(I know that’s a heavy package to open with, but let me unwrap a little more!)
With the reliable flurry of holiday flash sales (and the stress over getting things delivered on time), the rush to find a tree or the deluge of picture-perfect moments of little ones opening THE PERFECT GIFT clogging your feed — it can be easy to lose sight of your reasons for giving and receiving this time of year.
And of course, many find the practice of gift-giving, especially around the holidays, to be wasteful or indulgent to begin with. And they wouldn’t be all wrong! Economists and climate activists agree: We could all do with one less intentionally ugly Christmas sweater.
At their best though, gifts are expressions of love to another, tangible tokens of caring and appreciation that signal to someone that they are seen, heard and cared for.
And you don’t have to break the bank to do that! If, like me, gift-giving is your love language, you know that it’s truly the thought that counts most — it’s not the price tag, but rather the effort and intentionality that makes a gift meaningful.
And what’s more? There’s lots of ways to offer presents that demonstrate your care and concern for the current state of the world and the climate, too. Because if you care for your people, it helps to care for the planet they live on.
From us to you, here’s an armful of good advice to help ensure none of your gifts need a return receipt:
Start with a budget: “Constraint breeds creativity,” says our gift expert Tiffany Dodson. Know how much you have to give before going on the hunt to avoid starting your new year in unnecessary debt.
Use your own gifts and go homemade: Apart from being a big help to your bottom line, homemade gifts can be extremely meaningful. Employ those new sewing skills you picked up during quarantine, write your sister an original poem or share some seedlings from your garden. Your talents are worth sharing!
Ditch store-bought wrapping paper: That $10 wrapping paper from Target’s pretty, but finding alternative wrapping can lower your holiday carbon footprint and demonstrate some thoughtfulness to the recipient. Consider using recycled materials, like old newspapers or brown grocery bags and dressing them up with something you already have laying around. If you're feeling fancy, you can use fabric to wrap gifts like this great Instagram account shows.
For thoughtful giving:
Give gifts that do good: There are many ways to start! Dodson says think about buying local or shopping from Black-owned businesses. For the person who has everything, consider donating to their favorite charity in their name. Give the gift of your time to a cause of your choice, plan an outing to appreciate some nature or buy a book on an important topic and start a book club.
Be critical of gendered gifts for kids: What you give to children can send a message, and stereotypes are quick to stick, say experts from our episode on dealing with gendered toys. Anyone can play with dolls and cars, so make sure to take care with the toys you give your little ones, and to communicate your values where you can.
Don’t just look for new: In this interview, journalist Annelise Griffin shares why she only buys secondhand gifts. For her family, it’s a way to reduce waste and cost and practice some thoughtfulness along with social responsibility.
Happy hunting, all! We wish you the gift of a good weekend and the joy of perfect creases in your gift wrapping.
— Andee Tagle, Life Kit producer
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