» Save Money by Giving More This Christmas

Give a priceless gift this Christmas

Are you looking for a way to escape from consumerism this Christmas? Do you want to get back to the REAL meaning of Christmas?

Do you want to give in a way that will be REALLY appreciated, rather than spending lots of money on presents that are forgotten a couple of days later?

Give the Gift of Time

It’s a gift that can be tailored closely to the needs of the recipient. It can be personal or more widely spread. It’s entirely up to you, but here are a few suggestions to get you going:

Give an elderly relative your time to talk about their life. They’ll enjoy reminiscing and it could be the start of a family history trail. This would be a good gift for a younger person to give, as they often miss out on hearing about family history until it’s too late.

Offer to look after the kids of a hassled mother for a few hours, a day, a weekend, or several. The opportunity to have some quality time alone will definitely bring a smile to her face.

Babysitting vouchers will be welcomed by the parents of a young child who don’t get out very often, or by a single parent.

‘I’ll do your shopping’ of ‘I’ll take you shopping’ would be a welcome gift for an infirm person, or someone who’s very busy.

Pass on a skill to someone through a set of lessons.

Gift your loved one a month’s worth of housework or garden tidying, or whatever you know they dislike most.

Offer to act as taxi service for your parents so they can go out and enjoy themselves for a change.

Adopt a granny or granddad – this is great for children who don’t have grandparents of their own, or don’t see them very often, and can bring joy into someone’s life

Look after an elderly or disabled person’s garden

Offer to help a child with reading or math skills

Make a special garden for someone: raised beds and wide, even paths for someone wheelchair bound or unsteady on their feet; or lots of scents and different textures for someone with sight problems

Invite an elderly person who lives on their own to share your Christmas festivities and have a small surprise present for them. But don’t just forget them for the rest of the year afterwards.

Take a housebound person out for a day

Give time to a center for disabled children or a cancer hospice where someone may not have any relatives who could visit – so a friendly chat with someone on a regular basis would be very welcome

Have your grandchildren for a holiday so that their parents can have a holiday on their own

Take over from a carer so that they can have a rejuvenating holiday, or some regular time-out

Help decorate a house for someone who can no longer do it on their own

Offer to do odd jobs for a single parent that they don’t know how to do themselves

Read aloud to an elderly person who can no longer see small print

The ideas are only limited by your imagination. Many of these could be done as shared activities, and would be a good way to teach children the benefits of giving to others without expecting anything in return.

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