Three strategies for a greener, simpler, happier holiday

Revisiting a bustling mall makes me think about the environmental impact of holiday shopping but it also makes me think about human resources that are eaten up by excessive shopping. (And I say “excessive” because I am in no way an extremist, as you all know.) On this blog, a message I hear repeatedly from my readers is how important friends, families and pets are to our happiness and well-being.  Spending time with the people we care about is obviously a crucial component to our happiness and, without a doubt, the best frugal luxury there is.  In a busy world, time with others, and time alone, has become a valuable commodity. Wouldn’t it make more sense to spend less time shopping and more time just being?

In Amber’s post, she asks, “What green holiday traditions are you adopting?” Well, I have a few strategies to reduce environmental and financial costs, and make the holidays more meaningful and special to me:

1. Doin’ it DIY. I love making homemade gifts and homemade cards. There is nothing quite like crafting something that is tailor-made and perfectly suited to the recipient.  Seeing them actually use or consume the gift offers a particular thrill.

*homemade treats*

2. Innovative Packaging. Gifts become instantly more environmentally friendly when you package them yourself, especially when you use what you’ve already got around the house - think reusable glass mason jars, wire or wicker baskets, vintage tins, or - my favourite - “repurposed junk”. (Remember the tea box I made? You can find a tutorial I wrote on how to do it at Organizing Junkie.)

*once a tea box, now a gift box*

2. Thrift. I must admit, I owe a lot to Shopping GoLightly at The Thrifty Chicks.  This woman has opened my eyes to a whole new world.  And although I know that I’m preaching to the converted, I must just reiterate that thrift stores are not just full of fondue sets, massaging foot baths and harlequin romance novels.  You can find great vintage pieces for collectors, one-of-a-kind items and plenty of brand spanking new in-the-box items, sometimes with the tags still on.  You get to decide whether your favourite part of thrifting is that it is environmentally friendly, saving you gobs of money, supporting local charities, or providing you with the thrill of the hunt.

*a vintage find for my table - pretty, embroidered napkins*

Shopping GoLightly also reminds us that to be known and understood is the true gift - in this post, Ms. GoLightly responds to a comment I made on her blog, and reminds me (and all of us) that a gift, whether homemade, thrifted, or bought retail, means the most when it is meant to enhance a person’s authentic self:

The act of taking time to truly listen to me, observe me and truly know me is, in essence the gift, not necessarily the object. That’s the part that sets tears in my eyes. To feel, in this wide world, there is someone who has taken the time to truly know me and wants me to continue on as myself and not be swayed.

*life in the beach, last December; expectations for a different kind of year ahead*

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all my visitors!

This morning I arose to find 4 beautiful deer in the backyard, in search of food, under a gentle snowfall.  What a great start to the day.

I hope everyone has a lovely day with their family. Best wishes for peace and harmony today.

Have a (mutually) frugal Christmas

Since it’s Christmas Eve, I thought I would ‘wrap up’ the holidays by answering a question from one of my readers.

Andrea says:

SQ, I’d love to read a post on this with tips, etiquette and whatnot and varying budgets. What do you do when say you’re watching your cents very carefully, perhaps your gift-giver isn’t and really doesn’t care of their own finances..or they really can afford to just give but then it’s awkward sometimes…?

So after a holiday of aiming to be frugal, here my thoughts based on what I’ve learned.

1. If you are thinking about scaling back this year, it’s a good idea to get everyone on the same page.  You can mention to your colleagues, friends, and family that you are thinking that it might be a good time to simplify the holidays and see what they say.  Many people find excessive shopping a burden and may be grateful you bought it up.  Maybe you can come to some mutual agreement.

2. Once you’ve made your decision, consider letting people know in an email or letter, but do it with as much tact and grace as you can muster.  I would probably try something like,

“This has been a hard year for many families with so many lay-offs and an economic downturn.  To ease the stress off all of us, the Adams family would like to simplify Christmas this year and we have decided not to exchange gifts. In lieu of the money we would spend, we will be making a donation to our local food bank.  We hope you will join us in our efforts to simplify and scale back. Thank you for understanding. We are so blessed to have such caring friends in our lives.”

Yes, you do run the risk of offending some, but I think most people will understand and even be relieved. 

3. Consider making a donation in lieu of the gifts.  You do not have to send a donation in lieu of the entire amount you would spend but could make a small but symbolic gesture. 

4. If you make a decision not to exchange, stick to it. I know this is hard, but if you’ve made your wishes clear and your friends still choose to buy gifts then that is their choice. Accept it and express your gratitude and don’t feel guilty.

5. Offer to have people over for a meal or spend time together instead of spending money.

6. Of course, you do have the option to participate in small gift giving in the holidays.  If you choose to do this, keep a small stockpile of little gifts that you can easily share. You can gather up some good buys during boxing day sales or all year round.  Just keep them simple and stick to a budget.

7. Consider “mass producing” small, easy homemade gifts. For example, Crystal Paine at Money Saving Mom made up a whole bunch of little drink mixes.  Try to choose one or two things that you can make for lots of people.  Making more of fewer creations wills save you time and energy.

8. Regift. I actually think regifting from time to time is okay - as long as you think the person would genuinely enjoy the gift. Regifting something you know the person would probably not use is not in good taste, but regifting a lovely gift that you’re sure the person will like is fair game.

9. Consider drawing names. You can do the traditional “secret santa” or try something new, like a donation draw.  Pick names amongst your friends and then make a donation to a charity that reflects your friend’s values and hopes. If your friend loves animals, for example, make a donation to the Humane Society.  This way you can combine gift giving with your philanthropic plans and get a tax-receipt, too!

10. If you have a large family, you can try our family’s trick: Have everyone bring a $5 gift for a person of their own gender. Then drop it in pile.  Everyone gets to pick up a gift and no one has to spend a lot.  And everyone has the option not to participate.

Other tips and strategies for your next frugal Christmas

1. Plan ahead, way ahead. If you’re making gifts yourself, they will take more time so recognize that you need to set aside more time in advance to avoid stress.

2. Factor generosity into your budget.  Plan to be generous with tips? Hoping to make donations or contribute gifts in kind?  Work these financial goals into your budget to avoid having to choose between being generous and being practical.

3. Factor the cost of materials into your budget, too.  Homemade gifts aren’t free.  Calculate the cost of materials in advance.

I hope this helps with next year’s plans!

But this year, concentrate on your many blessings and congratulate yourself for all your hard work.  Don’t expect perfection. Maybe you went over budget. Maybe you expected your homemade gifts to come out looking like something Martha Stewart hand crafted and your expectations of yourself fell short.  But whatever the outcome, be proud and happy that you worked hard to make a change and act in ways that reflect your values. Now it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labour!

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve!

Reflections on a Christmas Budget

Refelections

With the holidays are upon us - yesterday was the first night of Hanukkah and Christmas is only a few days away - I thought it was a good opportunity to reflect on how well we’ve met our financial goals and what lessons we’ve learned this season.

I must admit that this Christmas I have really done things differently than I normally do.  We scaled way back.  I have made mostly homemade gifts for people and almost all my store bought gifts were simple.  Usually at Christmas I spend hours in the malls, scouring for the “perfect” gift, and always going way over budget.  Although I usually have fun doing it, this year was an opportunity to simplify my life and reflect on what is really important to me.

I’ve read a number of blogs recently where the authors are second guessing their Christmas budgets, even going so far to worry about becoming “stingy” or Grinch-like. As Christmas nears, it’s easy to question the decisions we’ve made, wondering whether it is really enough.

For me, when it comes to gift giving, the difference between being frugal and being cheap is an important one.  Being cheap means you are only concerned with the price-tag and not concerned with how the gift makes the person feel.  But a frugal gift is one that is rich with sentiment.

Being frugal is about living consciously. It is about learning to recognize and rejoice in the bounty within which we already live. It’s about using all means at our disposal - time, energy, creativity, love - and not just money, to accomplish our goals, including helping others.

My goal in life in general is to make a difference, to contribute to the world, to perpetuate peace and compassion.  I’m far from perfect, but that’s my goal.  I aim to be a generous person. But what does this mean, really? What is our purpose of giving a gift?  If it is to show love and gratitude, and if it is given with the intention of making someone’s life a little brighter, does it really have to be attached with a high price tag?

I think it’s sad that we’ve been told so many times that it does.  No wonder it’s hard to step back from that and choose a different path.  But when I remember the heartfelt Christmas letters my Dad used to write me, and the homemade coupons he used to give us as kids, I remember that a store bought gift could never be as meaningful.

I heard on the radio the other day some lovely stories about families who were choosing to eliminate gifts entirely, or severely scale back, in order to put 100% of their efforts towards helping others.  Entire families were dedicating themselves to helping out at shelters and food banks throughout the holidays.  Even the adolescent children were on board. Really, what greater lesson can you share with your children, than one about the joy that comes from selflessness, generosity and goodwill?

So, how did I do with my Christmas budget? In all honesty, we did splurge a little more than we intended. But I also did not do an ounce of shopping in a mall.  All but two of the gifts I bought this year were from small, local stores in my community.  I supported local businesses, shortened the time I spent shopping, and spent more time in the kitchen and crafting, making gifts. I also reused at least some of my gift wrapping supplies from last year and even the tissue paper I saved from my friend’s bridal shower a couple of months ago. I also did not buy anything for myself; by avoiding the malls and shortening the time I spent shopping, I did not even get tempted.

How did you all do with your holiday budgets? Did you stay on track or get led astray? And most importantly, how do you feel about your decisions? 

Frugal Holiday Tips on oprah.com

Since I don’t have cable I didn’t get to see it, but my Mom pointed me towards Oprah’s website today.  It is filled with great tips on how to “have the thriftiest Holiday ever.”  They even have free music downloads for holiday favourites!