I figured I would compile a list of ways to be giving even when you are broke or on a strict holiday budget since I myself am on a strict budget this holiday season.
You don't have to celebrate Christmas to get into the spirit of giving. You don't have to give only for 31 days, you can give all year round... This is just a suggestion for those who are looking for more ways to give.
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1. Giving time to a friend or loved one in need a few hours of your time.
2. Volunteering to help someone move without accepting money or even volunteering at a non profit organization for a few hours (soup kitchens, homeless shelters, youth centers such as Street Teens...).
3. Giving away food that you and or your kids will never eat (but it is still sealed) to a food drive.
4. Giving away old (but still nice condition) toys to places that help homeless and or abused kids; your child will get more this year anyway and this also helps teach your kids to be giving.
5. $1 Store blessings bags. I go and get small items like toothpaste and toothbrushes for low cost at the dollar stores and make care packs for abused kids shelters and centers. You can give yours to whom ever you wish to help. It doesn't even have to be people care packs. You can make care packs to donate to animal shelters.
6. Give a night to each child separately. Having come from a family of 6 siblings I know that what a child wants more than toys is some one on one time with his or her parent(s). Even if you only have one child but work a lot your child may want to be treated special for no reason other than he or she is special to you. I use to take my son on a mom and son night out. I would take him to the dollar theater here in Vegas and then take him to a dinner (nothing fancy but still one on one bonding with no phones). At dinner we would take out a deck of playing cards and play card games. To this day (he is 18 now) he tells me those nights out were his all time favorite part of his childhood. Not the gifts, not the money and allowances, the time. Giving that kind of time to one child per night will mean the world to them.
7. Date night with your significant other on you. You plan the date (it can be a no cost day of hiking or a nice candlelight dinner; that part doesn't really matter.) and surprise your honey giving him or her the gift of love and time.
8. Give the gift of coupons to that person in your life who clips coupons; I am not joking in the least! One year I did this for a baby shower (along with other baby items) and the mother was ecstatic. Just make sure this gift is for someone who does not frown upon coupons. LOL
9. Give your spare change to the leave a penny box... or leave it on the counter and tell the cashier to keep that to the side for anyone who comes up short on something important like cold medicine for their child. I remember the very first time my son had a cold and I was panicking. I was about a buck twenty short on cold medicine and the lady in line before me gave me her change. I couldn't believe the miracle. I came back my next paycheck and made sure to leave that exact amount for someone else in need.
10. Give a little extra on your next tip. It is the holidays so everyone is hurting but nothing hurts more than a waiter or waitress working her ass off during the busy season only to go home with no tips. Your extra $1-$10 will make her day. And tip cash not credit cards, credit card tips are taxed big time but cash tips are not taxed.
I am sure you can come up with many other ways to give for these 31 days of giving; this is just to get you started thinking.
Much love!
~ BBW Bella Artista~
