If you are reading this and you celebrate Christmas or another winter holiday, there is a chance you are not fully ready for the gift giving part of your celebration. There is less than a week to go so read on. You might find some alternatives to the tradition of overspending this holiday season.
The holidays can be stressful- that’s a given. For most of us, the most stress-inducing part of the holidays is gift giving. I know that I am personally ready for alternatives to the same old gift exchange and I welcome new ideas. So here we go. Instead of racing around at the last minute frantically searching for the perfect gift, consider the following ideas:
- Make a gift. You don’t need to be artistic and it doesn’t need to be perfect. Paint a picture of a pet, make a batch of muffins, or write a poem. A handmade gift can be more special and thoughtful than anything you might purchase in a store.
- Visit art or craft markets and buy handmade gifts made by others. If you don’t have the creativity or skills to make a gift yourself, resolve to support small businesses and buy local.
- The gift of service. Offer to mow a lawn, babysit for an evening, or help out in some other way.
- The gift of experience. Instead of buying more physical things, give tickets to a concert, membership to a museum or amusement park, or even a massage.
- Donate to a charity on someone’s behalf. Pick a charity that is meaningful to the recipient and make a donation in their name.
- Swap names with your friend group and pick a really special gift for one person instead of shopping for everyone.
- Do a white elephant gift exchange with your family and friends. Purchase one gift and enjoy the fun instead of buying gifts for everyone.
- For children, use the four gift rule: something to read, something to wear, something they need, and something they want.
- Thrift gifts. This is a favorite of mine! Set a dollar limit and find your gifts at thrift stores, Buy Nothing groups, or second hand shops. This year I found my brother and his wife a gorgeous vintage mid-century ice bucket for under $10.00. I’ll clean it up and add a bottle of an inexpensive spirit or wine and that is one heck of a special, one of a kind gift.
- Don’t give gifts at all. Why not forgo gift giving one year? You will be amazed how much time and money you will save and how much less stressful your holidays will be.
Truthfully, alternatives to traditional gift giving are easy to find. The first step is to find meaning in the holidays beyond overspending on physical gifts that are forgotten way too quickly. There is value in creating new traditions instead of holding onto old ones that no longer suit us. If you have ever wished for an alternative to giving gifts the same way each year- make the change. The only real limit is a lack of imagination!
Melinda Jakobovits
