Forget the Christmas Gifts

[jsgilbert]

Okay, for one secnd forget that I am the most sarcastic and acerbic individual that posts here. I actually do like the holidays most of the time. This year though it will be hard for me to enjoy them knowing that so many are facing difficulties. And I'm not talking about the homeless and misanthropic, but a lot of people who just a few months ago thought nothing of indulging their Starbucks habit several times a day and now are trying to figure out how to pay the rent or buy groceries.

So, here's a thought. Instead of wither buying someone a gift who will have difficulty reciprocating or buying a gift that you can't afford, try something different that shows you care and won't put a dent in the wallet.

I realize I'm probably single handedly going to set back the nation's recovery by advising you against making purchases, but try visiting this site and see if it might work for you.

No Christmas Gifts This Year (http://www.nochristmasgiftsthisyear.com/)


Hapy Holidays

[John Bigl]

whodathunk that you, jsgilbert, "the most sarcastic and acerbic individual that posts here", could also be quite the iconoclast..

in the words of Reverend Billy, "Oh America! Turn! Walk sideways! Leave the product there and walk sideways! Leave the car on the shoulder. Leave the celebrity on the label. Leave the logo on the interstate. Let's walk into that field, over to those trees. And sit down, and wait in silence for the life after shopping"

your suggested link has been promptly sent to the Reverend and The Church of Stop Shopping..

The Shopocalypse Is At Hand !!!

[Claired]

Or we could buy something useful: http://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com/home.php?xid=161c8a391f98e58d87665dc42ea66383

A few years ago, I discovered these and decided that they made much better Christmas presents than the usual stuff that I used to spend ages to chose knowing perfectly that people would most likely not like them but pretend to love them because that's what we do.
So now I buy mainly goats or school supply and I can tell that people are genuinely happy. Less clutter in the house and more happy faces!:smiley:
I know this won't change the current economic problems, but at least it's not money wasted.

[Lee Gordon]

A couple of years ago, my brother, sister-in-law, sister and I gave each other the best present of all: we decided to stop giving each other presents.

Now my holiday shopping consists of buying gifts for my nephew, my mother, and one quick trip to the mall to Harry & Davids for some goodies for my clients.

[spartacus]

These ideas are great. told the kids that Christmas this year would consist of giving our time to help others. I had to call an ambulance to revive them .......

[Marilyn Taylor]

Claired, I did something similar in my 'circle' of friends...I gave malaria shots to children in Africa...
It felt so good to give a lasting gift like this and to those truly in need.... this year the idea was vetoed...:(
After reading about the Wal-mart worker trampled (and killed) in NY by shoppers trying to get more 'stuff'...I think I might bring it up for discussion again...

[chucktaylor]

Great idea, but personally since I had to change jobs at the first of the year, the only job available to me was in retail and if no one shops, that means my family won't eat, so it's a catch 22 in my case. I love the idea and loathe it at the same time.

ct

[Diane Havens]

Chuck brings up a good point. We all employ each other indirectly by contributing to the greater economy. (And sometimes not so indirectly -- when I was a public school teacher, parents who had the tendency to be confrontational would come in and point out that they paid our salaries.)

I say those who can afford to shop wisely AND give to charity, please do. Those who can't afford contributing money to charity may be able to afford some time to give, or just do something out of the ordinary nice for someone. Those who have precious little time or money, just pray for us all.

I usually buy those things at this time of year that I've really needed for some time, but have put off and saved for, and buying those things now makes them feel like splurges when they really are not. And since my anniversary, my son's birthday, and Christmas all fall in December for me -- I'll be spending some money this December, but judiciously.

Peace, love and understanding,

[JoeActor]

Here's another great gift idea:
One Laptop per Child (OLPC), a low-cost, connected laptop for the world's children's education (http://laptop.org/en/)

They're building and distributing cheap, durable, connected laptops to children in developing countries. Take a look - it's a really cool idea when you see the scope of the project...

Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com (http://www.JoeActor.com)
www.SoundsGoodToYou.com (http://www.SoundsGoodToYou.com)

[Steve Cotsalas]

Okay, for one secnd forget that I am the most sarcastic and acerbic individual that posts here. I actually do like the holidays most of the time. This year though it will be hard for me to enjoy them knowing that so many are facing difficulties. And I'm not talking about the homeless and misanthropic, but a lot of people who just a few months ago thought nothing of indulging their Starbucks habit several times a day and now are trying to figure out how to pay the rent or buy groceries.

So, here's a thought. Instead of wither buying someone a gift who will have difficulty reciprocating or buying a gift that you can't afford, try something different that shows you care and won't put a dent in the wallet.

I realize I'm probably single handedly going to set back the nation's recovery by advising you against making purchases, but try visiting this site and see if it might work for you.

No Christmas Gifts This Year (http://www.nochristmasgiftsthisyear.com/)


Hapy Holidays

Hey JS,
sounds nice.....but it also looks like a good way for the guy who set up that page to collect a whole bunch of email addresses(yours & your friends), for future spamming.
...and you thought YOU were cynical!!

How 'bout calling up your friends, and setting it up?

[jsgilbert]

Wow, it actually hadn't crossed my mind that it's purpose might (also) be trolling for email addresses. Well, thus far I don't thnk I or any of my firneds that I used the site with have gotten anything out of the ordinary or uwanted that I could trace back. Ahhh, but as they say the night is young.

So, perhaps at least it will give folks an idea as to something they can do. I remember a few years a go that there was this cool collection of gift cards that you could buy for a quarter that had things like "This entitles the bearer to borrow my car 3 times over the next year". and "This entitles the bearer to an incredible home cooked meal". "This entitles the bearer to have theri house cleaned".

Again, it's not my goal to have the stimulus efforts fall flat with nobody purchasing stuf this holiday season, but simply that before giving a gift, think about whether the person you are giving the gift to can afford to reciprocate. Will your gift cause them undo pressure to spend money on a gift for you?

And equally, if you don't have some money socked away, consider not getting into debt this year and give of your time and energy. SInce some of you also do voiceover, perhaps a professionally read bedtime story for a riend's child might work.

[Colin Campbell]

But, what if one has kids? What do you tell them while your heart breaks?

[Anthony Williams]

These are great thoughts Guys

A hug is a great gift - one size fits all, and it's easy to exchange

If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give. ~George MacDonald

Peace

[Claired]

Anthony,
what you are saying is beautiful, but it's true that nowadays kids don't want hugs, they want Nintendos (or both).
I thinks the kids have to be exceptions, I don't know how we could not give them gifts when all their friends at school are getting lots. Maybe the trick is to buy less but be very inventive. Get one thing that everyone will be jealous of, instead of a mountain of toys. Easier said than done though.

[spartacus]

With all due respect Claire, isn't that kind of the problem? We continue to exacerbate the issue by worrying about what their friends think instead of teaching them what's right. Sure .... Our kids might feel a little left out if they don't get the prescribed number of presents, but as parents we can make up for that in other ways. These things are like drugs, if we continue to feed our children presents throughout our lives when they become adults, they are hooked and expect it to continue .... which is kind of what has happened to us as a people over the years. We have turned Christ - mas into ....... that time at the end of the year where I get a day or two off and have to run up my credit cards to make others feel superficially happy with gifts.

[Claired]

What you are saying Spartacus makes a lot of sense, but I couldn't be the one parent who doesn't give her children Christmas gifts. Even though I haven't got children yet. But I'll have gifts for the children in the family.

[spartacus]

yeah Claire, me neither and I have 2 of them. Maybe a nice compromise ..... 2 or 3 hours of working with the homeless and 2 or 3 gifts under the tree. everyone wins.