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The true spirit of giving
As Christmas approaches, many of us will go (if we’re not there already!) into the all-too familiar flat spin about getting our shopping done on time and finding that perfect gift.
This stress is traditionally quite hard to avoid, but the alternative, opting out on the grounds of over-commercialisation seems too ‘bah humbug’ for most of us.
So where’s the middle ground? What can we do to bring back more of the joy?
To start with, maybe it’s time our Christmas thinking moved on a bit.
We could begin by revisiting the gift department, after all, last year, research from the auction website e-bay revealed that we wasted around £700 million on unwanted festive gifts.
One quite drastic measure you could take is choosing to refuse gifts, as recommended by money guru Martin Lewis. Each year Martin encourages people to sign his ‘pre-Christmas NUPP’ (No Unnecessary Presents Pact) with friends and relatives.
What to get?
But giving, for many people, is a big part of what Christmas is all about but that doesn’t mean it has to be the latest must-have gadget.
An ‘experience’ could fit the bill here. Cinema tickets, magazine subscriptions or club memberships, are usually good bets and they also have a life after Christmas.
Buying something that will benefit someone in need is a really good idea. Many charities offer gift donations, for example, you can gift a greenhouse, books for schools or solar panels.
Websites like PresentAid and Nigel’s Eco Store are full of interesting ethical and greener gift ideas for everyone.
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