Gift giving during the holidays

How many times do you ask yourself "did I get a gift for Aunt Suzie or all the kid's teachers?"  Make a list of everyone you need to buy gifts for.  As you shop, keep track of what you have purchased for whom and whether it’s wrapped. Keep this list with you throughout the holiday season.

Also, make an envelope for holiday receipts.  Label the envelope “Holiday Receipts” and indicate the year.  Keep it in your purse or car.  Having your receipts consolidated will help you with returns after the holidays.

Keep gift giving simple.  Our family practices what we call the “Minimalist Christmas.” Each of my children are given gifts as follows:

• something to do;
• something to wear;
• something to read; and
• something to share. 

They look forward to the gifts but enjoy the gift of experience (something to share) the most.

For extended family, instead of buying gifts for everyone, propose a game where each person brings one wrapped gift worth $20.  On small pieces of paper, write numbers up to the number of people playing.  The game begins by each person drawing a number.  The person that gets #1 gets to choose a gift.  The person that gets #2 can either take person #1’s gift or choose a wrapped gift.  If they take person #1’s gift, person #1 gets to take another person’s gift or choose a wrapped gift.  This goes on until there are no wrapped gifts left.  This is similar to a “white elephant” exchange, except the gifts are real so you don’t have to worry about bringing more junk home.

Another way to keep gift giving simply is to skip gifts all together and commit to going on an excursion after the holidays.  You can also choose a charity to give to rather than exchanging gifts.  Find more time, less stress, and gratitude by keeping gift giving simple.