Well, it’s here – that time of year when most of the world goes on the biggest spending spree of the year. Some cannot afford it, but feel the family pressure to participate. Others can afford it and glaringly display that with no qualms.
It’s hard not to shop at Christmas time. You want to let people know you care about them, or you see just the perfect something for someone, and you feel compelled to buy it. You have children that wouldn’t understand if there were no presents under the tree. You have a work obligation. We all shop this time of year, even if we are anti-consumption.
I think Christmas love and giving should be a year-round affair. Why show someone you care just once a year? We need to share our feelings for our friends and family all year, not just in one big high-pressure event that takes away the true meaning of giving. It also makes the credit card companies a lot of money!
That said, here are my thoughts on Christmas consumption.
Gifting should be from the heart. Know your recipient’s needs, loves and lifestyle. Don’t buy what you want them to have. Buy something they can use in their everyday life, or something they would never buy for themselves. Make them smile, not wonder what on earth you were thinking!
You can be frugal, showcasing your simple lifestyle, or you can be eco-friendly, shopping responsibly with the environment in mind. I have always been creative and combined the two.
Home-made cards and gifts – I take great joy in making things. My need to be creative is insatiable, and people love home-made items! There is something warm and fuzzy and full of love about a simple home-made card or gift. It gets more attention, and the recipient knows you took time to create something from your heart. When I was about 12, I did some artwork for my favorite aunt, and she exclaimed, ‘This was a labor of love!’ My hard work was not lost on her, and I loved hearing it.
Recycling – I love to wrap up something of my own, and give it away. Maybe someone saw a book on my shelf they wanted. Maybe they liked my artwork or the jewelry I made. I have given many gifts of beads from my retired bead business. Maybe I have some clothes to pass on. I have a cashmere sweater that belonged to my mother. It does not fit me, and I know just the person who would love it. This is a great way to clean out kids’ clothes, book and toys, too.
Shop at second-hand stores. In a town of roughly 10,000 people, we have at least five second-hand stores, a few second-hand bookstores, a free-magazine table at the library, a freebox at the recycling center, and a Habitat ReStore. There are also hundreds of yard sales and church rummage sales all year long. Take advantage of what people are giving away. Why waste natural resources to create new items, when there are so many perfectly good things to be reused?
Wrapping – When I was a kid, I loved to wrap presents in the Sunday funnies. I put a color-coordinated ribbon on the package. We cut up old Christmas cards to make gift tags, and I still do this. I like to reuse brown shopping bags for wrapping paper, coloring a bow on top with crayons. Brown bags are in short supply, though, now that we use cloth bags. I have wrapped in sacks I’ve made from clothes I don’t wear anymore or leftover fabric from other sewing projects. This is like getting two gifts in one!
From the kitchen – People love food! I dry the herbs I grow and package them in small artichoke hearts jars. I also like to bake for people. They love my tortillas! Bring someone a pot of soup or a fruit and nut basket. Get creative in your kitchen!
Christmas cards – I have always made my cards. If you don’t make them, buy locally. I don’t send many cards anymore, but when I do, I buy from a local graphic designer friend, Mona Makela. I also trade with another artist friend for her one-of-a-kind collage cards. Shop at your local card shop, and try to buy recycled paper cards. Digital cards are generally free and use no paper at all. How much energy it takes to email is another issue, which I won’t get into here.
Gift yourself – If you are showing others you care with a thoughtful, creative gift, large or small, include yourself on your list. Make it a special treat – a massage, a special dinner, a book, a tech gadget you’ve been drooling over and hesitating about, the shoes you love but have not been sure you need. Don’t leave yourself out of the merriment!
Gift strangers – Tell your friends and family to not buy you anything, either. Instead, give of yourself. Volunteer somewhere, and get others involved – soup kitchen, nursing home or hospice, food bank. We have many programs here in Taos. Taos Feeds Taos is my favorite. I buy food for their drive every year. It is so gratifying to spend my grocery money on someone else. Every year, we participate in the programs for children. My girls and I have made them stuffed animals and clothes and bought them toys and other clothes. Even as a financially strapped single parent, I made an effort to help out a family that had less that I did.
Most of all, don’t shop for the sake of shopping! Put your heart into your gifting, and you will be remembered forever.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
More often than not your consumption will be based on your annual figures.
That doesn’t need to be the case with a little forethought and concern for others and the planet.
Great ideas Nan….some very creative tips! :D
Thanks, Tara!
Nan…I love your list. I have a few similar posts coming up this month.
My family doesn’t get the consumption thing in many ways and have “expectations” so I’m working on the gifts of food for people that have everything. Already made my Kahlua, Baileys & Wine with Cookies in a Jar and a few other freshly made sweets and cookies to follow.
I especially like your final heading – gift strangers. Giving of yourself is really what it’s all about. Some nice thoughts and good tips. Thanks
Thanks, Stephen! We are on the same page, apparently. :)