One year, I talked my co-workers into skipping the "gift exchange" because honestly, none of us needed the stress or another coffee mug for Christmas. I suggested that instead we "adopt a senior" from our community. This was totally voluntary. I contacted the local county agency and requested a "gift list" for a senior who might barely miss qualifying to be on a qualifying "Christmas tree angel". What was supposed to happen - I was supposed to drop everything off so we could remain anonymous. God had other plans. I found out last minute that I would need to deliver the items. I had to pick up my daughter from school and then deliver the items. My daughter got to see giving in action that day. She also got to see what it meant to someone receiving the gift. I will never forget the look on my daughter's face that day.
I encourage everybody to skip it and adopt an angel off a tree somewhere instead. One year I got a brand new baby and I got all the things for new mom that she would want in the future like "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments, onesie, rattles, etc in addition to the real needs/wants she asked for. You can also drop gift bags of "Baby's First Christmas" for new moms at the local hospital and let the nurses hand them out as they see fit.
Great video. Several years ago when I didn’t have much money I convinced my adult kids to celebrate the holidays by just bringing together and making Christmas cookies. Best Christmas ever. Merry Christmas, Tim.
Make cookies, put together photo albums/boxes, make paper snowflakes/string popcorn/make paper/recycled ornaments while listening to music, watching classics or revisting old home movies are great ways to be together and make new memories for next to nothing. I'm 53 and I still have ornaments Mom and I made from tinfoil and cardboard when I was a preschooler on a particulary hard year. Priceless TREASURE. :)
That is a minimalist fireplace behind you. Very easy to clean! Another gift idea is a meal together at a favorite restaurant. For the impossible to please, there is always a Mastercard gift card.
These are all excellent ideas, especially for those of us who have enough stuff. For me, I love coffee and my one son has for 3 years now given me coffees that come every 3 months from Amazing Clubs. These are coffees from family farms around the world. Last year they added the Jam club. One of the jams I received was Raspberry jam from Chad's Berry Farm in Utah. It is the absolutely best raspberry jam that I have ever tasted outside of my own homemade. I liked it so much that I bought a case of 12 to give as gifts to family and friends. Another place I love is Old Town Spice Shop in St Charles MO. I stopped there when on vacation and loved their fantastic selection of bulk spices and teas. I now purchase online for myself and family members who like to cook. My 11 year old grandson loves to cook and has a UA-cam channel. I am giving him a springform pan so that he can now make cheesecakes. Another son and his son love hot sauce. Every time I travel I look for unique hot sauces to give him. This year when I was in Gatlinburg there was a cherry shop. They had cherry pit pads and pillows that you heat in the microwave or refrigerate to use on inflammation, aches and pains. It works wonderfully so my daughter - in -law's mother is getting one this Christmas because she has chronic pack pain.
16 years ago, my very wise mother said that she had enough stuff and that there were many people in need. She encouraged us to give to our favourite charity. We have all been doing it ever since. Great video Tim!
I need to catch up on your videos! Been a bit busy and am behind on everything. We no longer do ‘gifts’ in our family. We get together, eat, and enjoy each other’s company.
Our family has started doing the "Dirty Santa" or "White Elephant" gift exchange where you bring one thing and people get to take turns stealing a gift a few times until it's out of rotation. It makes it more fun and surprising as to what you end up with and encourages talking/laughing/getting off the phone.
My daughter gave me a professional family photo shoot last year which was absolutely wonderful. I got to choose the location (a local park setting) and we all got to experience it together. It was the best gift, ever!!
If you are younger or physically capable offer to do a chore for a senior citizen. Offer to paint their bathroom or mop their floor. Refer to Tim's previous videos and watch how he helped his Mom downsize and organize her kitchen. Yes, these do involve your time but would be much appreciated by an aging population.
This year I am giving my grandkids pajamas and socks and their parents flannel sheets. Practical and cozy for this holiday season. Then, a few consumables (popcorn, homemade cookies for the kids and specialty spices and tea for the adults.)
A grabber for seniors or vehicle assist. I agree with restaurant+ movie gift cards. Or a gift card to places....like Shipshewana, Indiana (shops, musical stage performances+ a restaurant downtown) I find a Neck scarf for a coat is not only a good accessory for a coat, but once the coat is removed, it helps with drafts. Merry Christmas!
I spend time with my daughters doing special events. Two weeks ago we the movie Wicked and Jane Austen's Emma in Cambridge. We are going to care for our dog Winifred next week and her 8 puppies as a selfish favor to help out( Christmas is busy due to her many jobs including grooming) and we are going to stay in Plymouth for 2 nights. Joan
@@deborahwalton-blanchard5817 I do and let me tell you I live right outside of Boston and can go to theater in Boston or Fenway...once you get out of traffic...and jump on Pike and be home in no time. Totally rich in history! Joan
Great tips. Thank you.I love the one about gourmet foods you would not buy yourself. A family vacation or professional family pictures are a great option too.
I love it when my friend gives me a Visa gift card for Christmas. I always save it until a good concert is announced. Concerts have gotten so expensive i must be very selective. When i attend the "gifted" concert I send my friend a note or email again thanking them for their generosity. ❤🎵🎵🎶
I tried all the routines to clean/purge and "Swedish Death Cleaning" finally worked. It took me all year but my house is CLEAN! Shopping very differently for myself and others now.
I love these ideas. I want no clutter in my house. I have told people I will take gift cards for dinners at restaurants or experiences. And I try to give similar things if they’re not experiences I try to at least be functional or consumable. My parents are 82 and they love when I go to the grocery store and buy them a bunch of their favorite foods for Christmas that they won’t splurge on for themselves.
Love your ideas, especially the charity ones. I get my brother an Oxfam (or similar) charity gardening voucher as he's an avid gardener and my sister-in-law a similar teaching one as she's an ex teacher. When my children were younger, I got them an adoption pack for a horse/donkey sanctuary. It came with a photo of 'their' animal, plus quarterly updates. A good stocking filler.
Great gift ideas! Tune in *first* to the people you want to give a gift to ~ some do not want to be asked what they’d like for Christmas because it spoils the surprise .. for them, the surprise is part of the gift. Others prefer you ask because they have so much already that it’s helpful not to receive doubles and triples of things. Remember, if you’re buying a gift you’re not buying it for yourself. You’re buying it to make someone else happy.
Gift cards/ cash is what we do now, Small bag with some choc,tea / hot choc, socks are added to the bag too . Maybe something else to such as hand lotion/ sanitizer and Kleenex.
These are all great ideas.! I myself am a hot chocolate freak and one Christmas got a box of 12 flavors of Christmas. Never knew there were so many flavors if hot chocolate. Very enjoyable! Merry Christmas to you and yours. 🌲🎁😊
I'm all about consumable gifts. When the situation arises, I always request that people NOT give me physical gifts - unless they taste good. I do have a problem with people giving money to a charity in my name - unless I request it. -If somebody gives to a charity in my name, and as a "gift", it better be one that I told them I support. - Practical gifts should also be specifically stated by the intended receiver. Some people take offence to them.
One year, I talked my co-workers into skipping the "gift exchange" because honestly, none of us needed the stress or another coffee mug for Christmas. I suggested that instead we "adopt a senior" from our community. This was totally voluntary.
I contacted the local county agency and requested a "gift list" for a senior who might barely miss qualifying to be on a qualifying "Christmas tree angel".
What was supposed to happen - I was supposed to drop everything off so we could remain anonymous. God had other plans.
I found out last minute that I would need to deliver the items. I had to pick up my daughter from school and then deliver the items.
My daughter got to see giving in action that day. She also got to see what it meant to someone receiving the gift. I will never forget the look on my daughter's face that day.
I encourage everybody to skip it and adopt an angel off a tree somewhere instead. One year I got a brand new baby and I got all the things for new mom that she would want in the future like "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments, onesie, rattles, etc in addition to the real needs/wants she asked for. You can also drop gift bags of "Baby's First Christmas" for new moms at the local hospital and let the nurses hand them out as they see fit.
That is such a wonderful story!
@@theoddityshoppe Also your local pregnancy resource center really needs these items! 💖💙
Great video. Several years ago when I didn’t have much money I convinced my adult kids to celebrate the holidays by just bringing together and making Christmas cookies. Best Christmas ever. Merry Christmas, Tim.
Make cookies, put together photo albums/boxes, make paper snowflakes/string popcorn/make paper/recycled ornaments while listening to music, watching classics or revisting old home movies are great ways to be together and make new memories for next to nothing. I'm 53 and I still have ornaments Mom and I made from tinfoil and cardboard when I was a preschooler on a particulary hard year. Priceless TREASURE. :)
That is a minimalist fireplace behind you. Very easy to clean! Another gift idea is a meal together at a favorite restaurant. For the impossible to please, there is always a Mastercard gift card.
These are all excellent ideas, especially for those of us who have enough stuff. For me, I love coffee and my one son has for 3 years now given me coffees that come every 3 months from Amazing Clubs. These are coffees from family farms around the world. Last year they added the Jam club. One of the jams I received was Raspberry jam from Chad's Berry Farm in Utah. It is the absolutely best raspberry jam that I have ever tasted outside of my own homemade. I liked it so much that I bought a case of 12 to give as gifts to family and friends. Another place I love is Old Town Spice Shop in St Charles MO. I stopped there when on vacation and loved their fantastic selection of bulk spices and teas. I now purchase online for myself and family members who like to cook. My 11 year old grandson loves to cook and has a UA-cam channel. I am giving him a springform pan so that he can now make cheesecakes. Another son and his son love hot sauce. Every time I travel I look for unique hot sauces to give him. This year when I was in Gatlinburg there was a cherry shop. They had cherry pit pads and pillows that you heat in the microwave or refrigerate to use on inflammation, aches and pains. It works wonderfully so my daughter - in -law's mother is getting one this Christmas because she has chronic pack pain.
Thoughtful and very useful gifts.
16 years ago, my very wise mother said that she had enough stuff and that there were many people in need. She encouraged us to give to our favourite charity. We have all been doing it ever since. Great video Tim!
I need to catch up on your videos! Been a bit busy and am behind on everything.
We no longer do ‘gifts’ in our family. We get together, eat, and enjoy each other’s company.
Love the idea of theatre or music tickets or attending an event. Just perfect! 😍
Great list.
May sound indulgent to suggest giving yourselves a gift but for many it's well deserved.
Our family has started doing the "Dirty Santa" or "White Elephant" gift exchange where you bring one thing and people get to take turns stealing a gift a few times until it's out of rotation. It makes it more fun and surprising as to what you end up with and encourages talking/laughing/getting off the phone.
My daughter gave me a professional family photo shoot last year which was absolutely wonderful. I got to choose the location (a local park setting) and we all got to experience it together. It was the best gift, ever!!
If you are younger or physically capable offer to do a chore for a senior citizen. Offer to paint their bathroom or mop their floor. Refer to Tim's previous videos and watch how he helped his Mom downsize and organize her kitchen. Yes, these do involve your time but would be much appreciated by an aging population.
This year I am giving my grandkids pajamas and socks and their parents flannel sheets. Practical and cozy for this holiday season. Then, a few consumables (popcorn, homemade cookies for the kids and specialty spices and tea for the adults.)
These are great ideas. Thank you
Excellent ideas. Carole
Last year I gave my kids and grandkids tickets to go to Medieval Time show, this year we are all going to the theater to see Frozen
A well flavoured strong coffee ☕️ is always a good thing 😉 great ideas, thank you ❤🤗 and I hope you'll have a fantastic Merry Christmas🎄🎅
A grabber for seniors or vehicle assist.
I agree with restaurant+ movie gift cards. Or a gift card to places....like Shipshewana, Indiana (shops, musical stage performances+ a restaurant downtown) I find a Neck scarf for a coat is not only a good accessory for a coat, but once the coat is removed, it helps with drafts. Merry Christmas!
I spend time with my daughters doing special events. Two weeks ago we the movie Wicked and Jane Austen's Emma in Cambridge. We are going to care for our dog Winifred next week and her 8 puppies as a selfish favor to help out( Christmas is busy due to her many jobs including grooming) and we are going to stay in Plymouth for 2 nights. Joan
Sounds like you live in greater Boston. 😀 I miss the city very much!
@@deborahwalton-blanchard5817 I do and let me tell you I live right outside of Boston and can go to theater in Boston or Fenway...once you get out of traffic...and jump on Pike and be home in no time. Totally rich in history! Joan
Great tips. Thank you.I love the one about gourmet foods you would not buy yourself. A family vacation or professional family pictures are a great option too.
I love it when my friend gives me a Visa gift card for Christmas. I always save it until a good concert is announced. Concerts have gotten so expensive i must be very selective. When i attend the "gifted" concert I send my friend a note or email again thanking them for their generosity. ❤🎵🎵🎶
I tried all the routines to clean/purge and "Swedish Death Cleaning" finally worked. It took me all year but my house is CLEAN! Shopping very differently for myself and others now.
What a great achievement!
I love these ideas. I want no clutter in my house. I have told people I will take gift cards for dinners at restaurants or experiences. And I try to give similar things if they’re not experiences I try to at least be functional or consumable. My parents are 82 and they love when I go to the grocery store and buy them a bunch of their favorite foods for Christmas that they won’t splurge on for themselves.
That’s a great gift!
Excellent ideas!
Money. It may sound lazy but our grandkids are young adults and teens. They know what they want/need so it works. 😊
My husband and I give each other experiences. ❤
Love your ideas, especially the charity ones. I get my brother an Oxfam (or similar) charity gardening voucher as he's an avid gardener and my sister-in-law a similar teaching one as she's an ex teacher. When my children were younger, I got them an adoption pack for a horse/donkey sanctuary. It came with a photo of 'their' animal, plus quarterly updates. A good stocking filler.
Great gift ideas!
Tune in *first* to the people you want to give a gift to ~ some do not want to be asked what they’d like for Christmas because it spoils the surprise .. for them, the surprise is part of the gift. Others prefer you ask because they have so much already that it’s helpful not to receive doubles and triples of things. Remember, if you’re buying a gift you’re not buying it for yourself. You’re buying it to make someone else happy.
Absolutely love my merino wool socks!
Try Covert Threads Bear socks!! 🐻🐻
Thank you!
thanks Tim food for thought appreciate your input.
Great ideas Tim, thanks 👍🎄🌲
I really like the cooking class and movie streaming ideas.
I would personally love to receive a catsittting voucher! It's not always easy to find catsitters for short trips, and they can be quite expensive 🐈
That is a great idea!
I like the Christmas Studio.
Thanks!
GREAT…ideas!!!
Thank you for sharing!!!😊😃☺️
Gift cards/ cash is what we do now, Small bag with some choc,tea / hot choc, socks are added to the bag too . Maybe something else to such as hand lotion/ sanitizer and Kleenex.
Those are some good ideas!
These are all great ideas.! I myself am a hot chocolate freak and one Christmas got a box of 12 flavors of Christmas. Never knew there were so many flavors if hot chocolate. Very enjoyable! Merry Christmas to you and yours. 🌲🎁😊
What a fun gift!
Another idea re food consumables is an assortment of spices to experiment with in cooking.
I'm all about consumable gifts. When the situation arises, I always request that people NOT give me physical gifts - unless they taste good. I do have a problem with people giving money to a charity in my name - unless I request it. -If somebody gives to a charity in my name, and as a "gift", it better be one that I told them I support. - Practical gifts should also be specifically stated by the intended receiver. Some people take offence to them.
Grooming at their favorite one for their pets.
❤😊
❤😊😊❤
Gifts that you can enjoy but dont take up permanent space..something to eat or drink or use up (notebook,diary,bath salts etc)
Never cared for these sort of gifts. Give me a paper and ink book any day.