Gift giving season is just around the corner. We, the consumers, are bombarded with advertisements to buy and buy and buy. Anytime we go to the mall, what do we see? Glistening decorations and big signs of discounts for plentiful products at the storefront meet us with open hands. “Come and buy me”, they whisper in our ears. They allure us to enter and possibly buy the merchandise on display. The soothing melodies are played for us, so we are already in a better mood, perhaps more relaxed and ready to spend our hard earned bucks. When we have the budget to spend money for all these gifts, there is no problem, but what happens when we are on an extremely tight budget?
The Gift of Giving is the Gift that comes from the Heart
Shopping and looking for the right gifts can be exhausting and it can affect us emotionally. It can bring emotions that have been dormant for years to the surface. Perhaps emotions that we want to avoid, thus we really do not want to think about them or confront them at the moment they show up unexpectedly, and just like our far away relatives from another state, who are only visiting our town, and they show up in our door steps without even a phone call. Or what about that aunt whom we do not get along very well, because she always has the tendency to criticize us, yet we feel obligated to send her a gift, which we really do not know what would be the perfect one for her.
We do need to remember that there are other ways to acknowledge our friends and family without having to purchase expensive gifts. Greeting cards and photos are just as good as these exorbitant perfumes or bags. They can be meaningful. We keep our friends and family in the loop of what has been happening with us when we give or send them greeting cards along with photos. We do not need to judge the value of the gift, that is not important, and there is no need to feel embarrassed if we do not have as big of a budget to spend on gifts. A thoughtful greeting card with a relevant quote goes a long way. Another idea is to make hand-made greeting cards. There are many DIY websites that show step by step how to make a hand-made greeting card. Besides, a hand-made product is not meant to be professional or perfect. That is the uniqueness of it. We will not find another one as this one.
Another way of giving is gatherings and parties; opening our homes for friends, neighbors and family. Having a good time together, talking with one another and catching up, listening to old songs and singing along, sharing food, perhaps with special Holidays recipes to bring the Holidays spirit. With gatherings and parties we are giving the gift of experience, of sharing good times together to remember for many years.
Give with open Heart and you shall receive manifolds
When we have the urge to give and times are tight, we can give the gift of home-baked goodies. Let’s find an easy recipe of chocolate chip cookies to follow, or banana bread with chocolate. Most of us love chocolate, isn’t it right? One of my signature home baked goodies for a gift is chocolate biscotti. It is easy enough to follow, and I will post the recipe later. At the second hand stores there are plenty of containers for baked goods. They can be woven baskets, or tin boxes. Inside the basket, or the tin box we can lay out a decorative napkin or a fabric, so the feel is warm and personal. Another idea of making a gift is to get 2-3 fresh herbal plants at the local farmer’s market, or the nursery, and plant them in a pot together. As an example, rosemary, oregano and basil are a complementing trio. Many of us who like to cook would appreciate such a gift for any occasion. These are only a few options of giving gifts without breaking the bank, so we have something in our hands to give with love.
At work, or with social groups, or even clubs, we can start an open discussion ahead of time about no gift giving policy. Instead, we can set a special lunch and that will be just fine; we can make it festive and warm with a colorful tablecloth, some decorations that each of us can bring from home, or we can ask some help from our boss. A potluck for the Holidays, where each of us brings his or her favorite dish is also a way of getting to know one another through food, and strengthening our relationships with one another. Our own special dish from home can be a subject to a conversation about the origin of the dish. Whether it is reminiscence from our grandparents’ home, or our parents, that is our connection and the gift we give to others.
Now, we know that there will be the one who cannot resist and will buy gifts for everyone. That is okay too. Graciously say thank you.
Happy Holidays Season!
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