“The RoseBouquet”

When I was working as a receptionist and switchboard operator in London, Ontario, Canada, I was bursting with generosity and having just received a Woolco charge card, I decided to really enjoy selecting and buying gifts for relatives back home, the relatives I was going to spend Christmas with in Toronto, and also my new friends. To my chargrin, I had to live on a very tight budget for myself all the next year and part of the year after just to pay for that shopping splurge. And honestly, I wasn’t buying terribly expensive gifts. More like books, games, and chocolates.

That taught me a valuable lesson, one that I notice many in our society have not learned yet. I hope you are one of the fortunate ones who knows that you do NOT have to go in debt to buy Christmas gifts. There are better ways to go about giving gifts.

In case this is new to you, let me offer you some helpful gift-giving tips.

First of all, sit down and think things through. Scribble notes and clarify in your mind a few basic perspectives.

1. Who exactly are you responsible to give gifts to?

Your children, your parents, perhaps some siblings. Just one or two good, close friends? If they already have everything they want, maybe you should consider giving to people in real need instead Your city, or the one near to you, probably has a lot of needy people they are collecting for. They would be thrilled with any size financial gift, no matter how small, or any practical used clothing, etc. that you have in your home ready to give away.

Ask yourself if some of the people to whom you usually give gifts really appreciate them, or only feel like they are obligated to reciprocate. In the end you are both just going through motions. Perhaps you could talk to that friend about discontinuing this charade. Agree to go together on a gift to someone who needs practical help or a gift to show them they are not forgotten. Or, offer to do a favour, so you can show the friend you really care.

Remember that the giving of gifts is suppose to remind us of the greatest gift of all time, which God gave us when He sent His Son to be our Saviour. Christmas is NOT giving or receiving the biggest, the best, the most desired object. Let’s forget trying to compete with God in being the Biggest Giver.

2. Determine just how much money you can fairly spend on gifts without hurting your living expenses.

If that comes to a zero budget, do not worry about it. I learned long ago that necessity is the mother of invention, and a lack is the father of creativity. It was only after I decided that I would no longer spend any more on Christmas gifts if I could avoid it that I really began to discover my ability to make gifts. It has taken longer to learn to budget my time for this. For some gift-making you need to start weeks and months before Christmas arrives. In some cases there are some materials to buy. If you can afford it safely. If not, there are many gifts that you can make with the things you find in your home, or recyclables headed to the garbage any way. Settle on an amount that you dare spend on gift purchases, or raw materials for gift-making, then stick to that budget. Don’t let impulse buying mess you up.

3. Now make a list of things that are in your power to make or give. Take time to research.

I used to go to the public library and take out all kinds of craft books. Even the simple crafts in a child’s craft book, when done neatly and with an extra touch of flare by an adult can make suitable gifts. I also found that once I was making one gift, it was easy to make another and another of the same type. So give thought to what kind of gift would be useful or appreciated by most of the people you want to give a token of your love too.

But if you don’t feel confident of your creative skills, or you simple do not have the time to invest, there are other easier things to prepare. How about some coupons (whether computer designed or hand-made) for special favours or treats. Folks especially like the recurring ones, where you offer to do something at least once a month for them. That gift provides more contact and can lead to other things throughout the year. Again, it’s a matter of some deep thinking time, where you consider what your recipient likes and would appreciate, and whether you have a skill or a block of time you can offer to meet that goal.

Last year after Dad’s estate auction, I was stuck with several boxes of jars. I decided to take them with me, and this year I’m filling them with small baked goodies, dressing up the jars, and once they are gone I will feel good about how I disposed of them. At the same time, the people who receive my jar gifts will not have to feel it was such an expensive gift that they must dash out to the stores to buy something of equal value for me.

4. Now work your plan

Give up some activities if you must, because sensible giving is a gift of your time and effort too. This may take longer than roaming through a mall for a day or two of shopping. (Though I suspect that those who go shopping spend more time than I do with my making of gifts). Involve your children, if you have some, because they will learn some important life-values about generosity and giving from taking part.

Make secret notes if you can, on how people responded to your gifts as that can help you in the future to refine and improve your gifts.

I think I can promise you that you’ll feel better about this kind of giving and will want to continue with this pattern even when you can afford store-bought gifts. You will also appreciate the gifts you receive a lot more. The expensive ones for the cost, and the handmade ones for the time and skill invested in them.

We’ll have to talk another time about more specific ideas, and also how to be a good receiver of gifts.