My least favorite season is upon us. I love the cheer and lights of the holiday season, but the over-consumption of gifts that most of the recipients don’t need makes me cringe. Why does our society feel that a material item best demonstrates gratitude or love? When will we realize that showing up, listening and offering a service are more valuable and memorable than stuff?
Probably never.
And especially with credit cards…….
Credit cards are so bad for our economy. They allow people a lifestyle that they can’t afford. Since when has this become the norm?
Sure, the convenience of the credit card helps businesses by allowing people to shop, but when people abuse a card, and they can’t keep up with payments, then the card has served no purpose.
In this recession/depression, credit card use is up. But they don’t get paid off. People view them as free money. I know. I’ve been there.
But let’s get back to over-consumption and the unnecessary shopping that’s about to begin in earnest.
Let’s talk about thoughtful gifts.
> Last year, I wrote about how to shop or create gifts to really give of yourself and tread lightly on the earth.
> I have found some environmentally conscious vendors, whose products and business sense I approve of. Please visit them on the right side of the page. ~~>
> Donate to worthy non-profits in someone’s name. There are organizations doing excellent environmental and humanitarian work. Do your homework before giving anyone any money, though! I refuse to donate to The Nature Conservancy, because they take donations from BP and Monsanto! How can you conserve nature when your donors are raping the earth and influencing your decisions?
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* Green America, formerly Co-op America – I highly recommend these folks. They educate, petition, and publish newsletters about green living, investing and more. ‘Our mission is to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.’ Their website is an education in itself! You can buy a gift membership for only $15, and become a member for $20.
* The Organic Consumers Association – Do you care about the quality of your food? ‘The OCA deals with crucial issues of food safety, industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, children’s health, corporate accountability, Fair Trade, environmental sustainability and other key topics.’ Donations are tax-deductible.
* The Humane Society – My daughter and I brought home two dogs from the shelter yesterday. One is blind in one eye, the other had been there longer than any other dog. If you can’t take home a dog, cat, bird or any other animal from your local shelter, consider making a donation in the name of an animal-lover friend of yours. After seeing how many animals fill shelters throughout the country, it would be a wonderful gesture to pay for a spaying or a neutering.
* The National Resources Defense Council – ‘The Natural Resources Defense Council’s purpose is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends.’ Gift memberships start at $25, and you can join for only $10.
* Find your local food bank. Our food bank is Taos Feeds Taos, ‘a non-profit corporation in its 25th year, will distribute food baskets to over 1000 needy Taos county families during this holiday season. This is only possible with your help.’ We donate no-perishable food to it every year and put money in their donation jars around town. Cash donations, accepted all year, help purchase fresh food at the time of distribution.
* Find a local non-profit. We have non-profits here for everything from the charter schools to the battered women’s shelter to environmental organizations. Contact your Chamber of Commerce or use google to find who needs a donation in your community.
Spread your message of sustainability with eco-friendly gifts or a donation to a non-profit. And remember to not abuse your credit card!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Nan,
I really enjoyed your blog- I agree with you 100% on this issue. My side of the family doesn’t buy gifts for one another- We always put cash in a pot and rotate who decides what non-profit will receive… We also have to bring three food shelf items when we have our family’s Christmas at my parents. Then my mother donates it to the local food shelf. It’s more about eating, games and being merry together as a famliy!
Unfortunately, I haven’t been very good this year; my organizing mother decreed that gift exchanging would take place on Thanksgiving instead of Christmas this year (since my sister’s not going to be home on Christmas), so I’ve had about three weeks’ notice to pull everything together…which meant that the pottery gifts I was going to make were suddenly out of the question. I’m going for more service-related gifts where I can, though — massages from a local masseuse and tickets to exhibits and shows, plus antiques and handmade presents. I’m trying hard to say no to getting random stuff for people because I need a present fast!
Jennifer, that’s really funny! Moms are like that. ;)
So glad you could adjust, though, and on such short notice. You can always make the pottery and give it to people later. One beef I have about Christmas is that we shower people with gifts and our generosity once a year. Why not do it all year round? If you think of someone, show them. Why wait until the end of the year? No one says you can’t make pottery and give it to people you love. It just won’t be on Christmas day. :)
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