You’ve cleaned out clutter and you’re headed to the mall to buy a Christmas gift for your loved one…and you find…more clutter. Stuff. Things. Widgets. Gadgets. Another tie for a man who has a rack of them in his closet. Another puzzle for a girlfriend who hasn’t time to enjoy the games she already owns. Another toy for a grandchild literally drowning in plastic parts and pieces. You can’t bring yourself to spend your money on more stuff.
What do you do?
Enviro Girl heartily recommends a loving gift of an experience. Years ago she told her beloved husband, “The best gifts come in envelopes.” Indeed. Over the years he has stuffed her stocking with:
1. Gift certificates for spa treatments
2. Theater tickets
3. Plane tickets
4. A weekend trip to a B&B
5. Pre-paid karate classes
Enviro Girl’s husband conceded that his wife would prefer to do rather than own. She doesn’t have to dust an evening at Miss Saigon, but she’ll always cherish the memory of sitting in the balcony bursting into tears during the final scene. She needn’t store karate classes, she enjoys going to them every week for exercise and learning. Enviro Girl has given a weekend in Chicago to her mother in law for Christmas one year, restaurant gift certificates to her parents, and once a plane ticket to her sister. She wishes her children’s grandparents would give her sons an afternoon of miniature golf or fishing instead of another Nerf gun. They’ll outgrow the Nerf guns someday, but they’ll never forget bonding with their family members. She cannot urge you enough, reader, to give your loved ones something not found at a mall this Christmas.
Sometimes a better gift is the gift that helps others. Does your sister support a local theater company? Does your aunt regularly patronize the local library? Does your brother wax nostalgic when his alma mater is on the football field? Does your dad have a soft spot for homeless veterans? A gift to the charity of one’s choice is both tax deductible and spreads good cheer beyond the scope of one another. You can buy a sheep from Heifer International to support a family in Uzbekistan like Enviro Girl did for her parents or cut a check to the Red Cross on behalf of your grandmother. From $20 to $200, legitimate charities welcome your giving at Christmastime and often provide a gift card for you to present.
Enviro Girl’s only caveat on giving to charity at Christmas time is this: there are a lot of “charities” that do not put your money where you think they might. Some organizations are downright criminal and fraudulent. Go to the American Institute of Philanthropy to check out an organization before you send them any money. You can find out on their website how top-heavy their administrative costs are, what percentage of giving dollars actually go towards the mission, and if there are any complaints lodged against the organization. Give generously, but give wisely.
Enviro Girl heartily recommends: Heifer International, the Salvation Army, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, Conservation Fund, Feeding America, Reading is Fundamental, Catholic Relief Services, National Council on Aging, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America. Whether your recipient is a sports buff, history fan, bibliophile, environmentalist, lover of children or cancer survivor, you can find a charity that honors a person’s passions in a meaningful way.
I wanted to write to say thank you for your very kind words about Heifer International in your blog.
We are always touched and humbled when we read testaments such as yours to the work that generous donors and supporters make possible. Thank you, too, for encouraging people to help provide alternative gifts, in Heifer’s case, a goat or a cow or trees that can so powerfully change lives.
Thank you again and best wishes for a safe and wonderful holiday season for you, your family and friends.
I’m a big fan of Heifer and RIF. In fact, once upon a time I worked for RIF!
Ditto! Also consider a donation of school supplies to a local school. Budgets get tighter and tighter, and every little donation helps.
With all respect to the charities, I prefer that donations not be made in my name. I prefer to pick my own charities.
But I would much rather get the gift of an experience than more stuff. Last year, my husband told me he would take salsa lessons with me. I gave him going out and staying out late coupons: http://class-factotum.blogspot.com/2009/10/marriage-201-lecture-211-gift-of-magi.html
Through the years I’ve given gifts such as PCC cooking, dancing and art classes. I’ve also given OMSI, The Portland Art Museum and zoo memberships.
This year for Christmas I’ve put on my list $$ towards a writer’s conference. What fun!
Roz