A Creative & Cashless Christmas

Time to start planning for gift-giving that truly embraces your family’s reason for the season and doesn’t leave a credit card hangover in January. Don’t let the spirit of shopping bring you down emotionally or financially this year.

There are many creative ways to celebrate the holidays and let the important people in our lives know we care and appreciate them.

Be proactive this year

The cycle: Do you have that family member or friend that always remembers you with a wonderful gift every December. Then you to feel obligated to do the same- even if your budget is tight or you have no idea what to give them? Year after year the cycle continues.

Why not send a sweet note now to stop the spending-giving cycle? Be sure to mention how you always delight when you hear the pretty wind chimes they sent last year, but this year your family feels so blessed and wants to exchange warm wishes & updated pictures only.

Chances are, your friend will appreciate the initiative to take the burden off of them, too! If your great aunt Ginny continues to insist on doing “something” for you, let her know you are limiting your gift list this year and mention your favorite charity as an option.

Secret Santas: You belong to one or two groups that draw names every year. All those $10-20 gifts can add up in shopping time & money.

Make a suggestion now that the holiday exchange be a little different this year. Let folks bring a white elephant item from their house for a gift-swapping game while you sip eggnog and sneak another piece of fudge.

There are various themes you can use like everyone brings a piece of jewelry they no longer wear, a scarf, a homemade treat, or a dusty kitchen gadget. The laughs come from the surprises inside the pretty paper and the swapping.

To help out a local charity, have a fun raffle of white elephant items and donate the proceeds.

Growing families: Parents have a tough time with their own growing children’s interests and sizes – aunts & uncles are really in the dark on buying for kids. Christmas at Grandma’s has turned into an exchange of gift cards to the mall or electronic’s store.

Talk to you siblings about surrendering to the ever-changing trends and not trying to buy for nieces and nephews. Suggest exchanging board games that are collecting dust in your closet for a refreshing change on the next snow day.  Have everyone bring a coffee mug from home with candy inside for a sweet gift-swapping game.

Cashless Gifts-The Thought Really Does Count

Christmas is not only a time to gather with family and candlelight services, but also a time to show appreciate for those that make your life a little better or serve you in some way during the year.

Teachers: Teachers have a big impact on our children’s lives.  Take time
to write a Thank You note from you and your child – it will be treasured more than another apple ornament.  Send the principal and school board a formal letter of appreciation, with details about what makes this teacher special.

Service providers: Everyone appreciates thoughtful note, letting them know they do a great job. Write a personalized card to those that make your days easier and send a professional letter to their supervisor to include in their personnel file.

Projects of Christmas past: Got a few crafts from Christmas past that didn’t make the 25^th deadline? Dig out that shoebox of partial projects and finish the projects for this year. Gather your crafty friends for a UFO (UnFinished Objects) party and enjoy holiday cheer while making a unique gift for family & friends.

Food: Food is the best gift that doesn’t take up room on a shelf.  Everyone appreciates a plate of goodies, especially if they are frazzled from their own holiday shopping.

A handwritten note on plate of cookies (even if they are from the premix bags from the store) makes a wonderful gift.  You don’t even have to know their shoe size or favorite NASCAR driver!

Time is Priceless

Don't let that credit card commercial fool you - your time is more priceless than anything put in your VISA.

Children: Create  coupons for family time fun like playing a favorite game, making a yummy recipe, creating a Saturday special breakfast menu, or picking wildflowers in the spring. The internet has loads of crafty project ideas and instructions for one-on-one time together during school breaks or weekends.

Friends: Give your friends coupon for two hours of your help with deep cleaning the house, yard work, babysitting, or rides to appointments for a senior neighbor.

Aging family: The seniors in our family and neighborhood are sometimes the hardest to buy for if they are limited in their abilities or living space. While visiting my Mama, I could see the typical gifts of perfumed lotions, candles, picture frames, etc. that cluttered up small rooms at the nursing home.

Grandparents will cherish a long letter of your memories of baking in the kitchen, planting flowers together, or the Barbie clothes Grandma sewed after a long day at work – and she will treasure & read your letter over and over again. Let her know whenever you make cinnamon rolls from her recipe, you think of her.

A wonderful coupon for a distant relative can be more frequent phone calls next year. Set up a day that normally works for you like the first Sunday of the month and call. Your grandpa will be so thrilled it will make the calendar! Another idea is your commitment to more emails, letters, and pictures of ever-changing children.

Many seniors need a little patience and a tutor to jump into the computer age. Your gift of time could be weekly lessons on how to use the internet and email. Grandpa wants to laugh at the kittens on You Tube, too!

Bring back the Christmas Fund

Even after trimming down your list, there are probably still a few people on your shopping list. Many years ago, your local bank encouraged savings each month for the expenses of December. Start your own Christmas Account savings account or cookie jar at home by:

• Recycle your cans and bottles for the CRV value
• Sell your old and broken jewelry for cash
• Use ebay or craiglist to sell unwanted items that still have value
• Exchange your coins for gift certificates at any designated CoinStar machine
• Offer to babysit for young parents who can use the time to bake or shop
• Take a part-time seasonal job when the shops needs more holiday help
• Set aside a small amount each paycheck in the new year for next year’s smaller shopping list

Be a voice of change for your family, friends, and neighbors this holiday season. In January, reflect back on what worked and what didn’t work for you. Make a plan for next year to stay within your budget, but also make the holidays a special time and filled with memories, not credit card statements.