Did you know Americans will put about $430 Billion back into the economy this holiday season? Did you also know that the AVERAGE American will spend up to $750 on gifts this year? Meaning that a two-person home will spend up to $1500! I don’t know about yall but that is so not my budget. At all.
With Christmas only 14 days away, and with most of us still scrambling around to find the perfect gift for the special people in our lives, we still have a little time to save. Instead of neglecting our bills, maxing out credit cards, or fighting for the last Malibu Barbie, we should give the most precious gift that no one can find in the stores–ourselves.
This holiday season, let’s think of different ways to give of ourselves to those we love, those we lost or even those we do not know. Below are 6 ways we can partake in this great gift-giving season that will cost you little to no money at all!
1. Volunteer at a homeless shelter. (It is a very liberating and humbling experience.)
2. Call an older relative (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) just to say “Happy Holidays” and “I love you.” (Trust me a simple phone call goes a long way.)
3. Rekindle an old friendship. (You’ll be surprised what becomes of it.)
4. Cook a holiday meal for a single-parent home.
5. Invite a friend/co-worker with no holiday plans over for dinner.
6. Give holiday cards to someone you do not know ( You never know who you may touch.)
Often times we get so caught up in the holiday craziness that we lose what the holidays are all about: Giving. Hopefully this list is helpful as we wrap up this busiest time of the year! Remember: No one in this world is more special than you, no one in this world is more deserving of the great gifts you will receive, but most of all no one will be able to give the most perfect gift–YOU!
“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” –Kahlil Gibran
-BFDCLOVE
The Black Female Development Circle is a 501(c)3 organization that was established in 1994 to serve as a support system for black women. The organization's mission is "To Educate, Explore, Enhance, and Celebrate Womanhood" and has chapters at UCF, FSU, FIU, Spelman, and Livingstone College. [Donate]
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Awwwweee Jazzy Phae! I love this. Very very true and you’ve inspired me to give more ME!
Happy Holidays!
I’ve been volunteering to feed the homeless on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for the last 4 years and it is always the most rewarding part of the holidays for me. Last year I even took my goddaughter with me and now she’s looking forward to going again this year. The funny thing is for all my humanitarianism, the part I like LEAST about Christmas is buying gifts. It really annoys me how we have turned a beautiful story of God’s love into “gimme gimme”. People are the saddest around the holidays simply because they can’t afford to buy lavish presents when the truth is what you said… “we should give the most precious gift that no one can find in the stores–ourselves.”
This list actually made me reconsider my approach to the holidays. I’m definitely going to focus on the holiday spirit, and giving, rather than only worrying about gifts and my own family.
Great blog Jaz! The best part is, these ideas can be done all throughout the year.
Thank you all for the positive feedback. You want to know what truly inspired this blog? My empty pockets, lol. I always want to outdo the gifts from last year but most of those gifts won’t make it to the next Christmas. I was forced to be creative, I was forced to TRULY think about others. See how God work?