22 Comments
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Beth Ann Fennelly's avatar

Great ideas! YOU are a gift.

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Readerwoman's avatar

Great ideas, Deb! One question? Why did you use "a little more" rather than simply more? We each should encompass giving, etc. MORE. Whatever that can mean to us. Many years ago, as a rural newspaper carrier, I always enjoyed the gifts, often monetary, given to me by customers. I don't have the opportunity to do that as a consumer very much. But I do look my servers of all kinds in the eye while thanking them, and if they have a name tag, I make a point of using their name. If the service was great, I drop a line to their employer. I don't have much money so I make at least 80% of my gifts. There are so many ways to say thank you!

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Yasmin Chopin's avatar

Super ideas here. It makes me think that these need not only be for Christmas, but all year round!

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Jessica's avatar

An excellent list. I might add: Spend only what you can afford without going into debt. I have heard some folks are still trying to pay off last year's Christmas.

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Deb Bowen's avatar

I love all of your suggestions for the holiday Janisse. On my author facebook page, I'm inviting people to participate in a weekly candle-lighting ritual in a run-up to the Solstice. I offer non-monetary gift ideas in my newsletter this week. If we all add a bit to the idea pool, we make our suggestions stronger and go further! Blessings, Deb

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Virginia Russell's avatar

I used to make a donation for each family to the charity they chose. Now my great nieces and nephews have started a new tradition—a White Elephant swap. So now I only buy one present.

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Becki Clifton's avatar

You know I love ALL of these Janisse. I love giving the gift of seeds as well. Foraging for Christmas decor in the woods with the grand boys is also one of my favorite activities.

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Joan Donaldson's avatar

Such wonderful suggestions. When I make jam during the summer, I cook up extra and give away jars of jam to relatives. Sometimes we have "purchased" chickens or seeds through a nonprofit in honor of my mother who liked to help people. I try to knit mittens, socks, during the year and store them away until Christmas.

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SK's avatar

I do an "ADVENT-ure Calendar" with my kids from Dec 1 until the Solstice, culminating in a bonfire on the solstice. Every day we do an activity, including filling a free food pantry in our neighborhood, a nature scavenger hunt, making gifts, visiting some Little Free Libraries, picking up litter on the roadside, attending a holiday concert, camping out next to the woodstove for the night, and making hot cocoa.

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Sheila Knell's avatar

What an amazing idea!!!!!

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Dallas Anne Duncan's avatar

I looooove this!!!

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Margo Solod's avatar

We buy old maps and road atlases from thrift stores and library sales and use the pages for wrapping gifts

throughout the year

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Readerwoman's avatar

Maps are great to make homemade cards with too!

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SK's avatar

I do this too! Even better when I find them in trash piles :)

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Brandy Renee McCann's avatar

Here's another idea that folks in my town do: If you are on social media, groups such as "Buy Nothing [your town/neighborhood/county]", are a hot spot for reusing holiday decor, especially pre-lit trees where the lights are no longer working.

Building on one of your ideas, Janisse, I make gift wrapping from worn out (or thrifted) holiday themed clothes. You can make very simple pillowcase-shaped sacks of various sizes.

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Fragments and Thoughts's avatar

Here’s another idea. It’s for 2024, but has existed for many years.

- Participate in the 2024 You Matter Marathon and help spread kindness and positivity in your community. Together, we can create a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

- Here's how you can join: http://youmattermarathon.org

[They may] still have a limited number of free card packs for 2024! Sign up today to receive 10 free cards.

- support Little Free Libraries. Possibly, include banned books.

- participate in Book Crossing, “the practice of deliberately leaving books in places where they will be found and read by other people” … “register a book on the official website, obtain a unique Bookcrossing ID, label the book with this ID, and then release it into the wild. Finders are encouraged to log the book's journey online.

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Fragments and Thoughts's avatar

An addition to your list

- Donate food, funds, and/or care items to local food banks.

- send cards, made or purchased, to seniors in retirement homes and to veterans in VA hospitals

- donate food and treats to local pet pantries.

- feed the birds supplemental birdseed during winter and plant regionally indigenous plant berry bushes for them in the spring.

- shop local to support your individual community’s economy.

- volunteer in non profits, hospitals, schools, pet shelters

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Readerwoman's avatar

Cards for Kindness (creativekindness.org) is a great organization - since I'm addicted to make cards and don't sell many, I send 20 at a time to them. A good feeling.

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Gerald Smith's avatar

Noel

I would keep Christmas this way:

Nothing retail, no glitter lights or tinsel;

Nothing artificial, nothing made.

This nativity eve against the low sun

I would pilgrimage in the fields and woods.

Along my way I would collect

A bundle of sweet dry grass;

In the woods, break off

A fresh pine bough rich in sap.

Next, visit an old cemetery

And there collect a twig of holly,

Then a sprig or two of ivy. Nothing more.

At dusk I will make my way home.

In the late evening by a fire

I will read St Luke’s story,

And lay my offerings on my table—

Fresh grass, pine, holly, and ivy.

At midnight I will light a single candle,

Sit quietly, and listen

For the songs of angels.

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Linda's avatar

Gift yourself with

Self- Care.

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Catherine Young's avatar

Ideas for list:

Write a letter and if rural, put a treat in the maillbox addressed to the carrier who will pick it up.

Hang a sign out on the road thanking the schoolbus driver or wait with a fresh cup of coffee or hot chocolate when she makes her run.

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