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