How To Spend Less and Give More This Christmas

There is nothing wrong with a Fruit-of-the-month club but there are better ways to enjoy Christmas for less. In fact, many will get more satisfaction out of buying that special toy for the Toys for Tots campaign at the office than they ever do from the office secret Santa. Here are a few suggestions on how to return Christmas to a season of simple giving and simple pleasures.   

1.    Serve Up Dinner:  This is the most obvious choice and, probably the first one that comes to most people’s minds when thinking about how to give of themselves over the holiday season. Plan to take time to volunteer as a family at a shelter. Whether you help to prep the meal the day before or head over on Christmas Day, the shelter team and dinner guests greatly appreciate your time. Unfortunately, for many it may be their only hot meal. The experience will make your family be thankful for their dinner even more and it didn’t cost you a dime.

2.    Use a Wish List: Many people do not realize that charities have a “Wish List”. This is perfect for those who want to do Christmas on the cheap but still love to shop. Instead of spending money on extravagant gifts for loved ones, ask your favorite animal shelter or children’s hospital what they want. Set a spending limit and hit the mall. In fact, sometimes actual presents mean more this time of year than cash donations. What lonely dog doesn’t deserve a new tennis ball or chew toy on Christmas morning?

3.    Make a Loan: If you have never heard of Kiva.org, you need to check it out. The concept is extraordinary; you loan a small amount of money to a family in a third world country to help them become self-sufficient. The desired microloans are varied, from a family in Mali who need money to buy seeds and fertilizer to a widow in Tajikistan who needs to buy more products to sell for a profit at the local market. It can be a meaningful gift to know that a loan of as little as $25 can be life-changing for someone else. And, the best part? When they pay the money back, you can loan it again.

4.    Donate: Many people give a cash donation to their favorite charity this time of year but, in order to give more and spend less, you need to put a little more thought into it.  Why not opt out of buying gifts for family and friends and donate a small amount to each of their favorite charities this Christmas?  You will spend less and they will love you for it. In fact, it shows you care enough about them to know what causes they believe in.

5.    Commit: Volunteering your time and donating money in lieu of family gifts is great but charities need help year round.  Give yourself a present and commit to volunteering throughout the year. Maybe you could start a new family tradition; have everyone go around the table and talk about their favorite charity. Each of you can announce why you chose it and what you are committed to doing for them in the coming year.

Hopefully, this gives you some great tips on how to give more meaningful gifts from the heart while still spending less and doing Christmas on the cheap.