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Giving For Christmas
Even when you are broke
Even when I was a child, I liked to give people presents that were “perfect”. Not expensive, but something they’d really appreciate that I could afford.
After I graduated, I was fairly broke for a couple of years but I still wanted to get close friends and family a nice gift.
I bought some metal tins I saw in a thrift store and painted them with snowflakes, candy canes, snow men, and Christmas trees. I made butter cookies and wrapped them in pretty paper and put them inside the tins. It took me time to make these gifts, but the cost was low and everyone seemed to love them.
Several years later, I knit presents for nieces and nephews. Again, it cost a lot in terms of time but not much in terms of money.
Even my nephews loved their scarves because I was creative. One nephew got a tubular green scarf that looked like a snake, complete with a forked tongue, felt eyes, and a rattle made out of beads.
The thing is — you can get gifts for people that are meaningful without spending a lot of money.
And you can also give in other ways without spending a dime.
Here are some ideas to give to both friends and strangers:
- Listen. If you have an elderly relative, friend, or…
