'Tis the Season of Giving and Sharing

15 Ideas and Tips to Give More, Spend Less, and Share More Time with Friends and Family During the Holiday Season

The holiday season should be a time to enjoy, share good times with friends, family, co-workers, and other special people in our lives. But, too often, it becomes a very stressful time of year for many of us because we're trying to do too much, cramming in as much as possible during a generally very hectic time of year, and then often feel guilty if we sometimes fall short of our expectations or plans. This year especially, with the economy still not rebounding, many families are faced with smaller budgets, working longer hours to make ends meet, and many people are still unemployed or under employed. But we can still find ways to enjoy the holidays with our loved ones without spending a lot of money and going deeper into debt.

Here are a few ideas:

1. If you're buying gifts this year, buy gifts that support a favorite cause. A few websites to check out include www.thehungersite.com; www.thebreastcancersite.com; www.theliteracysite.com; and Bidding For Good www.cmarket.com Another one is Prosperity Candle which helps women in war-torn areas to rebuild their lives . You can buy a gift and know that a % of the sale is going to help others.
2. Don't exchange gifts at all! Instead make a donation to a favorite non-profit. This can be done in honor or in memory of a friend, family member, or a client. A few years ago, members of my family started to make donations to favorite causes in lieu of exchanging gifts. One year, we made donations to a local hospice; another year we "adopted" a child in Central America; another year the local animal shelter; and a few times, we made donations to Heifer International www.heifer.org and made a difference in the lives of several families in Africa.
3. Host a holiday pot luck gathering for friends, neighbors, or family. Ask that everyone bring a non-perishable food item to the party to be donated to a local food bank. Or ask everyone to bring a gift that can be donated to Toys for Tots or some other organization that is donating toys and clothing to less fortunate children and their families.
4. Host a party for your kids and their friends to make handmade holiday ornaments, gift tags, and gifts. Invite parents to come along to help supervise. Ask everyone to bring an assortment of paper, paints, glitter, etc. Provide light refreshments, healthy snacks, and drinks. You can find some great holiday ideas at www.bhg.com/holidays
5. Enjoy singing? Get a group together to go caroling around your neighborhood some evening. After you're done, invite participants to have hot mulled cider and homemade cookies. Another twist is to gather a group together to visit local area nursing homes. This is a great way to bring some cheer to folks who may often get lonely during the holidays if they don't have family nearby.
6. You don't have to spend a lot of money on gift wrapping! Especially now when we are all doing our best to recycle, reuse, repurpose, and conserve. Instead of buying new gift wrap, use whatever you have on hand and make it look festive by adding different embellishments. Tissue paper, kraft paper, a roll of newsprint paper, or white drawing paper are all good choices. Decorate with stamped designs, stencils, leftover trims and ribbon, beads, pine cones, appliqués, press on letters, etc. Go to Real Simple www.realsimple.com for some inexpensive and creative ideas.
7. Create beautiful, inexpensive, and memorable holiday decorations from natural materials such as fruits, nuts, berries, pine cones, evergreens, bark, twigs, leaves, etc. Go to www.bhg.com/holidays for tips, information, and instructions.
8. Instead of buying "new," shop at local antique stores, flea markets, and second hand and thrift shops to find items which can be repurposed or made into something "new." If you're handy, you can make a lamp from an old crock, jar, or container. Buy a new lampshade to fit, and voila! A new lamp! You can find some great ideas in a book by Judy Lake, aka "The Lampshade Lady" from Pawlet, VT -- The Lampshade Lady's Guide to Lighting Up Your Life. Go to www.lakeslampshades.com for more information.
9.  Another idea - find a pretty teacup and saucer and include it in a gift box with assorted teas, and maybe a vintage teaspoon. Add a package of shortbread or little tea cakes. Better yet, include   some home baked cookies. Yum!
10. Vintage pins, bracelets, earrings, brooches, stick pins, and cuff links can often be found very inexpensively at flea markets, antique shops, and second hand shops. These all make great gifts!
11. Host a recycle, reuse, re-purpose (and Oh, No!) re-gift exchange with friends and neighbors. Attendees can bring anywhere from 1 to 5 or more items that they'd like to part with and exchange with others at the party. For example, you bring a book, a framed print, a set of martini glasses, a basket, and a set of mugs. These can be exchanged for other items brought to the party by others. 
12. Another twist on the same idea is to have attendees bid on various popular items and the highest bidder wins. The money is then donated to a local charity. Any gift items that are left over can be donated to the local Goodwill Store, Thrift Shop, or Salvation Army Store.
13. One of the easiest ways to get your home ready for the holidays and reduce some stress is to spend some time de-cluttering ahead of time. Before you start to decorate, make sure you get rid of anything you don't need, want, or absolutely love to have around. This may also be a way to find some gift items for that holiday "exchange" party or find some things that can be donated to a local homeless shelter or someone in need. 
14. We all like to have our homes looking their best during the holidays, especially if we're planning to entertain. But what if your furniture has seen better days and you can't afford to buy that new sofa or chair just yet? You can cover it with an inexpensive slipcover or throw, or use a quilt or coverlet to hide a multitude of sins. Add a few new throw pillows in festive holiday colors and your ugly duckling has been transformed into a swan.
15.  If you're still mailing out holiday cards, buy cards that support a cause such as UNICEF, or at the very least, buy cards that are made from recycled and repurposed materials. If you have some extra time and want to get creative, you can make holiday cards yourself. Or send holiday postcards which will save you a few cents each on postage. You can also send holiday E-Cards via email to friends, family members, and business associates as long as you know the recipients won't be offended. That will save you a lot of money on postage. Check out www.bluemountain.com for a wonderful selection of e-cards.

So, have fun this holiday season! Spend some quality time with friends and family doing and sharing activities that have meaning and will create some treasured memories for years to come.

You don't have to spend a lot of money on gift giving and entertaining, this holiday season. Get creative! Be inspired! Enjoy yourselves, share the joy and have fun with some of the simpler things. Be generous with your spirit and perform random acts of kindness to strangers. Sometimes, a smile and a cheery "hello!" will make a huge difference to someone who might not be having a great day.

Happy Holidays!