Ideas for Clutter-free Gift Giving This Year!

The holidays are here, and the big day(s) is(are) edging closer and closer. If you want your preparations to run smoothly, your objective should be to accomplish the priorities on your list. Don’t let your perfectionist tendencies keep you from completing your tasks. There’s no reason why that can’t happen.

So let’s get started and turn over another leaf!

CLUTTER-FREE GIFT GIVING

“The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value.” Charles Dudley Warner

We have become a country (along with our neighbours to the south) that likes to accumulate stuff. Why is there such a high value placed on having so many possessions? Are you trying to keep up with the Joneses? Are you drowning in debt in order to do so? This compulsion to accumulate causes clutter.

Getting Started

One of the first steps in dealing with clutter is to reduce it. Think Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Given the state of our economy, many people are out of work. The holidays aren’t supposed to be about who spends the most money.

Family Traditions

Schedule a family meeting, and review your family traditions. Consider eliminating the least favourite. You don’t have to do something just because you feel it is expected. It might not be as important to others as you think.

Gift Giving

When you give a gift, give it without any strings attached. If you are concerned that the gift may need to be exchanged or returned, include a gift receipt.

Regifting

The decision whether or not to regift is a personal one. If you decide to regift, the item should be in mint condition. Make sure you aren’t returning the gift to the person who gave it to you.

Gift Ideas

Ask for suggestions. Don’t assume everyone likes what you like. Listen carefully to people; they often give you ideas without even realizing it. Jot down ideas as you think of them.

Be creative. A membership for car services can be appreciated at any time of the year—whether someone’s stuck in a snow bank or has a flat tire. A magazine subscription—decorating, crafts, health or sports—can be a thoughtful gift. Tickets to a play or concert are also another idea.

Give gifts that are kind to the environment. Check out the many church bazaars and shows which showcase talented local artisans.

Gift Cards

Give a gift card to a person’s favourite store. A gift certificate to treat themselves for lunch or dinner at their favourite place will always be appreciated. For someone who loves gardening, a gift certificate to a nursery makes a great gift.

Make your own gift certificates—several hours of babysitting for a friend, a home-cooked dinner, shovelling snow for a neighbour, etc. Let your children have some fun suggesting ideas and creating the gift certificates.

Homemade Gifts

Homemade baking, jams, soup, pickles or canning wrapped in a festive tea towel, basket or cookie container are always appreciated–particularly by someone who doesn’t bake or can.

Organize a cookie exchange. If you have a friend who loves to bake, ask her if she’ll bake for you in exchange for wrapping gifts or another task.

If you knit, scarves, hats and mittens in a person’s favourite colour will be appreciated on a cold wintery day.

Services

Give a gift of your time. Running errands for a friend or having afternoon tea with a senior are just a couple of ideas.

Donations

For those people who have everything, make a donation to their favourite charity. Make a donation to your local Community Services Christmas Goodwill program in their name. Or give them a card stating that you have purchased an Angel Tree gift, so that a child has a gift to open on Christmas morning.

Instead of another mug for your child’s teacher, ask if you could donate classroom supplies.

Holiday Clothing

When you’re going through your closet deciding what to wear to your holiday get-together, think about donating the outfits you no longer wear.

The Princess Project provides young women who may not have the means to afford a beautiful dress for their graduation or prom. All dresses, accessories and shoes are provided at no cost to these young women. For more information, contact Kelly Steiss.

Make it Meaningful

Make time to volunteer. Involve your children. Whether it’s serving a meal at a soup kitchen, helping at the Food Bank, delivering Christmas hampers or visiting with someone who lives alone, there are numerous ways to get involved in your community. Volunteering is a reward in itself.

The important thing about the holidays is that you allocate some time to do whatever means the most to you.

Remember–clutter-free gift giving can apply to the whole year, not just the holidays.

ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS!

I invite you to share our newsletter with your friends and family. As well, I welcome your feedback and suggestions.