The Christmas markets are jostling, the streets are brightly lit and the smell of mulled wine seems to be temptingly everywhere here in Budapest. The holiday season is at that lovely point where everyone is feeling festive but before the last-minute errands and tenuous travel has started. In the midst of all the holiday cheer, I’ve done some of my holiday shopping. Though I generally dislike shopping, which helps in living a simple lifestyle, the holidays provides a particular combination of pleasant and painstaking consumer experiences. To make the season a littler simpler, here are my six tips on keeping holiday shopping under wraps (pun intended):
Be Thoughtful
My little sister is the best gift giver. Each Christmas, she selects gifts for our family that are spot-on. I try to emulate her style and it comes down to being thoughtful and observant. She notices interests, needs and desires throughout the year and picks a gift that touches on these aspects. She never purchases something for the sake of filling a gift bag; her gifts are always well thought-out and valued by the recipient. In the hustle of the season, I can often get caught up with gift-giving and thinking it’s better to just give something. However, a gift given without thought isn not a great gift and will often just become that ‘stuff’ no one needs. Make your list and check it twice to be sure it’s thoughtful like Carrie’s.
Yes, Make a List
Of course I’d suggest a list. I have a list for gifts and a list for cards. The list may grow or shrink over time, but it keeps a physical reminder of what needs to be found, written, purchased or sent and it also provides a visual to ensure your holiday gift giving stays within a reasonable length. If your list is constantly growing, you may need to revisit the list as a whole and make sure you’re giving for the right reasons. For love and thoughtfulness, not for fear of some social misdemeanour. If you’re worried your list is too long, then simply talk to those friends and family about expectations and alternatives.
Talk to Your Family and Friends
About three years ago, my immediate family made a decision to limit our family gift spending and split our money between personal gifts and charity donations. My parents made it clear that they have plenty of ‘stuff’ and all of us were happy to limit our holiday spending. Our dollar limit per person is tiny to some but to most of the world it is likely extravagant. Regardless of the amount, the most important part of this change was the conversation. It was a surprisingly easy one. I think many families worry about projected gift-giving expectations, and when a conversation on setting holiday spending limits arises, it’s a welcome and refreshing one. In the first year, we discussed logistics and alternatives, and now we have an annual check-in in early November and continue our minimal Christmas ways. For our family (and I’ll bet it’s true for most families and friends), time is more important than things.
Season for Giving
I’m not too keen on shopping generally, but each November-December, I head out to the shops to find gifts for friends and family. It’s during this time that I re-realize that there is tonnes of interesting and useful stuff in the world. It is very tempting to pick up those couple of items that I’ve been mulling over or that snazzy widget that happens to be on sale right now. However, when I’m shopping during the holidays, I remember that none of my shopping is for me. If I start to veer from my list to myself, I know I’ve lost focus and am not spending my thoughts and money on the most thoughtful gift for my loved ones. I just put down the widget and move on, physically and mentally. If I still want that widget in January, I can buy it then.
Shop Local
Shopping local is rad. There are brilliant artisans and community-minded businesses everywhere that are appreciative of your support. There are financial benefits to keeping your money in your community. And now that I have a smaller and more thoughtful gift list, finding a few items at a few local shops is an enjoyable way to discover local products and to meet lovely people.
Send Experiences, not Stuff
Science says experiences bring more happiness. Isn’t happiness an essential piece of gift giving? By sending someone tickets to a concert, annual entrance to an art gallery, a night away at a B&B, a parks pass or another experience, you will be sending them a gift that literally keeps on giving. When you give an experience, the gift provides positive anticipation of the event and then produces fond memories. Bonus gift-giver points if you will be part of that experience.
These are the guidelines I follow each holiday season. I don’t hit all the points with each gift, but with these concepts in mind, my shopping list has stayed reasonable and thoughtful. (I still struggle with parcel timing, but someday I will master it! I hope!) I wish you all a happy holiday with your friends and family. And if all else fails, remember, a simple phone call can be the best gift of all.
