We blame the marketers but WE have ruined the season by believing the false narrative that we have to buy a gift for EVERY person that we’ve ever known since birth and that each gift must be expensive and over the top or the person receiving the gift will feel devalued and unloved.
So NOT true!
#1 – This is impossible and will leave your budget with a severe hangover when the credit card bill arrives mid-January.
#2 – We don’t have to “buy” a pre-packaged gift from a retailer. Some of the most thoughtful, intentional gifts are made my hand. Whether they are carved, baked, scrapbooked, quilted, needlepointed, videotaped, glued, screwed, tattooed . . . well, you get the point.
Folks would rather receive something that you put your heart and soul into and really thought about.
How do you learn about someone’s likes / dislikes? Teens can be especially challenging to shop for as they tend to be less open and transparent then adults. Easy Peasey! Check out their Pinterest page and you’ll get many great ideas from their “pins” which shows what they like or simply ask their best friend.
The magic of Christmas stems from the birth of Christ and the gifts of the Magi. They GAVE gifts to one special little boy. Not every single soul they passed on the road to Bethlehem. The magic of Christmas stems from GIVING from the heart. We, as human, are innately selfish and would prefer to receive then give. Who wouldn’t love to receive a diamond tiara from Tiffany’s? Um, “Me!” Where do I enter? Sign me up! I want one!
The act of giving requires us to be selfless and requires that we give of our resources (time and money) in order to bless someone else. The act of giving, if done with a pure heart, has a reciprocal effect and we are blessed in return with a spirit of joy!
So how can we reduce stress and bring back the innocence of the season?
1) Reduce your gift giving list to only a few in your close circle
2) Create Christmas budget and save for it throughout the year
3) Family Gift Exchange: Have your family pick names out of a hat
At Thanksgiving my family has 2 separate gift exchange drawings – one for the adults and another for the children. Each person draws a name of another out of a hat. This way each person receives a gift but your budget isn’t sunk from feeling the need to buy all twenty nieces and nephews an expensive gift or be labeled “Scrooge.” We also set a budgetary limit so that those who don’t work on Wall-Street won’t feel shamed buying a less expensive gift.
I knew of a family that set their gift “boundaries” as under a certain budgetary limit – say $30 and below AND the gift must be crafted or homemade – even better! Each person tried to top the other in how unique and how personal the gift crafted was to the giver. Can you imagine receiving a painting of your garden or favorite pet and knowing that it was painted by your grandmother or favorite nephew?
Some families ask each person to donate to the favorite charity of the person who’s name they drew.
When I was young, one of my friends would take a picture of each gift he received and intentionally drive to the store and try to price match it to determine how much that person spent on him. Really? So ridiculous.
The price of the gift is not in direct correlation to the value placed on the friendship and it’s sad that some don’t view gift giving that way. Some of the best gifts that I’ve received, and most treasured, had a very low monetary value but very high personal value!
What do you do for the boss or co-worker? Again, it’s more about being intentional. One year in the office we drew names and my boss received the name of a woman in accounting who loved cats. He noticed on her desk that she had pictures of cats who were dressed in costume, so he printed off costumed cats from the internet, put them in a multi-box picture frame and she loved it! It meant so much to her that he put some thought and time into the gift and made it unique to her. The monetary value was approximately $7 for the frame purchased at a discount store.
Motivational books are always a good gift (Brene Brown’s “Daring Greatly” is highly recommended!). I don’t recommend giving alcoholic beverages, cigars, religious icons, etc. at your place of work as this has the potential to embarrass or insult the receiver.
So, holiday gift giving can be one of the best ways to enjoy the holidays and bless someone else – letting them know you care and are thinking of them – even if it’s a simple homemade gift.
Happy holiday gift giving! YAY!
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