How Can I
Simplify Gift Giving Stress?
by Marcia Ramsland, author of
Simplify Your Life: Get Organized and Stay that Way!
Did you know almost 75% of our holiday
stress comes from three activities: Gift Buying 48%, Christmas Cards 13%, and
Decorating 13%. Begin by simplifying the biggest stressor of the season, gift
buying, with a plan.
Step #1. Find your Christmas gift list from last year (What? You
didn't toss it out, did you?). Make a similar page and keep it in a
notebook you can refer to year after year.
Now list the same people in the same order and that's how you start.
Step #2. Put suggestions next to each name. List places to
purchase the gifts on-line or
stores to go to. Think of a "theme" to
give everyone, like sweaters, CD's, or gift certificates.
Step #3. Divide your list by the number of weeks
left. Shop and wrap for that number each
week. You will feel
relieved to be out of the mall and crowds.
Jumpstart Your Gift Giving with
These Suggestions:
1. DO buy gifts that relate to a person's hobby and free time activities
-
Men - Event ticket, a new book,
or gear for their favorite sport.
Women - Clothes, purse, or jewelry
from their favorite store.
Teens - Music CD, clothes, or
tickets to their favorite music group.
Children - Games, books, sport gear, or toys that they can play with
right away.
2. DON'T give a practical person a sentimental gift and vice versa.
My Dad never lived the Christmas down when he gave my Mom a
new boat motor for our lake
house at Christmas. A new necklace or
bracelet would have been much safer and appreciated.
He agrees.
3. DO give gift certificates for something they would enjoy such
as:
Coworker - Certificate for a restaurant like Olive Garden or Marie
Calendar's.
Teenager/Young Adults - Certificate to a Barnes and Noble, Best Buy,
Sport Mart or an
electronics store.
Mother-in-laws & Sisters-in-law - Certificate to a craft store like
Michaels or Hobby Lobby.
4. DO buy "Nurturing" Gifts that say, "You are loved."
When you buy a gift for the interest area of a person at something
they are trying to excel in or a
new hobby, they feel validated. A
magazine subscription and one issue wrapped for the budding
gourmet cook
in your house, or a new puppy for the grade schooler looking for a new
friend.
5. DON'T FRET. . . Ask the hard to please person what they want.
Or offer them three suggestions, and they will tell you what they would
prefer instead. people love choices and getting gifts.
What's the Purpose?
The purpose of gift giving is to bring joy from your heart to theirs
in a tangible way that they will remember this year. Everyone needs some
cheer at the most hectic time of year. Make it easy on yourself and cut
your holiday stress in half by getting your gift shopping well under way
soon.
If you lost your gift lists from
the last couple of years, isn't it time to get them organized? That
means being able to find them in three minutes or less.
Check out my foolproof system that will keep you organized year
after year in the attractive
"My Christmas Holiday Notebook"
.
Decide when you want to finish your gift shopping and wrapping. Divide
up the number of gifts into the weeks and follow your plan. If you are cramped
for time, double up on the weekends so you can start each week with the last
batch of shopping all wrapped.
Pretty soon you'll be sitting by the fireplace with your feet up enjoying the
season!
by Marcia Ramsland, author of
Simplify Your Life: Get Organized and Stay that Way!
|
