Holiday Gift Planning
Holidays should be joyous events, but for some people, holidays are a stressful time. Expectations are high for finding the perfect gifts, holding the perfect dinner party, and having the most beautiful decorations on the block. So today, let’s talk about how to make gift-giving less stressful and more enjoyable.
Let’s take a moment to think about why we give a gift. We give gifts to honor the recipient. We might be saying “I love you”, “Thank you”, or “I appreciate you”. You should never give a gift because you “have to” because that spoils the meaning of a gift. Giving a gift should not be about how much you spend; it should be about the thought and feeling behind the gift.
If you really want to be efficient, at the beginning of the year, make a list of all the people for whom you want to provide gifts in the coming year. When friends and family casually mention things they would like to have, update your gift list with the new request. Take advantage of after-Christmas sales to start purchasing gifts for the new year. Keep your list with you when out shopping, and when you see a good sale or the perfect item, review the list to see if the item would be a great gift for someone on the list. You may also want to take advantage of sales to purchase general purpose gifts for baby showers, children’s birthdays, and to say “thanks”. Store gifts in a spare chest or plastic bin until you need them. Update your gift list when you make a purchase.
Save time by shopping online or from catalogs. Your time is short during the holidays, so use a few mouse clicks to order gifts instead of fighting the crowds at the mall. I used to think that re-gifting was tacky, but now I enjoy it. My family enjoys re-gifting paperback books – even books purchased at the resale shops. Why not pass on a gift you received and will not use if someone else can enjoy it? Share the joy!
Think about giving and asking for gifts that won’t clutter your home or your life. Here are some great examples:
- Gift certificates to a favorite restaurant, grocery store, book store, or department store
- A plane, train, or bus ticket for a fun vacation
- Theme park tickets
- Tickets to a play, concert, museum, or sporting event
- Gift certificate for a massage, manicure, or facial
- Homemade gift such as cookies, cake, candy, placemats, potholders, etc (these are my favorite to give and receive)
- Decorated gift basket of fruit, wine, or specialty foods
So, let this holiday season be peaceful and relaxing. Enjoy the spirit of the season and the true spirit of gift-giving.
