By Ms. C.
Moss, Information and Referral Program Manager
Unless
your last name is Vanderbilt, Buffet, Gates, or Rockefeller, gift giving can be
overwhelming by any standard. The process of buying, swapping, or creating
homemade holiday gifts can be mind-numbing even to the best-intentioned person.
Gift exchanges should be encouraging, heartfelt, imaginative, fun and most of
all, enjoyable. In a virtual world, I am sure that there will be an app to help
us achieve all that. For now and for the rest of us, the right approach to
tackling this conundrum can makes this a rewarding experience all around. To
help you maintain some sanity, some dignity, and possibly a little bit of money
check out these strategies that will keep you on track and help you to give
gifts without the drama. Make gift-giving more unexpected, appreciated, and
meaningful!
For Loved Ones
Go
in on a gift with (and for) your loved ones. Here is a thought try renting a medium sized cabin or a
wonderful vacation rental for the weekend after the holidays or going on a
beach escape together, particularly one that you have been dying to try out.
Share the cost all around so that everyone is contributing to the gift giving
and not just you by your lonesome.
Purchase
repetitive gifts. Predictability
is a good thing when you are on a tight holiday budget. This only works if you
have a recipient that enjoys getting that Swiss Alps Super Chocolate Sampler or
the Cigar of the Month box every year. If your budget allows, try changing up
the selection by seeing what else that same sponsor company has for the same
price. If you are a frequent purchaser of items from this company, it does not
hurt to write to the company and let them know how you enjoy their products.
Sometimes, they may even surprise you with a gift of their own for being such a
valued customer when they reply back.
For Colleagues
Play
holiday trivia and do the White Elephant at the same time. This is a tricky one, but helps you to
achieve your goal in one shot. If you name all nine of Santa’s reindeer, you
get first pick of the presents in the pile. Players simply raise their hands to
answer. Once they get a present, the game is over for them. The competitive
edge - the game moderator gets to either choose the last gift remaining or
steal a gift from somebody else. Bet you didn’t see that coming, did you?
Reduce
the guesswork. Have
gift recipients send you their wish list. It is just that simple. Eliminate the
riddles, the mystery gifts, and the self-induced headaches. The recipient will
be ecstatic, you will be relieved, and everyone can still be friends until the
end. Win–win all around!
For Loved Ones and Colleagues That Think You Are Rich
Be
honest. Tell loved ones
and colleagues ahead of time that you are going to cut back this year. Changing
your spending habits will make this statement easier to say when the time
comes. If you make the change gradually, you will see the difference it will
make. Let your loved ones and colleagues know as early as possible that you’d
like to give and receive less. Stand your ground and be confident in your
decisions to do better this year.
Get
crafty with the craft exchange. For
those that don’t know it, handmade ornaments are “in” this year. These
ornaments should be light enough to hang on the tree; not tip it over so it can
light your whole house on fire like a fireball rocket. It should be fun,
imaginative, and cost effective, but elegant. Each guest should bring a kit to
the party and then exchange it, so that everybody takes home a handcrafted
ornament and gets a new project to start on in the New Year.
With
the unexpected gift-giver. Should
you receive a gift by an unexpected gift giver, do not panic. Once the shock
and awe of it all wears down and you gain your full composure, please say
‘Thank you’ to that person. Be super-appreciative, but be advised that you do
not have to reciprocate. However, you may have just made a new friend. Go you!
For All Others
Adopt
another family for the holidays. Instead
of buying gifts, sponsor a disadvantaged family in your area. Have your family
volunteer together to make this a meaningful gesture for all involved. If you
have kids or teens, talk to them about the difference the gesture can make to
the other family and make sure they’re okay with giving up presents. You can
find a disadvantaged family through your local Salvation Army branch, which
will provide a wish list to shop from.
Pet
present exchange. Incorporate
your pets into your holiday festivities and celebrations. Dress up your pet in
holiday garb (if they let you), then gather with your friends and their pets to
share gifts. This idea works best if your pets like and get along with the
invited pets.
Be
a charitable secret Santa. Make
a $20 donation to a charity your recipient would support. It makes a more
meaningful gift than another stocking stuffer and helps an organization that
may need your support.
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resources are posted in the common interest to the military community and does
not imply Department of Defense endorsement of a commercial entity.