It is the time of year when many people’s thoughts and wallet turn to holiday gift-giving. There is a real joy in finding just the right gift for a close friend or loved one — and a real pain when you aren’t successful.
Group gifts together
When gift-giving becomes frustrating or overwhelming all fun is lost. If you have a huge list of gifts to purchase and dread what that means, perhaps you can group the gifts into categories and purchase the same or similar items for multiple people. You can also opt for a “White Elephant” or Secret Santa gift exchange, if everyone involved agrees.
Such approaches may have the benefit of reducing the clutter caused by well-intended gifts that were sadly off the mark.
Donate to charity
Participating in some charitable gift-giving opportunities will also limit clutter, and can make the holiday season brighter for both the givers and the recipients.
Our family always adopts a local family in need, providing things like warm clothes and grocery store gift cards as well as toys. The Salvation Army can help you find a very deserving family, as can local churches and charities. Check with your favorite to see if they can point you in the right direction.
Choose a theme
If you are required to purchase gifts for friends and family, consider a theme. One year I gave remote control airplanes to every man or boy on my list and personalized stationery for each woman/girl. This eliminates the need for a hundred different original ideas while still giving each person their own individual version of the same thing. Other ideas include perfume bottles, books, planners, and beard grooming kits.
