handy to take passport photos to be included in local identification and a second piece of photo identification, other than your passport, is good practice. Student identification might give you access to discounts.
- Contact numbers. In an emergency, you don’t want to have to look up the number for the British Consulate in your country, the number for your airline or insurer, or the lost and stolen line for your credit card provider. Have a list of potentially useful numbers ready.
- Copies of important documents. You might keep these with you. It’s also recommended to leave a set with friends or family. Another option is to set up a secure store that you – or those acting on your authority – can access through the internet, such as http://www.vitalesafe.com/.
- Medical information. The NHS provides a great deal of advice on what you’ll need and what to carry with you: http://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/Healthcareabroad/pages/Healthcareabroad.aspx
- Different forms of money. Don’t take just one credit card, or just cash. Mix it up and pack it separately. Prevent your cards being blocked unexpectedly by warning your card provider where you’ll be using it.
With regard to kit, the advice is to take only half of the clothes you intended to pack and to leave behind anything you’d be sentimental about losing. That said, what could be helpful to take?
- Rucksack, holdall or suitcase. Don’t scrimp on your luggage. If you are away for any length of time, it’s going to take a fair bit of wear and tear and you don’t want to be repairing or replacing a split bag. You need it to be robust and comfortable to carry.
- First-aid kit.
- Torch
- Money belt
- Small padlock
- Toiletries. Don’t count on being able to get your preferred sanitary products abroad, and consider condoms and suncream. Wet wipes or antiseptic hand gel are helpful for hygiene.
- Water purification tablets or filters
- Spare glasses – and contact lenses if you don’t use disposables.
- Versatile clothing and footwear to allow for different weather conditions, terrain and customs.
- Duct tape is handy for all kinds of sticking-up and repairs.
- Spare batteries
- Adapter or travel plug
- Lighter
- Travel towels
- Small smoke alarm, if you’re as paranoid as me about fire in countries that might not have the same regulations as we do in the UK.
These are just a few of the things you’ll want to prepare before heading on a gap year. Where ever you are going, do the research about what you’ll need: primarily to stay safe and healthy, also to minimise the possibility of set-backs through loss, inappropriate gear or inadequate funds. Tap into the experiences of those who’ve been before, through expert websites and guidebooks – and make it the experience of a lifetime.
Can you share any tips for those preparing for a gap year?
(Picture credits: gap year luggage label from endemol.com, silhouette from icould.com, suitcase from metal-postcard.com)
