| |
| |
|
Holidays Information |
|
|
|
Creative And Inexpensive Gift Ideas
I have a friend who works at a loan company. She starts getting busy around August -- because her offices are flooded with people taking out loans for their holiday shopping. And she stays busy well into the new year -- because a huge percentage of those people default on their loans. Why do we feel compelled to go so deeply in DEBT buying gifts? It seems as though every year the bar is raised -- we are expected to spend more and more. And where does all this spending get us? I can't tell you how many of my organizing clients have literally piles of old Christmas gifts buried in their closets -- items for which they really have no use, but feel guilty about cleaning out. I'm pretty sure that the holidays are not supposed to be about debt, guilt, and clutter! But you can also take steps on the "giving" side to make the holiday less stressful -- for both you and the recipient: LIMIT THE NUMBER OF GIFTS PER PERSON Some families feel like they need to have lots of presents under the tree for it to be a happy holiday. We finally had to ask our family to stop loading us down with a lot of "stuff" each year (although in much nicer terms!) We have limited our giving to one gift per person. And it's made such a positive impact (less pressure, stress, and expense) that no one complains about having less to open on Christmas morning! DRAW A NAME I learned this technique from a big family (we're talking 12 kids plus grandkids and extended family!) that couldn't afford to buy gifts for everyone. Each year, they all put names in a hat -- everyone pulls a name and buys a gift for that one person. That way, everyone gets a gift, and no one has to feel strapped during the holidays. then they plan a big party on Christmas morning where everyone opens their gifts. FOOD IS ALWAYS A GREAT GIFT Food is a great option -- especially when you like to give a little something to everyone you know. Bake a huge batch of cookies or make sausage balls -- or even the dreaded fruitcake (it's actually pretty good when it's homemade!) Then wrap a small bundle in colored cellophane and top with a bow. It's festive, it's inexpensive, it comes from the heart, it will eventually disappear (reducing clutter) -- and everyone loves to eat! MAKE YOUR OWN GIFT BASKETS Gift baskets have become the hip and happening gift over the last few years. You can customize the contents to the recipient's interests and hobbies. But paying a gift basket company to put one together for you can cost more than a traditional store-bought gift. I will shop sales throughout the year finding neat little "gizmos" that would go well in a gift basket -- a kitchen tool for my sister who loves to cook or something "cow" themed for my friend -- and stash them away until the holidays. I also look for practical (a colander) or funky (a cow-shaped cookie jar) containers to use in place of the basket. The result is a gift that I had fun putting together, that really means something to the recipient, and that costs less than looks like it should! GIVE AN EXPERIENCE RATHER THAN A THING You don't always have to give "stuff" when a gifting occasion comes around. Some of the best presents I have ever received were events rather than "things." And they don't have to be expensive -- one memorable gift for me was a day out with my friends at a state park (hiking, canoeing, and a picnic lunch). You can build some great memories, spend some quality time -- and you don't have to worry about your gift getting dusty or broken! GIVE A HANDMADE GIFT Handmade gifts have gotten a bad rap in the past -- as being cheesy or poorly made. But you can put together some pretty cool handmade gifts. At least half of my Christmas decorations are made by someone in my family -- and I get compliments each year on how nice they look. With craft stores springing up in abundance around the country, you can find tons of great high-quality, low-cost gift ideas. Handmade gifts have a "homey" feel that bought presents often lack -- and you get the satisfaction of knowing that you created it yourself. And if you really want to turn on the old heart light, give a gift that one of your kids made! GIVE A GIFT CERTIFICATE Gift certificates have also gotten a bad reputation -- you couldn't think of anything else, so you got a gift certificate. I happen to think that gift certificates are an excellent option, because it allows the person to get what they really WANT or NEED. And your gift certificates don't have to be store-bought. You can give gift certificates for chores or events -- babysitting or a night on the town. I recently gave a friend of mine a gift certificate for a day of horseback riding and sushi (?!) -- two things her husband doesn't care for -- and she loved it. MAKE A CHARITABLE DONATION This gift shows the real spirit of the season. You can choose from a variety of non-profit organizations -- from adopting a whale to planting a tree to making a contribution to the Kidney Foundation. And hopefully your selflessness and concern for those around you will inspire others to do the same. GIVE A PIECE OF NOSTALGIA One year, I made photo albums for my sisters. I gathered up pictures of our parents and grandparents, them as children, family events we had attended together, and important moments in their lives. It was simple and inexpensive and I had a nice trip down memory lane putting it together. And I don't know if I've ever gotten a better response to a Christmas gift. Anything that reminds people of the "good old days" is always well-received. Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com -- a web-based one-stop shop offering everything that you need to get organized at home or at work. At OnlineOrganizing.com, you may get a referral to an organizer near you, shop for the latest organizing products, get tons of free tips, and even learn how to become a professional organizer or build your existing organizing business. And if you would like to read more articles about organizing your life or building your business, get a free subscription to the "Get Organized" and "Organized For A Living" newsletters. Please visit http://www.OnlineOrganizing.com or contact Ramona directly at ramona@onlineorganizing.com for more information.
MORE RESOURCES:
Holidays - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Top Ten Tips To A Terrific Valentine's Day - For Men in Relationships Okay guys, so this is a great opportunity to get back in the good books, or if you are already there, to get some extra points. Women love to be courted, wooed, treated like princesses. Happy Holidays? It's Up To You The Holiday Season. Does time seem to compress, or is it just me? There's so much going on -- the end of autumn, the beginning of winter, and all the holidays that follow. The History of Christmas Ornaments History of OrnamentsIn A.D. Mothers Day, Do You Know What Youre Giving The Woman Who Gave You Life? Mother's Day, Do you know what you're giving the woman who gave you life? by DeAnna SpencerI decided to deviate from my normal discussion of marketing and advertising to discuss a major gift giving holiday.Mother's day is coming soon. 5 Tips to Reduce Holiday Depression As the holidays approach each year, more and more people suffer from Holiday Depression.Some experts blame it on factors relating to nutrition. Contact Lenses for Halloween It is never too soon to begin planning the perfect Halloween costume, and frequently the best ones require a lot of planning and special effects items. Luckily for all the Halloween fans out there, there is now a huge line of contact lenses for Halloween. 5 Most Popular Styles of Christmas Ornaments Traditionally Christmas ornaments were bulbs of all the same color which were placed randomly throughout your Christmas tree. Over the past few decades, Christmas ornaments have developed into elaborate pieces of art which are delicately planned out and placed throughout the Christmas tree. Do It Yourself Gifts Sometimes gifts that you purchase are not as personalized as you would like. They do not quite seem to fit the idea you had in mind. 50 Ways to Acknowledge Your Employees Before and After Labor Day For most people, Labor Day symbolizes the end of summer, back to school, and another long weekend. Deep down however, when we stop for a moment and reflect as we often do on bank holidays, we all know that Labor Day is, in reality, meant to signify a time to recognize the achievement, struggle and determination of the working man and woman. Mothers Day Shopping Ideas Do you know a Mom who needs to be thanked for the tireless effort she makes every day to her family? Does your Mom get the appreciation she deserves? While we all know we should tell our mothers how much we love her every week, sometimes our day to day routine can make us forget. This Mother's Day, make Mom feel extra special! By following the gift ideas and tips below, you're sure to make this year's Mother's day a great one, something she will cherish and remember, and all at the same time keeping an eye on your checkbook. Tis The Season For Love - and Stress! The holidays are upon us and for many people this is the most stressful time of year. There is so much to do and not enough time to do it in, places to go, people to see, gifts to buy, food to prepare, and on and on and on. FIREWORKS--OR, OOH, AAH, How Do They Do That? One of my earliest memories involves a Fourth of July spent at Annandale, Minnesota, sitting on a hill and watching fireworks. Our family had a cabin on Cedar Lake, a mile and a half away, and we had come to the display with a recently emptied ice cream tub filled with popcorn and a thermos of raspberry Kool-Aid. Nicely Designed Pillows As Gifts Many of us are probably squeezing out our brains to the limit just for a single purpose, to think of what to give especially when it's Christmas or just a simple birthday present. It's always nice to give the jewelries, toys, clothes and shoes as we all had been used to of what to give. The Fathers Day Celebration Fathers Day is another reason to celebrate another responsible adult in the family. If some of our media sources would have it though, you would think that there are no real fathers around to celebrate on Fathers Day. Preparing For the Holidays: Ho Ho Ho... or Bah Humbug! Some of my clients dread the holiday season because it often represents stress, pressure, expectations, guilt, disappointment, pain, loneliness, exhaustion.. Tips for Planning an Egg-stra Special Easter Party Bunnies & chicks, colourful eggs, and the hunt for hidden chocolate. It's no wonder kids await the arrival of Easter with such eager anticipation. How Parents Can Win the Battle To Keep Your Child Safe From Strangers This Holiday Season When we think of Holiday shopping, we think of all the glowing lights at our area malls and the various eye-catching decorations in shopping centers. Along with distractions with our 'to do' list in our heads, we get preoccupied with carrying bags and scoping out gifts. 5 Ways to Lose Those Holiday Blues What a great time of year! It's a time to be thankful for what we have and enjoy all the festivities that mark a renewal of our hope and faith in the "system" that will carry us toward a bright new year.Right? So if this is such a wonderful season, how come so many of us wind up in Yucksville? It may have something to do with losing our rational map about the time we made the turn at the Grotto of the Great Pumpkin. Alone for the Holidays? Being alone is a challenge for many people. This challenge may loom especially large during the holidays if you are single or newly divorced and without family around you. A Medieval Story for Valentines Day, Bonne & Charles The general word on the Internet is the first Valentine card was sent in 1415. It's not accurate and it's not true.
|
| home | index |site map |
| © 2006 |
