11 May 2008
“The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
A recent headline in the newspaper read “Over consumption may fail economy.” Unfortunately, the holiday season is notorious for over consumption, so how about going clutter-free this holiday? There are many options for clutter-free gift-giving to let our loved ones know how much we care. Be creative and let the retailers and advertisers know that the holidays aren’t just about shopping. Let’s break it down:
Ø Clutter-free gifts
o Savings Bonds
o Gift cards for long-distance minutes, gas, or groceries
o Gift cards for garden nurseries, restaurants, or Starbucks
o Spa and pampering gifts
o Gym membership
o Museum membership
o Tickets to local symphony
o Tickets to a Broadway show
o Movie and a dinner
o Trapeze school lessons
o Cooking lessons
o Planting a tree in honor of someone
Ø Non-profit gift-giving
o Cash donation to a charity in honor of the recipient
o www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com-international relief fund
o www.thegreenguide.com-green gifts for global impact
Ø Gifts of time
o Join a friend: local art studio classes, yoga, book club, film club, scrapbooking classes
o Babysitting coupons for nieces, nephews and grandchildren
o Take a child: Go to lunch, take a day trip, go to the museum, go to a local college for a sports event, go to the zoo
o “First Christmas Together” (or other name) coupon book: Make a list of the things you know your partner would enjoy and include practical and fun things: for example, a backrub, do the dishes for a week, make a candlelight dinner, do grocery shopping, etc.
Ø Can’t go clutter-free? Choose a gift that donates a portion of its profit to a non-profit agency.
o Christmas or Hanukkah cards that donate profits to your favorite charity
o Gifts that support disease research
o www.CafePress.com—charity T-shirts and gifts
o www.agreatergift.org—fair trade gifts
o www.ugandangold.com—supports coffee farm in Uganda
Ø Gift-giving Guidelines
o Secret Santa—Pick a name from a hat with all the adults in your family. Family members with limited budgets will be relieved.
o Set a budget and stick to it. Celebrate the holidays without creating a financial hardship.
o Make a list of your gift decisions before you shop. Don’t shop to get ideas or buy ‘potential’ gifts.
o Limit the number of shopping trips you make or better yet, shop online!!
Ø Things to do instead of shopping at the holidays
o Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
o National Christmas Museum in Paradise, Pennsylvania
o Sight and Sound Theatres in Strasburg, Pennsylvania
o Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “Charlie Brown Christmas”, “A Christmas Story”, or “Miracle on 34th Street”, with your own children or borrow some!
o Christmas or Holiday Concerts at local churches, schools or colleges
Vali G. Heist
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