| It's that time of the year and sooner or later we all | | | | ever got as a newlywed was a professional organizer |
| have to make decisions about holiday gifts. Over the | | | | to help her go through her gifts and set up her new |
| years my family has simplified the gift giving process | | | | home. One grandmother decided to give her |
| and has tried to think of out-of-the-box ideas for | | | | grandchildren "time coupons" instead of gifts. She |
| making the holidays less stressful, more affordable | | | | spent individual time with each grandchild doing the |
| and still creative and fun. This year I'm inviting you to | | | | things they love the most. |
| be more conscious of the gifts you buy. Here are | | | | 5. Gift Wrap |
| some things to keep in mind when jumping into the | | | | Instead of spending money on wrapping paper or gift |
| shopping frenzy. | | | | bags that will eventually be thrown away and are not |
| 1. What are your Core Values? | | | | recyclable, here are a couple alternatives. Use the |
| Before you begin making a list of gift ideas, revisit | | | | comic section of the newspaper to wrap a kid's gift |
| your core values and make shopping decisions from | | | | or another section of the newspaper that is of |
| there. My core values are family, faith, honesty | | | | interest to the recipient. Place the gift in a basket or |
| & compassion. When making decisions I use | | | | box that can be repurposed later. It's like two gifts in |
| these values to keep me focused and true to whom | | | | one! |
| I am when choosing gifts. | | | | 6. Swap Party |
| 2. Make a list | | | | Get together with your friends or family and have a |
| About a month before the holidays, begin making a | | | | swap party. Choose someone to host the party. |
| list of friends and family you're shopping for. What | | | | Have everyone bring items such as clothes, house |
| aspects of these individuals do you want to | | | | wares, toys & jewelry (at least 8-10 items) they |
| encourage and accentuate. Just like a grocery list, | | | | don't need or want, organize everyone's items by |
| going by a list, will save you time, money and stress. | | | | category, serve food and drink and start shopping! |
| Refer to the list, edit when necessary and carry the | | | | You get to shop for free and anything left over can |
| list until your shopping is complete. | | | | be given to charity. |
| 3. Think Eco-Friendly! | | | | This time of year, when money is tight and the gift |
| This year making eco-friendly decisions is not only the | | | | list is long, I am reminded of a story I once heard. A |
| "in" thing to do but necessary. Will buying a certain | | | | husband and wife are both concerned that they can't |
| gift just add to the recipient's clutter? Is the gift | | | | afford to give each other gifts for the holidays. One |
| useful? Is it made from eco-friendly material? Is it | | | | day the husband decides to sell his work tools to buy |
| recyclable? | | | | his wife a beautiful barrette for her long dark hair. At |
| 4. Buy a Service | | | | the same time, his wife decides to cut her hair short |
| This year buy a gift certificate for a service such as | | | | and use the money to buy him a leather case to hold |
| a cleaning crew, a professional organizer, or | | | | all his tools....you can imagine how it ends. I was |
| babysitting services. These gifts are not only useful | | | | always touched by the story because it expressed |
| but to many of us a necessary part of having a | | | | the true spirit of gift giving, thoughtful, purposeful |
| balanced, healthy and joyful life. I met a young | | | | and definitely not wasteful. |
| woman last week and she told me the best gift she | | | | |