Gift Giving from The Heart: Seven Great Ways to Celebrate an Alternative Christmas Holiday of Giving Without the Gifts
Are you as tired of consumerism as I am? Buying more stuff for those who already have stuff, closets full of meaningless purchases. Stuff they never use when, once again, as Christmas rolls around you are obliged to buy even more to add to their already bulging collection.
Materialism with no spiritual fulfillment.
Step out of the rat race. Do something meaningful for Christmas: Give a gift from the heart.
To help get you started, Bust-Down would like to offer some more gratifying options.
1. Volunteer
Find out what’s happening in your area.
Find out what’s happening in your area.
Toy drives, feeding the homeless, visiting someone in the hospital or greeting kids in the cancer ward. Create a giving box (usually coordinated with a charity, shoe boxes filled with basic articles for victims of natural disasters and war can make a big difference, bake cookies for the elders in your neighborhood, go caroling.
For initiatives more tailored to the needs of your area; reach out to community or religious leaders for guidance.
2. The Money You Plan to Spend on More Stuff. Spend instead on each other.
Do something together with loved ones and friends. Have a small party, go out for breakfast on Christmas morning and then come home and read a story to each other.
Do something together with loved ones and friends. Have a small party, go out for breakfast on Christmas morning and then come home and read a story to each other.
Go to the movies and buy popcorn and soda. Buy tickets to see a musical, the symphony or a ball game.
3. Write a Long Overdue Letter.
Call it a Christmas card if you wish. But sit down and write a thoughtful and meaningful letter to someone you love – or admire. Give the blessing of building someone’s self-esteem.
They may appear not to need it, but we all need an extra dose of love and appreciation.
Call it a Christmas card if you wish. But sit down and write a thoughtful and meaningful letter to someone you love – or admire. Give the blessing of building someone’s self-esteem.
They may appear not to need it, but we all need an extra dose of love and appreciation.
The idea of giving without gifting does not have to stop with the thanksgiving holiday.
4. Reach Out to Your Community
Do Something for a Senior. Offer to do things around the house for an elderly person who can no longer do those things for themselves. Help them decorate their tree. Offer to do yard work or clean out closets or drawers. Perhaps organize their old photographs.
Many hands make light work.
Just a few minor chores around the house can lift a tremendous load.
Do Something for a Senior. Offer to do things around the house for an elderly person who can no longer do those things for themselves. Help them decorate their tree. Offer to do yard work or clean out closets or drawers. Perhaps organize their old photographs.
Many hands make light work.
Just a few minor chores around the house can lift a tremendous load.
Or maybe just spend some time with them.
Make a new friend in the spirit of selflessness.
Make a new friend in the spirit of selflessness.
Our elders love to tell their stories. And they possess more value than you could possibly anticipate.
You can take that to the bank!
You can take that to the bank!
5. Invite Someone who will be Alone to Your Holiday Meal.
Family doesn’t just have to be your relatives. A special shared meal can be something sacred beyond comprehension. In America, like many places; we have the blessing of diversity.
What a better opportunity to learn something new about someone else’s culture.
And share with them yours!
And share with them yours!
6. Give Symbolic Gifts
Maybe a good bar of soap, a jar of special jam, marinated fruits, local cheese and butter. Give gifts that are useful to those in the household.
Maybe a good bar of soap, a jar of special jam, marinated fruits, local cheese and butter. Give gifts that are useful to those in the household.
Do you have a craft or a hobby?
Your creation will beat any soulless gadget mass produced in a warehouse.
7. Investments or Bonds
In a day and age where you can invest with as little as $10 – What a more perfect gift for someone young than one that will continue to give. And grow.
What a caring and low-cost gift that could potentially do great things in the future like pay for a child’s education?
In a day and age where you can invest with as little as $10 – What a more perfect gift for someone young than one that will continue to give. And grow.
What a caring and low-cost gift that could potentially do great things in the future like pay for a child’s education?
There are several options of a growing effort and genuine blessing that is individuals that are offering free advice to underserved communities punished by generational poverty to teach them about the value of financial security.
These groups and individuals can be instrumental in offering free advice of wise ways to utilize even the smallest amount of money.
These groups and individuals can be instrumental in offering free advice of wise ways to utilize even the smallest amount of money.
Don’t be ashamed to ask what you can do with an amount of money as small as $10. They are here to help. And to educate the essentials of personal finance and economic security for your family that may not be commonly taught in HISD or public schooling systems.
In the new Throwaway Age of consumerism and hyper capitalism start small by first recognizing that the rich drive the agenda behind Christmas.
Seriously, how many still celebrate Christmas because of their belief in Christ Jesus?
Bust-Down Encourages You to return to the true meaning of care and community.
