Holiday Spending 2010: New Norms For Gift Giving
2010 for a lot of families is likely the second year in which things have been tight for the holiday season. And so I’m going to name it a “new normal.”
Many of us have started to adopt patterns in our daily lives that we wouldn’t have otherwise done before, like using coupons. It almost has taken a shift such that what used to be reserved for people who were deemed “penny pinchers” has now become a reality for many folks. “Coupon” is not a bad word, any more than “budget”. There’s nothing to be ashamed of; seeking out ways to save money is indeed, especially now, a very smart action or a reaction, I might say, to the crunched financial situation. People have to be more imaginative as the 2010 Holiday Season approaches.
I always think there’s opportunity in every situation, and particularly in this situation with regard to gift giving, because gift giving has often been marketed to us by the professional marketers as “You must go to the store and purchase something, or sit online and order something to be shipped to your gift recipient’s door,” when in point of fact we all realize that the huge gifts in life are those that are very personal in touch and very unique to each individual, both for the giver and the giftee.
As 2010 draws down, a portion of the new normal is that of eliminating waste. Particularly in terms of gift giving. I say this because invariably there are gifts that we all receive that are superfluous at best and maybe silly or absolutely non-usable at worst. How many gifts does each person really need or use? If we can eliminate that waste, we can focus our available resources towards a gift that our person (our loved one) really wants.
What this really involves is communication.
We need to shape and manage our moods and that of our family and friends so that we can feel in control and they can feel loved. So we enter into a conversation, basically, about how we will change up gift giving this year, and asking each person what they truly yearn for as a gift.
Then, with that list in hand, shop around. There are discounts and coupons online to be found everywhere. And I wonder if you would consider another potential new norm?
A gift certificate, stating the budgeted $ amount, that is intended to be redeemed in the After Christmas Sales. Not just any certificate, however…. A carefully and thoughtfully prepared document where the donor takes the time to mention why they want to give the gift in the first place. You can put photos on it – in fact, if you’re a scrap booker, this is a fun opportunity to create something beautiful – but the most important part is where you share a memory, a story or simply the reason why you care enough about the person to want to give them a gift. It’s another opportunity to honor that person and thank them for being in your life. (We have a template we would be happy to send you.)
When you shop in the sales, ; double your money and therefore double your gifts. Who doesn’t want to get more for their money? Hence, a new tradition – going out as a family to get your gifts on Sale Day. There’s an opportunity to put some ritual into this thing, too. How about a carb-loaded breakfast for energy, special clothes for trying things on and then, upon getting back home, a ceremonial unpacking of the bags, reveling in the deals, the savings, the loot! over a cup of tea/mulled wine/your festive beverage of choice.
What do you say? Why go into deeper debt this holiday season when with a little forethought and planning you can create a whole new norm?
I say,
We can do it, women!
Fighting Fears Of Becoming A Bag Lady In A Failing Economy
Many women fear becoming a bag lady in this troubled economy and are searching for ways to spend less to better ensure their money lasts as long as they do.Because we cannot control the economy or the stock and bond markets’ rise or fall, we may be tempted to live our lives as if this current state of contraction would last our lifetimes. Surely it will not.
What we can control then is how we respond to our fears and how we take care of ourselves during times of economic turmoil. Becoming more vigilant about how we invest and what we spend our money on can help us build prosperity or at least conserve principal, even in times of uncertainty. Additionally, we can also choose to control how we react to negative financial news and stories of economic distress that are reported hourly on the major news networks and radio. For one, we can stop tuning in. Removing this negativity from our lives will allow us to concentrate on our hobbies and activities and our relationships–all of which can bring us joy and peace.
Having a positive outlook is not the same as ignoring the problems going on around you. It is simply a tool that you can use to limit the paralyzing grip that fear may otherwise exert over you.
When you stop allowing fear to control you and start managing your fear by 1) putting it into proper context, and 2) remembering how resourceful you’ve been and how resourceful you are as a mature woman, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve. You’ve already overcome many fears and seemingly unsurmountable odds, and yes, you can do it again.
I invite you to ask HOW questions to formulate a strategy of living amidst fear. How will I handle my fear at 2pm; how will I handle fear if it occurs at 2am, how will I manage my mind and emotions when faced with uncertainty. The best source for these answers, of course, is to reflect back on how we’ve done this in the past. Yes, we’ve all had successes in the past, and we can learn from ourselves, as well as those around us who have shared their victories.
Remember my past posts on risk, reward, trust, and fear and use the information I’ve shared to stop your fear in its tracks. We’ve all done it before, and we can all do it again. Yes, We Can Do It Women!
