| I have a friend who works at a loan
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| | around. Some of the best presents I have
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| company. She starts getting busy around
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| | ever received were events rather than
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| August -- because her offices are flooded
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| | "things." And they don't have to be
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| with people taking out loans for their
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| | expensive -- one memorable gift for me
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| holiday shopping. And she stays busy well
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| | was a day out with my friends at a state
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| into the new year -- because a huge
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| | park (hiking, canoeing, and a picnic
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| percentage of those people default on
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| | lunch). You can build some great
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| their loans. Why do we feel compelled to
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| | memories, spend some quality time -- and
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| go so deeply in DEBT buying gifts? It
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| | you don't have to worry about your gift
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| seems as though every year the bar is
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| | getting dusty or broken!GIVE A HANDMADE
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| raised -- we are expected to spend more
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| | GIFTHandmade gifts have gotten a bad rap
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| and more.And where does all this spending
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| | in the past -- as being cheesy or poorly
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| get us? I can't tell you how many of my
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| | made. But you can put together some
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| organizing clients have literally piles
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| | pretty cool handmade gifts. At least half
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| of old Christmas gifts buried in their
| |
| | of my Christmas decorations are made by
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| closets -- items for which they really
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| | someone in my family -- and I get
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| have no use, but feel guilty about
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| | compliments each year on how nice they
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| cleaning out. I'm pretty sure that the
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| | look. With craft stores springing up in
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| holidays are not supposed to be about
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| | abundance around the country, you can
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| debt, guilt, and clutter! But you can
| |
| | find tons of great high-quality, low-cost
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| also take steps on the "giving" side to
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| | gift ideas. Handmade gifts have a "homey"
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| make the holiday less stressful -- for
| |
| | feel that bought presents often lack --
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| both you and the recipient:LIMIT THE
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| | and you get the satisfaction of knowing
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| NUMBER OF GIFTS PER PERSONSome families
| |
| | that you created it yourself. And if you
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| feel like they need to have lots of
| |
| | really want to turn on the old heart
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| presents under the tree for it to be a
| |
| | light, give a gift that one of your kids
|
| happy holiday. We finally had to ask our
| |
| | made!GIVE A GIFT CERTIFICATEGift
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| family to stop loading us down with a lot
| |
| | certificates have also gotten a bad
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| of "stuff" each year (although in much
| |
| | reputation -- you couldn't think of
|
| nicer terms!) We have limited our giving
| |
| | anything else, so you got a gift
|
| to one gift per person. And it's made
| |
| | certificate. I happen to think that gift
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| such a positive impact (less pressure,
| |
| | certificates are an excellent option,
|
| stress, and expense) that no one
| |
| | because it allows the person to get what
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| complains about having less to open on
| |
| | they really WANT or NEED. And your gift
|
| Christmas morning!DRAW A NAMEI learned
| |
| | certificates don't have to be
|
| this technique from a big family (we're
| |
| | store-bought. You can give gift
|
| talking 12 kids plus grandkids and
| |
| | certificates for chores or events --
|
| extended family!) that couldn't afford to
| |
| | babysitting or a night on the town. I
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| buy gifts for everyone. Each year, they
| |
| | recently gave a friend of mine a gift
|
| all put names in a hat -- everyone pulls
| |
| | certificate for a day of horseback riding
|
| a name and buys a gift for that one
| |
| | and sushi (?!) -- two things her husband
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| person. That way, everyone gets a gift,
| |
| | doesn't care for -- and she loved it.MAKE
|
| and no one has to feel strapped during
| |
| | A CHARITABLE DONATIONThis gift shows the
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| the holidays. then they plan a big party
| |
| | real spirit of the season. You can choose
|
| on Christmas morning where everyone opens
| |
| | from a variety of non-profit
|
| their gifts.FOOD IS ALWAYS A GREAT
| |
| | organizations -- from adopting a whale to
|
| GIFTFood is a great option -- especially
| |
| | planting a tree to making a contribution
|
| when you like to give a little something
| |
| | to the Kidney Foundation. And hopefully
|
| to everyone you know. Bake a huge batch
| |
| | your selflessness and concern for those
|
| of cookies or make sausage balls -- or
| |
| | around you will inspire others to do the
|
| even the dreaded fruitcake (it's actually
| |
| | same.GIVE A PIECE OF NOSTALGIAOne year, I
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| pretty good when it's homemade!) Then
| |
| | made photo albums for my sisters. I
|
| wrap a small bundle in colored cellophane
| |
| | gathered up pictures of our parents and
|
| and top with a bow. It's festive, it's
| |
| | grandparents, them as children, family
|
| inexpensive, it comes from the heart, it
| |
| | events we had attended together, and
|
| will eventually disappear (reducing
| |
| | important moments in their lives. It was
|
| clutter) -- and everyone loves to
| |
| | simple and inexpensive and I had a nice
|
| eat!MAKE YOUR OWN GIFT BASKETSGift
| |
| | trip down memory lane putting it
|
| baskets have become the hip and happening
| |
| | together. And I don't know if I've ever
|
| gift over the last few years. You can
| |
| | gotten a better response to a Christmas
|
| customize the contents to the recipient's
| |
| | gift. Anything that reminds people of the
|
| interests and hobbies. But paying a gift
| |
| | "good old days" is always
|
| basket company to put one together for
| |
| | well-received.Ramona Creel is a
|
| you can cost more than a traditional
| |
| | Professional Organizer and the founder of
|
| store-bought gift. I will shop sales
| |
| | -- a web-based one-stop shop offering
|
| throughout the year finding neat little
| |
| | everything that you need to get organized
|
| "gizmos" that would go well in a gift
| |
| | at home or at work. At
|
| basket -- a kitchen tool for my sister
| |
| | OnlineOrganizing.com, you may get a
|
| who loves to cook or something "cow"
| |
| | referral to an organizer near you, shop
|
| themed for my friend -- and stash them
| |
| | for the latest organizing products, get
|
| away until the holidays. I also look for
| |
| | tons of free tips, and even learn how to
|
| practical (a colander) or funky (a
| |
| | become a professional organizer or build
|
| cow-shaped cookie jar) containers to use
| |
| | your existing organizing business. And if
|
| in place of the basket. The result is a
| |
| | you would like to read more articles
|
| gift that I had fun putting together,
| |
| | about organizing your life or building
|
| that really means something to the
| |
| | your business, get a free subscription to
|
| recipient, and that costs less than looks
| |
| | the "Get Organized" and "Organized For A
|
| like it should!GIVE AN EXPERIENCE RATHER
| |
| | Living" newsletters. Please visit or
|
| THAN A THINGYou don't always have to give
| |
| | contact Ramona directly at for more
|
| "stuff" when a gifting occasion comes
| |
| | information.
|
