Giving Gifts.
Hello:
Shopping is a major activity for the next month. Did you get pulled into the consumer spending vortex on Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Perhaps, you participated in the more helpful option of Giving Tuesday.
How’s it going with your gift shopping? What kind of Christmas, Holiday, Ramadan, or Hanukkah gifts will you give your loved ones this year? Are you freaking out about what perfect gifts to buy? Take some deep breaths and know that gifts don’t have to be life-changing; they can be simple, meaningful, and inexpensive.
I’ve been pulled into these spending whirlpools in the past because I felt I couldn’t let such good deals pass. Now I ignore the bombardment of emails and ads displaying endless bargains. No one I know needs more stuff, and more individuals and families are struggling with record numbers accessing food banks for the first time. Perhaps this is you.
Each Holiday Season, I write on this topic, and I ask myself and encourage you to do the same: what matters in life, especially this time of year? For me, simplicity is more enticing than ever, and absolutely nothing is more important than spending time with your loved ones. Wouldn’t you rather eat delicious food, go for long hikes, play board games, and hang out with the people you love over giving or receiving a ridiculous number of things that aren’t needed? I’m the most excited to sit down with loved ones for a big Christmas feast and a couple of sloth days in my PJs. Seeing some of my family and friends is the best gift, and I don’t need anything else! I have so much to be grateful for.
We’re scaling way back in our gift-giving this year and still want to give or make a few meaningful gifts. Here are a few suggestions:
Homemade Gift Ideas
There is something extra special about homemade gifts-they have more meaning because you know the time and effort that went into making them. If you are thinking about making some gifts this year, don’t stress yourself by feeling you must make a quilt or knit a sweater!!
You can easily make body scrubs, bath salts, homemade aromatherapy sprays, DIY soup mason jars, baked goods, jams, sauces or artwork.
Support Local and Small Businesses
Many small businesses are struggling and could use our help. Gift cards can make an excellent gift if they’re from a company that your loved one likes and even better if it’s from a local, small business. Instead of ordering anything from Amazon (they don’t need our business), order your books from a local bookstore or instead of a gift card from Starbucks, purchase a gift card from someone’s favourite local café. Support local artists, wineries, breweries, clothing stores, specialty shops, cafes and restaurants.
What does your community need? Check in with local shelters and other community organizations to see if you can support a family by purchasing gifts for them. This time of year, shelters are desperate for winter clothing.
Take the money you would be spending on gifts and use it to donate to your or your loved one's favourite organizations.
Gifts for Animal Lovers
Consider a donation to an organization that supports animals. Animal Justice challenges our weak animal protection laws. The Humane Society International Canada is struggling because all of their locations are overwhelmed by the number of pandemic pets that have been surrendered. Or donate to one of the animal sanctuaries listed below.
Gifts that Support the Environment
Give or ask others to donate to your favourite environmental organizations like the David Suzuki Foundation or Tree Canada
Purchase eco-friendly household products from Hello Good Juju. They are a Canadian company that sells all-natural, plastic-free body and home care. If you’re concerned about how much plastic is wasted on single-use plastics such as shampoo bottles, laundry soap bottles etc., then buy from them and use the code JENNPIKE10 for a discount.
Have an Impact on Food Security
As I mentioned earlier, food banks cannot keep up with the demand. Every community has food banks, and as much as they appreciate food donations, they prefer to receive money donations because this gives them the flexibility to purchase in bulk things they are short on. Donate locally or consider donating to:
CBC’s Annual Sounds of the Season Food Bank Fundraiser
● By phone: Call operators at 1-855-700-SOTS (1-855-700-7687)
Or give to an aid organization like Project Hope that provides assistance to areas in the world that are dealing with conflict-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza.
For some other ideas, check out:
Kiva is an international non-profit organization founded in 2005 with a mission to expand financial access to help underserved communities. Over 1.7 billion people worldwide are unbanked and can’t access the financial services they need. By lending as little as $25 on Kiva, you can be part of the solution and make a real difference in someone’s life. 100% of every dollar you lend on Kiva goes to funding loans.
This year, I’ve purchased seeds for loved ones that Tree Canada will plant, and my husband and I are skipping gifts with the exception of buying a book for each other from our local books store. We will be donating to our local human society and food bank instead.
When it comes to giving gifts, give gifts that give. Please share your gift-giving ideas in the comments below. Happy Creating, Sharing & Giving.
Peace and blessings.
Anita
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