Finance Tip: Cherish Your Loved Ones and Skip the Gifts This Year

Nov 29, 2012

Finance Tip: Cherish Your Loved Ones and Skip the Gifts This Year

Instead of giving gifts this year, maybe you and your family and friends can all decide to celebrate the love you have for one another by hosting a holiday potluck to reminisce on old times and create new lasting memories. At the end of the day, it’s the relationships we have with our family and friends that matter most, not the material possessions we accumulate during our lives.

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The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This post was contributed by Brittney Castro, CFP® professional and creator of www.FinanciallyWiseWomen.com. Brittney Castro is not affiliated with TheEveryGirl.com. Brittney A. Castro is a registered representative with and securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. California Insurance License #0F3389.

http://answertheunasked.blogspot.com/ J.Mill

Beautiful sentiment. Smart advice.
Kim

Last year we started a new tradition, we quit buying gifts and we do a white elephant gift, something that we no longer use or need that is gently used. Everyone picks a number with #1 choosing a gift, #2can then choose a gift or take #1′s gift and so on until all the gifts are gone. We had so much fun and the kids already asked if we’re doing it again this year! We have quite a few boys in the family so we ended up with baseball caps, used car parts and some kitchen utensils.

Kim

One mans trash is another mans treasure! Haha

http://twitter.com/maxwelllauren Lauren Maxwell

Love this. I try to avoid the pressure to overspend by baking for loved ones. Last year I even made jelly, which felt like a 5th grade science experiment.

http://www.laurenmaxwell.blogspot.com
http://finedestination.tumblr.com/ Hannah

Family and close friends are always the hardest and easiest to buy for, all at the same time. You know them well enough to find a ton of things you know they’d love, but they’d also be perfectly content to get nothing more than a hug from you. I always try to keep my gifts small but personal. This year I’m making everyone an ornament in the shape of something important to them (i.e. a record for my cousin in the entertainment biz). Last year I went to Half Price Books and got everyone a book I thought they would enjoy.
Lindsey Young

While I am not going as far as skipping the gifts this year I have set a very modest budget for my Christmas shopping. This will be the first time I do it and so far I’ve stuck to all set goals I’ve set for shopping.
http://thehistoryofever.com/ Brianna

I love this! Our family expanded by three people this year (two weddings and a baby!), so we decided to draw names. The difference in shopping anxiety between this year and last year is tenfold!
http://livingmylifeasiknowit.wordpress.com/ Christina Tamm

Love the idea… since I live a few states away from everyone I normally just send heart felt christmas cards. My little sister is the only one who gets a gift!
http://www.ColorHug.com/ Lauren M.

I love this idea. The hard part will be trying to convince my family!