Christmas, Christmas Time Is Here…

“…time for toys and time for cheer.”

As wise-munks Alvin, Simon and Theodore once caroled, Christmas is a time of giving, receiving, and merriment. But sometimes the giving part can be plain stressful.

Take the time, a few years ago on the weekend before Christmas, when I was stuck in traffic in a shopping mall parking lot, unable to leave for over an hour.

I dread malls during the holidays. And it goes without saying, I dread mall parking lots even more.

Sure I still find myself at the mall for a few gifts each year. But by and large, I try to avoid shopping for Christmas gifts, especially during the holidays. Here are some things that I have done in the past to make holiday gift giving more meaningful and fun.

1. Make a handmade or personal gift. One year I made a day planner on my computer and had it printed and bound at Kinko’s. I collect fortunes from fortune cookies and each week in the planner had a different fortune. Another year I made a set of greeting cards. I chose 3 landscape-type photos I had taken on a trip to Japan and put them in these photo frame cards. I then tied a ribbon around them and put them in a plastic box I found at a paper store. Presentation is everything. They were a big hit! For more ideas, check out super crafty Susan Beal’s amazing list of craft ideas on her blog.

2. Support friends and family. For example, my sister makes and sells hats, so one year I bought her hats for my friends. This way, you make 2 people happy: the receiver and the source of the gift. 3 people if you count yourself!

3. Support local people and businesses. It makes it easier for me to spend money when I know it’s going directly into my community.

4. Shop in “unusual” places. This year, I shopped at the grocery store for some of my friends. I parked immediately, I checked out quickly, and I got out of the parking lot with ease.

5.  Buy gifts throughout the year. If I find the perfect something for the perfect someone, I buy it and store it until Christmas. A good way to spread out costs over the year.

6. Buy online. Whatever did we do before the Internet?