Weeks before Dec. 25, the hum of commercialism fills the air along with Christmas carols and wintry winds. Here are some ways to spend less while giving heartfelt gifts this season.
Talk about it
Avoid making Christmas all about presents by talking to your family and friends about expectations beforehand. Instead of getting gifts for everyone in the family or friend group, have a Secret Santa or White Elephant exchange. Decide about how much money each gift should be. Or make sure you get your loved one the perfect gift by asking what they want for themselves or their children.
Buy or make consumables
Try your hand at making homemade salsa, jam, sourdough bread, spiced nuts or sweets. Or go store bought with wine, spices, olive oil, Fair Trade chocolate or an assortment of organic fruits. Stop by a farmers market to pick up locally made or grown flowers, candles or soap. If they travel a lot during the holidays, make them a road trip gift basket with a gas station gift card, travel snacks and an activities booklet.
Shop for the less fortunate
Make the focus of Christmas more about giving than receiving by helping the poor. Participate in a parish collection of toys or food for the needy. Give a donation in their name to an organization such as a pregnancy center, Catholic Charities, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Heifer International or Catholic Relief Services, where you can purchase seed, pigs or a handwashing station for needy around the world. Cross Catholic Outreach also has a Christmas Catalog that allows you to buy certain things for those in need, such as a Bible, powdered milk or a Box of Joy Christmas gift.
Give the gift of family time
Spend a day relaxing with a fun activity. Go on a hike or play sports. Bake family favorites or have a cooking competition. Turn the living room into a cozy fort for a reading or movie-watching day. Make crafts and decorate while listening to Christmas music.
Prayer
Call your parish to have a Mass celebrated for a loved one. Offer to pray a rosary or novena for their intentions. Accompany your prayers with a handwritten note or saint prayer card.
Give experiences
A surefire way to cut down on Christmas clutter is to give a gift card for a bowling alley, spa, restaurant, state park, mini-golf course, brewery or any other business that allows the recipient to do their favorite activities. Or give them money toward a cooking class, musical instrument lesson or self-defense course.
Shop for good
Before braving the crowds at the mall, try shopping second hand. Thrift stores often have tons of books and drinkware in great condition. Online stores such as Facebook Marketplace or eBay can help you buy gifts or sell unwanted ones. Fair trade stores such as Trade Roots in Arlington, Ten Thousand Villages in Alexandria and Latitudes Fair Trade Store in Fredericksburg have uncommon and quirky gifts from around the world. Zero-waste stores such as Mason & Greens in Alexandria and Trace in Vienna can help you cut back on plastic with environmentally friendly necessities.
Giving physical, experiential and faith-filled presents is a beautiful way to show love to friends and family while celebrating the gift of baby Jesus.
