HELP for Christmas Crunch Time PART 2
Gifting Tips, Tricks & Techniques
To get your head in the game, be sure to read Part 1, Gifting is a State of Mind.
Now, HOW do we go about gathering all the ideas for all the things for all the people?
It’s really not hard. You just have to focus for like a minute. But first, a word about wealth. Ugh, we hate talking about it, but if you want to spend any amount of money on gifts, you’ll need to plan ahead. Here are some ideas for saving some moolah so you’ll be ready for all the gifting:
“Grocery” money – Say you go to the market once a week. Then let’s say you take $10 “cash over” at checkout every time. That’s $520 in a year! So how about $20? That’s over $1000! Watch out though if your bank charges a fee for this.
Investment apps like Acorns – I happen to use acorns.com and I like it. The idea with these apps is that it makes it super easy to save and invest your spare change by “rounding up” your everyday transactions. For me, I don’t notice the rounding up at all! And the $1 a month fee seems reasonable for the service I’m getting. It adds up to about $2000 a year! But do your homework before you decide to invest.
Auto-Transfer – I think all banks have some version of this. Check to see if yours has a way to set up an automatic transfer from your checking to a savings account. (Some banks, mostly credit unions, even have specific “Christmas Club accounts” for this purpose.) Best to schedule the transfer to coincide with your paydays so you hardly even see the funds in your checking account.
Side Hustle – Lots of folks have good luck taking on a side job of some sort just in time for the holidays. If your schedule allows, this can come in many forms:
babysitting (for friends and family)
courier services (Grub Hub and Uber)
selling used items or handmade gifts (Facebook marketplace, Etsy, or eBay)
local part-time position (coffee shop, restaurant, big box store)
customer service (these can be remote positions)
tutoring (especially if you like kids!)
pet and/or house sitting (or dog walking, house cleaning)
laundry service (extra points if you can iron!)
chores outsourced (like Takl and TaskRabbit)
Once you’re trackin’ on what people like, it will be easier to notice when you come across something.
Brainstorm Breakthrough
If you’re in the zone, you’ll listen for key phrases, like “I love that!” or “I’ve been looking for one of those!” especially when followed by “Where did you get it?”. When you hear these, PAY ATTENTION. Go on and make note of what this person is telling you.
As you think about the individual, focus on these: their wants, needs, habits, style, dress, décor, astrological sign, etc. The trick is to pause long enough to really consider these things. In our fast-paced society, this is harder than it sounds. To think about it in another way, ask yourself what problem can you solve for this person.
Also, note your own favorites; maybe you discovered a really good gadget this year or found a great resource that anyone would appreciate. (Hint: check out my faves tomorrow!)
Unconventional is the new conventional; these days there are lots of alternatives to the typical “box” gift.
Think outside the “gift” box
Handmade or Trade
Especially good if you are on a tight budget; babysitting, breakfast in bed, dessert delivered, cookie-of-the-month (homemade of course), bulbs pulled from your own garden, personalized anything, canned goods
Chores or Skills
Also good on a tight budget; tech hookup/installation, yard work, home maintenance/repairs, organizing, meal-of-the-month, errand running, laundry/ironing, wall-hanging
From the Heart
Still another good option for little investment; marking a memory, photo transfer, a touching letter from the heart, a donation made in honor, a group gift, something autographed, a star or rose named after the recipient
Activities or Experiences
This is a different way to think about gifting and might inspire all kinds of ideas; game night, movie night, hiking/picnic, museum day, sporting events, classes/learn a new skill, road trip, escape room, date night, wine tasting, amusement park, zoo passes, paint night, jump center, stand-up comedy, concert
Subscription or Membership
Way beyond the Jelly-of-the-month club; meat/charcuterie, shaving, arts & crafts, jewelry, fitness, magazines, meal kits, organic groceries, healthy snacks, pet supplies, beauty/lifestyle, kids/teens activities, literature, wine/whiskey, learning a language, just about anything you can think of there’s a box for that!
Pro Services
There’s no shame in giving the gift of professional service; house cleaning, gutters cleaned, mani/pedi/spa services, landscaping, auto-detailing, photography, carpet shampooing, astrology/psychic reading, dog grooming, dog walking, personal trainer, DNA testing, window cleaning
Grocery Store
You’d be surprised at what you can come up with at your local market, especially at the last minute.
stationery isle – a card or gift card, magazine, office supplies, cute napkins
floral department – a bouquet, potted plant, candles, home décor
front-end – lottery scratchers, movies, gift cards, reusable bags
beverage aisle – coffee/tea, k-cups, alcohol, soda/energy drinks, chocolate milk & paraphernalia
specialty food – gourmet ingredients, organic or gluten free foods, chocolate/candy, snack packs
toiletries – handmade soaps, cute band aids, ice packs, topical pain reliever, sleep aids, shaving supplies, travel size toiletries, hair accessories, lotions, loofahs
I dare you to go Christmas shopping at the grocery store!
Getting the kids’ gifts just right counts big time in Christmas spirit!
Particularly for the Kiddies
A good exercise for the whole family is to go through all our belongings to make room for the “new” stuff. But for the littles, pick a day to “clean out” the kids’ rooms. They should be in on this to practice the process of evaluation. Challenge them to find 5 “toys” they are through with to either donate (if in good condition) or trash (if not). Of course parents have veto power; we don’t want them donating the keepsake figurine just because they have no interest in it. But it’s a good way to learn which things might need to be relocated within the house, which ones should maybe be stored away for a rainy day, or are ready to be handed down to a younger family member.
Rule of 5 (or whatever # works for you) – The idea is that you give ONE gift from each category. This works for all ages, even the grown-up kids! Choose from: want, need, wear, read, experience, play, learn, create, eat, use, share, watch, build, make. Or come up with your own!
Life Hack #2868 - Stumped on what to get for that one kid in particular? Try this:
Thanks 1000LifeHacks.com!
Don’t forget to make a Pinterest board for the kiddos. Whether you use it just for yourself to keep track or you decide to share it with grandparents, it’s nice to have a visual list. Plus, Pinterest is always good about giving you more ideas based on your pins.
The more kids, the bigger the fam. And there are a lot of us on my husband’s side of the family. Gotta love Lohans! So a few years ago, we decided to switch to a white elephant gift exchange (at the Lohan Xmas party the Saturday before Christmas so we always know what date to plan for every year!). A gift exchange like this is a great way to celebrate the holiday together and still unwrap some presents without going broke or spending 13 hours opening gifts. Plus, it can get pretty silly depending on how passionate your peeps are! Of course, there’s always a little debate over the rules, so I came up with a poster. You’re welcome.
Click HERE to download my FREE White Elephant Rules.
These might all be great ideas, but don’t underestimate the power of presentation. Check back tomorrow for the down-low on delivery, plus all my 2019 FAVES!
I can’t wait!!!