| I have a friend who works at a loan company. She | | | | funky (a cow-shaped cookie jar) containers to use in |
| starts getting busy around August -- because her | | | | place of the basket. The result is a gift that I had fun |
| offices are flooded with people taking out loans for | | | | putting together, that really means something to the |
| their holiday shopping. And she stays busy well into the | | | | recipient, and that costs less than looks like it should! |
| new year -- because a huge percentage of those | | | | GIVE AN EXPERIENCE RATHER THAN A THING |
| people default on their loans. Why do we feel | | | | You don't always have to give "stuff" when a gifting |
| compelled to go so deeply in DEBT buying gifts? It | | | | occasion comes around. Some of the best presents I |
| seems as though every year the bar is raised -- we | | | | have ever received were events rather than "things." |
| are expected to spend more and more. | | | | And they don't have to be expensive -- one |
| And where does all this spending get us? I can't tell | | | | memorable gift for me was a day out with my friends |
| you how many of my organizing clients have literally | | | | at a state park (hiking, canoeing, and a picnic lunch). |
| piles of old Christmas gifts buried in their closets -- | | | | You can build some great memories, spend some |
| items for which they really have no use, but feel guilty | | | | quality time -- and you don't have to worry about your |
| about cleaning out. I'm pretty sure that the holidays are | | | | gift getting dusty or broken! |
| not supposed to be about debt, guilt, and clutter! But | | | | GIVE A HANDMADE GIFT |
| you can also take steps on the "giving" side to make | | | | Handmade gifts have gotten a bad rap in the past -- |
| the holiday less stressful -- for both you and the | | | | as being cheesy or poorly made. But you can put |
| recipient: | | | | together some pretty cool handmade gifts. At least |
| LIMIT THE NUMBER OF GIFTS PER PERSON | | | | half of my Christmas decorations are made by |
| Some families feel like they need to have lots of | | | | someone in my family -- and I get compliments each |
| presents under the tree for it to be a happy holiday. | | | | year on how nice they look. With craft stores springing |
| We finally had to ask our family to stop loading us | | | | up in abundance around the country, you can find tons |
| down with a lot of "stuff" each year (although in much | | | | of great high-quality, low-cost gift ideas. Handmade |
| nicer terms!) We have limited our giving to one gift per | | | | gifts have a "homey" feel that bought presents often |
| person. And it's made such a positive impact (less | | | | lack -- and you get the satisfaction of knowing that |
| pressure, stress, and expense) that no one complains | | | | you created it yourself. And if you really want to turn |
| about having less to open on Christmas morning! | | | | on the old heart light, give a gift that one of your kids |
| DRAW A NAME | | | | made! |
| I learned this technique from a big family (we're talking | | | | GIVE A GIFT CERTIFICATE |
| 12 kids plus grandkids and extended family!) that | | | | Gift certificates have also gotten a bad reputation -- |
| couldn't afford to buy gifts for everyone. Each year, | | | | you couldn't think of anything else, so you got a gift |
| they all put names in a hat -- everyone pulls a name | | | | certificate. I happen to think that gift certificates are an |
| and buys a gift for that one person. That way, | | | | excellent option, because it allows the person to get |
| everyone gets a gift, and no one has to feel strapped | | | | what they really WANT or NEED. And your gift |
| during the holidays. then they plan a big party on | | | | certificates don't have to be store-bought. You can |
| Christmas morning where everyone opens their gifts. | | | | give gift certificates for chores or events -- babysitting |
| FOOD IS ALWAYS A GREAT GIFT | | | | or a night on the town. I recently gave a friend of mine |
| Food is a great option -- especially when you like to | | | | a gift certificate for a day of horseback riding and |
| give a little something to everyone you know. Bake a | | | | sushi (?!) -- two things her husband doesn't care for -- |
| huge batch of cookies or make sausage balls -- or | | | | and she loved it. |
| even the dreaded fruitcake (it's actually pretty good | | | | MAKE A CHARITABLE DONATION |
| when it's homemade!) Then wrap a small bundle in | | | | This gift shows the real spirit of the season. You can |
| colored cellophane and top with a bow. It's festive, it's | | | | choose from a variety of non-profit organizations -- |
| inexpensive, it comes from the heart, it will eventually | | | | from adopting a whale to planting a tree to making a |
| disappear (reducing clutter) -- and everyone loves to | | | | contribution to the Kidney Foundation. And hopefully |
| eat! | | | | your selflessness and concern for those around you |
| MAKE YOUR OWN GIFT BASKETS | | | | will inspire others to do the same. |
| Gift baskets have become the hip and happening gift | | | | GIVE A PIECE OF NOSTALGIA |
| over the last few years. You can customize the | | | | One year, I made photo albums for my sisters. I |
| contents to the recipient's interests and hobbies. But | | | | gathered up pictures of our parents and grandparents, |
| paying a gift basket company to put one together for | | | | them as children, family events we had attended |
| you can cost more than a traditional store-bought gift. I | | | | together, and important moments in their lives. It was |
| will shop sales throughout the year finding neat little | | | | simple and inexpensive and I had a nice trip down |
| "gizmos" that would go well in a gift basket -- a kitchen | | | | memory lane putting it together. And I don't know if I've |
| tool for my sister who loves to cook or something | | | | ever gotten a better response to a Christmas gift. |
| "cow" themed for my friend -- and stash them away | | | | Anything that reminds people of the "good old days" is |
| until the holidays. I also look for practical (a colander) or | | | | always well-received. |