I can tell the holidays are almost here when I offend a friend or two. Just yesterday, I brazenly poopooed my friend’s gift for her mother – a pink rhinestone covered computer mouse – even though it’s what her mother wanted. When it comes to holiday gift-giving, I seem to have low tolerance for people who buy frivolous stuff.
Believe me, I am certainly not the most conscientious consumer; but this year I’ve decided to put my money where my mouth is and give only meaningful, homemade and earth-friendly presents.
Here’s what I’m thinking of giving my dear friends and family (other than a lecture):
1. Edible gifts
Totally thoughtful and practical, I’m thinking of fair trade coffee beans and chocolate or baked goods I made myself. Note: I have yet to make a single batch of cookies so perhaps this gift should be accompanied by a warning.
2. Re-gifting
Re-gifting is great for friends and family who are not materialistic but do appreciate things like second-hand books, artwork and picture frames. From my experience, re-gifting is made even easier if you pass on things other people really want like unopened bottles of liqueur or gift cards for businesses they frequent, but you don’t.
3. The Gift of Empowerment
Find a charity you would like to support on www.canadahelps.org or see how organizations like Oxfam Canada can put your dollar to work for those who need more than a trinket. www.oxfamunwrapped.ca/
4. The Best Present of All: Time with Me!
Other than money, what is one thing we all want and complain we don’t have enough of? Time! This year, I’m going to design redeemable vouchers for quality time with yours truly like tickets to a concert, movie or a brunch date. (p.s. If you have any special skills like home repair or web design, think about who on your list could use a few hours of your expertise!)
Keep these few tricks up your long-sleeved sweater and it will be easy to simplify your holiday season.
Arran says:
17/12/2008 at 12 h 56 minGreat article Cheryl. For the last few years I have made all my Christmas gifts…toques, soap, paintings, felted bowls. Not only do I get to infuse the gift with all my thoughts of the person I am making it for, I also get to skip the craziness of Christmas shopping and spend time with my friends who come to my house every couple of weeks to make gifts. I do re-gift or re-work things as well and people are always so appreciative of home-made, fair trade, eco-friendly and most importantly really thoughtful gifts.
In all the marketing and shopping madness people sometimes lose track of the joy that can be found in that perfect something for someone you love.
Cheryl Gudz says:
17/12/2008 at 13 h 21 minThanks for your comment Arran. I love making gifts too. Once, I created a felt-based nature scene complete with deer, squirrel, flowers and tree. It was pretty cute. Another year, I made a sock monkey. This year, I’m planning for some more creative artwork. It’s way more fun spending time making something than standing in line! Plus, the gift is bound to be memorable.
Heather says:
19/12/2008 at 15 h 23 minIn my opinion,you should butt out of other peoples’ business and let them give what they wish. If that person in their life wanted that little pink rhinestone mouse cover, who knows ,perhaps that computer is that person’s only link to dear friends at a distance.Allow them the pleasure of doing it with a little flare. Personally I work, with food products all year long, and the idea of receiving more sweets would not be really appreciated by me. And my dear old Mom who we buried 11 years ago today at 91, would jokingly say, please don’t send this old girl any more soap. (However, she was too kind to say it publicly). I do re-gift and feel the real reason for the season has almost been extinguished. But it does not have to be that way in our home. In giving to seniors, the gift of a visit throughout the year would be a wonderful choice.
kOz says:
19/12/2008 at 18 h 00 min“In my opinion,you should butt out of other peoples’ business and let them give what they wish”
… Heather, relax, you have some issues you need to deal with there… don’t project your bitterness on those simply giving an opinion and trying to make the world a better place for everyone
peace
kOz
anon says:
20/12/2008 at 4 h 01 minThat’s not very nice you made fun of your friend for giving that mouse. It sounds pretty.
Francine says:
21/12/2008 at 21 h 46 minThis year, instead of buying gifts for the children of friends who already have everything a child needs and wants, I decided to go grocery shopping for my local food bank…the children get to learn a lesson about the spirit of giving and I feel better knowing that what I bought will be apreciated and used! I also donated money to UNICEF instead of buying things for my older nieces and nephews…It’s a win-win situation in my opinion!
THERESE LALUMIERE says:
23/12/2008 at 2 h 53 minfor xmas day this year as usual,I have my 2 children over but also they each bring someone that would be alone at xmas to share the day with us & goes home with a basket of food.
GreenSoul says:
23/12/2008 at 17 h 41 minIt’s sad to see that the mainstream folks are not seeing this economic crisis as a way for us to move towards a less consumer/materials based society, a less car-oriented society and a society that could still do well with less. Instead, billions are being loaned to continue the way we live not to help deal or cope with the change. It would be nice to see us move to a new equilibrium…if it doesn’t happen now we will be forced to later and your ideas are examples of how some of us can be ready and willing. It’s a big change in mind-set and I can see why it offends people. The green movement has been in several instances seen as an undemocratic and un-patriotic stance since it contradicts the pursuit of wealth on a nationwide scale.
Facebook User says:
20/01/2009 at 12 h 13 minsorry to be adding my thoughts so late to this lively comment thread! it’s not always easy to hear criticism, but i can take it. it is definitely jerky to poopoo someone else’s gift idea, but to be fair i was the first to admit it. i wrote that i had better back up my big mouth with my own actions… which i did. Success in my gift-giving this year, and an extra special gift was made for the friend with the pink mouse…;)
Don says:
26/01/2009 at 0 h 02 minI enjoyed very much the thought put into re-thinking the “frivolous” which is probably why I saved this email. As I read the comments of the readers as to what they would be doing though, I felt the urge to share this thought.
Recently we moved and it became a time of a great ‘purge’ All the stuff/clutter we had about our home. It felt good to be free of so much. One of the most difficult things to let go of is something someone made especially for you. You feel badly and fear offending the giver by not keeping it.
Just a thought for when you make something for someone else. Personally I love the knitted slippers my wife gives me as I use them, enjoy them, they wear out and I hope I will receive another pair. Some gifts are not so functional
Cheryl Gudz says:
03/02/2009 at 18 h 03 minDon, I completely agree. Sometimes homemade gifts can be hard to distinguish from tasteless tchotchkes, save for the guilt factor. Take a tip from my coworker who cheekily regifted a giant papier maché bird in our holiday gift exchange. Simply pass the awkward piece along when you’re through with it