8 Fabulous Gifts to Give Yourself ...

One of the loveliest gifts to give yourself is a subscription or membership. Do you have a favorite magazine? Gift yourself an annual subscription. Or do you have an interest in art? Join your local gallery and enjoy the members' benefits, such as meetings and talks. You'll be able to make the most of your "gift" for up to a year.

A weekend away may be something you like to enjoy anyway. Think of it as a gift, and it will seem even more special. You don't need to have company to benefit from a weekend trip; in fact, traveling alone enables you to do exactly what you please. It'll be a fabulous weekend!

Gifts don't have to be tangible. Just doing something for yourself can be the best present. It's an especially great "self-gift" for the self-employed, who often feel that they should keep working. Time off to just relax is extremely valuable for our well-being, so do whatever you fancy. No work or chores!

Think of a skill you'd like to learn, or a hobby you've always wanted to take up. Perhaps you'd like to join a choir, or learn to make furniture. Does your local community college or adult learning center offer a class? Find out where it's on offer and book your place. You'll get so much out of it.

Another gift you can treat yourself to is a lovely piece of jewellery. It doesn't have to be incredibly expensive (although you can splash out if you want!), but it should be something that you love. Pick a piece that you'll wear often, and that will attract compliments.

Everybody loves chocolate, so that might not sound like a great gift. The good thing about buying your own gift is that you can choose what you receive. No cheap chocs like the ones you receive at Christmas! Head for a specialist chocolate shop and get a lovely box of quality chocs that you can really savor.

Who doesn't love a session of pampering? Set aside a day for beauty treatments, and book as many as you want. There are often great deals available if you book more than one treatment together. You'll feel and look fantastic after spending all afternoon having a manicure, facial and massage!

We're all delighted to be presented with flowers, but you don't have to wait for someone else to bring you a bunch. Buy yourself a beautiful bouquet. Or what about a stunning plant for your garden? You could even buy a small bunch of flowers every week - they needn't be expensive, and you'd be able to admire fresh flowers all the time.

Buying yourself a gift means that you will get exactly what you want, and can be sure that you will get the most out of it. I have a cinema subscription that gives me unlimited entry for a year. It's one of the best gifts I could have given myself. So don't wait for your birthday - spoil yourself! What would be your fantasy dream gift to yourself?