Present giving - give from what's 'in your hand'
This is about thinking outside the box, not wanting to give a present and immediately running to the shops (or the present box featured yesterday)
There are times that you want to show someone your appreciation, but your budget is already over stretched and sometimes that means you have to let the moment go. But take stock for a minute what you have. I don't mean give the shirt off your back, or out of your wardrobe, but that can be appropriate on occasion! I mean think outside the box and use your skills.
One of my favourites is giving jars of jam that we've made (sorry, if I've just spoilt the surprise for anyone expecting a gift from me soon!)
This year we have made jam from plums and apples that grew wild in our area. I've also been given rhubarb, gooseberries and apples from friends, blessing me out of their excess. (if you're my friend and you want to gift me with something like that, then honestly yes, it really does bless me. I don't think, oh they're a cheapskate for giving me that, I think, wow, I'm so lucky that they wanted to share their bounty with me!)
Other ideas
Look in your cupboards, do you have ingredients to bake a cake, cook a meal, share your homemade goodies (like jam/jelly/chutney, biscuits, cookies, cakes)
Share your skills. Offer to cut a lawn, prune a bush, teach someone an instrument, offer to babysit, give your time. Time is money. You don't have to physically spend cold hard dosh to give someone a gift of value.
Give a gift of memories - homemade calendars or photos or pictures, handprints are always good from children cos they (the children) don't stay small forever. Sew a cross stitch. Knit a scarf. Make a mix tape - I guess nowadays that might be an iplayer or YouTube playlist!
Let me know if you've given or are planning to think outside the box with your giving this year.
What else could you do?
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