You have exactly 9 days, 8 hours, 33 minutes and 17 seconds left until Christmas as I am writing this. That leaves you with some time to get those last minute gifts. If you’re anything like me, you are constantly being asked, “What would you like?” And before I can even say, I begin to think, Oh dear, they weren’t exactly on my list…Shoot! So then the list keeps growing and your wallet, well we won’t go there. The point is, there are some tricky customers, and then there are the people that you just don’t know all that well (and don’t want to). So, what to get them this year?
The first idea is to look around your house, start with your closet or your partner’s belongings. What goes unused? That reindeer sweater your mother got you last year that you never wore? Give it to the annoying girl at the office. How about that Tiger Woods golfing book you got your husband last year that now serves as a coaster? Perfect re-gift for the pop-culture fanatic, it’s practically a collectors item at this point. The point is, you need to find fabulous items with no value to anyone at home, and no possibility that the person receiving the gift is the one that bought it for you in the first place. Those are the golden rules of re-gifting. It is just an added benefit if they actually like it.
Bake, make, or decorate! Pick up Women’s Day, tune in to Martha Stewart, or just be creative all on your own. There are tons of recipes to choose from everywhere. When giving someone a packaged treat, it’s nice to include the recipe in a cute cutout (like an old cut up Christmas card) and lots of ribbons and bows. Make or embellish your own cards by simply adding glitter to a picture, stenciling on pretty designs, etc. And easily make some fun little crafts, like your own ornaments (paper ones are really easy to make with templates found online). Remember, you want it to be home-made, but not look it.
Lastly, do something different. Take all of the money or gifts you wold normally buy and donate it. Donate to a cause you really care about, like homelessness or domestic violence or animals. There are plenty of people and places that could use extra cash, clothing or other things. Donating simply your time is also a great gift. Although some people will say this is the cheap way out, I believe those people are truly misguided, and it is your job to show them why.
And please remember, you don’t get tickets to your favorite show or a brand new car when the last gift you gave was another tie. Gift as you’d like to be gifted. That is the Golden Rule.
