Six Suggestions to Simplify Your Christmas Shopping
Brought to you by Joan Kosmachuk,
Professional Organizer
and Personal Life Coach
“As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same.”
—Donald E. Westlake
If the thought of Christmas shopping weighs you down, here are six suggestions for simplifying the process:
| 1. |
Choose a Theme for Token Gifts:
Schoolteachers, neighbors, work colleagues, hostess gifts etc. all take time and money to purchase. Simplify these token gifts by choosing one theme gift for everyone. You can then purchase a dozen or more of your theme item with accompanying gift bags/wrapping and all you have to do is place a different name- tag on each one. Purchase a few “extras” to have on hand just in case you forgot someone. Some inexpensive token gifts suitable for either gender might include:
- Food item such as chocolate truffles, maple syrup, olive oil, specialty hot chocolate, homemade pickles or jam.
- Gift card/certificate such as a Starbucks coffee card, gas card, or movie voucher
- Live plant or flowers
- A personal grooming item such as hand creams or soaps
- Small picture frame or photo album
- Christmas Tree ornament (handmade or store bought)
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| 2. |
Shop for the family from a list:
The best gift is one that a person wishes they had. Ask each member of the family to provide a wish list of items that they would love to receive. Insist on specifics such as color, brand, size and even store where the item can be found. If you have a budget, ask for items that fall within your price range. This will eliminate the need to come up with your own ideas. |
| 3. |
Shop on-line or during off hours:
If you start your shopping early you can take advantage of shopping for key items online. Many stores have free shipping during the holiday season and expedited delivery. You can shop on your time instead of during store hours. Have the items shipped to your workplace if that makes it easier to receive and keep secret.
Shopping off-hours is another great time saver. Take a day off work mid-week to do all of your mall shopping or make a late night stop to one of the stores that’s open 24 hours. |
| 4. |
Give “experiences” rather than “things”:
Most of us have more “stuff” than we know what to do with so consider giving non-material gifts to family and friends (and even asking for them yourself). A massage or manicure. You could give an individual or family pass to the local zoo, Water Park, art gallery or a museum. Tickets to a movie, theatre production, ballet or opera are other possibilities. You won’t have to go to a shopping mall to purchase these gifts and I guarantee they’ll be well received.
Be extra-creative in the presentation of your gift cards.
- A pass to the zoo could be tucked into the pouch of a stuffed Koala bear
- Create a small piece of abstract art with a wee note –“if you think this is good, you’ll love the art at the art gallery even better.”
- Put a paper placemat in a box, glue on a paper plate and plastic fork and knife and tape your restaurant gift card to the center of it.
- Attach a decorative or amusing bookmark to a bookstore gift card.
- Wouldn’t a pedicure coupon look great inside a pair of toe socks with a “Love your Toes” tag?
A little creativity will show how much thought you put into choosing this experience-gift for the recipient. |
| 5. |
Give the Gift of Time/Talent:
A few hours of my time as a professional organizer was wrapped up under many a Christmas tree last year. In our frantically paced world, there’s nothing like the gift of time/talent to put a smile on someone’s face. Whether you give a certificate for someone else’s time/talent or offer your own services as a gift, it will be much appreciated. Possibilities include, free babysitting or pet-sitting, a day of professional housecleaning or organizing, free music or art lessons, an interior decorator consult or room rearrangement, or a catered dinner. Good cooks could give homemade freezer meals to a senior or to a bachelor, jars of home canning to a city dweller or the offer of free cooking/baking lessons to someone who’d love to learn. |
| 6. |
Forget the gift and get together:
For good friends, consider planning a “date” to do something special together instead of purchasing gifts. Meet for an afternoon tea, attend a Christmas musical or enjoy an hour of skating and sipping hot chocolate. You may decide as a family to forgo gifts and take a weekend trip together instead. These are all great ways to enjoy your close relationships for the same cost and time you might have spent shopping for gifts. |
“Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years... Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart.”
—George Mathew Adams
Merry Christmas!!
For assistance with holiday organizing issues or to purchase a gift certificate please email your request to Joan Kosmachuk, info@simpleeffects.com or call her at 617-784-0707.
If you found the information in this newsletter to be of value to you, please feel free to forward it to your friends and colleagues; you'll be helping them simplify their lives.
Visit my new blog site at http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/author/joank/ |
