Who hasn’t felt stressed out when looking for the perfect gift for a loved one of their list? The closer we get to Black Friday, scoring the best deals becomes increasingly more urgent. As we move into December, the malls will become crowded with shoppers searching for last minute deals and bargains to share on Christmas Day. Gift giving is an honored tradition that gives you the opportunity to share joy with those you care most deeply for. But now more than ever, we need to make sure our purchases are meaningful. Being a conscious consumer is imperative during this Holiday season. This doesn’t mean forsaking your seasonal celebrations, including gift exchanges. But it does mean taking some time to reconsider out habits. Here is a simple list of ten things you can do to “Occupy the Holidays” this year. Simplify your celebrations and use your consumer power to invest in your local community; remember we always vote with our dollar!
10 Ways to Occupy the Holidays
1. Buy American. Support local jobs, buy gifts from the many awesome American-made options available.
2. Shop locally. Visit your local independent shops and help reinvest in your own community.
3. Buy handmade. Everyone loves receiving a unique handcrafted gift. Check out local craft fairs and Etsy.
4. Do it yourself! If you are so inclined, share your talents through homemade art, baked goods and craft creations.
5. Buy used. Keep it out of the landfill! Check Craigslist and consignment sales for steals on used products in excellent condition.
6. Give service gifts. Lessons, classes, memberships to museums or tickets to a theatre all make fun gifts.
7. Choose gifts that give back. Charitable giving in recognition of your loved one sends an important message.
8. Cook holiday meals with local foods. Hit your local farmer’s market before they close up shop for the season!
9. Buy with cash. Using cash instead of using credit cards helps you stay on budget and prevents the big banks from further profiting from your hard earned money.
10. Spend less. Only spend what you can afford. No one wants you to go into debt for their gift. Create a budget and stick to it.
I am working hard to buy only American made or at least handmade/small business-made gifts this year. It’s very difficult to communicate with family members (parents especially) that my children do not need ten more plastic noisy toys. For the most part they listen to reason and suggestions. Etsy is a great source for presents and decorations. I just ordered some fabric garland and a DIY advent calendar. Every year I buy a couple Etsy decorations and our collection of awesome holiday fun grows a little more over time. We also make lots of ornaments and crafts with my son, to share in the fun of the holidays. My favorite memory of Christmas isn’t a present, but making Christmas cookies with my mom. The presents is the least favorite part for me. I love the cooking, eating, laughing, board game playing and singing carols. Those are the things our kids will carry with them. Those are the real traditions of the holidays, not Black Friday and standing in line at WalMart for the $50 TV.
These are some really great ideas, Nicole. You are right, it’s not the gifts that create the memories, it’s the time spent together with loved ones. It’s so hard to appreciate a few quality gifts if they are outnumbered by a sea of cheap plastic toys.
Great list Sarah. If we all just followed a couple of these suggestions, it would do wonders for the small biz’s out there, as well as for our own pocketbooks.
So true. Buying more meaningfully is a mutually beneficial experience!
Wow I’ve been doing 9 out of 10 already!
I would suggest you not give to big name charities and instead walk your donations personally to a family in need or someone in the community who can be trusted to give it to a family in need. Too many charities are using your donations to buy real estate, pay off their board members, and do very little good in the community. Non-profits ARE big business.
You have a point that some charities are more committed than others. Directly giving a donation to a family in need is not always possible or tactful. There are some great sites like Charity Navigator that rate charities and show how much of their revenue is used for specific purposes. In December I will be putting out a list of charitable giving ideas for the Holidays.
I’ve been saying this for over 10 years. We are in this mess because we are all too fickle when it comes to saving a buck. Don’t buy from Wall Mart everything is made in China. I’ve often paid 20 percent more to by American or Canadian. (Except cars because they’re crap) The quality is usually better and you’re helping the local economy. Never use credit cards to buy presents. If you can’t afford it, it’s really your pride that want’s you to buy that expensive present , not really your love for that other person.
Inspired by the switch bank movement as part of OWS, I’m trying to make more purchases with cash. You get a better sense of what you are actually spending, and it profits the seller more and the banks less.
Luv it! Luv it! Luv it! I just got done tweeting the “Occupy Protests: Shop Mom-And-Pop On Black Friday” article. Awesome list that will share @ http://www.facebook.com/motherbabychildren
Thanks so much for spreading the word!
This is an awesome list and I think it gives a lot of people some options to consider. But I would also add buy Fair Trade. I know not it’s not buying American. But a least if your supporting the little guy over seas and not some giant corporation exploiting them.
Thank you so much for mentioning fair trade! I completely forgot about that when I was brainstorming this list. It’s a great way to purchase products made globally while avoiding exploitation.
I love these suggestions. Everyone should be doing these!
What a great list! One I’ll definitely be keeping handy!
Blessings,
Kourtney
I love, love, love that sign about shopping at small merchants.
This is a great bit of advice for holiday shopping. I absolutely hate going to the big malls and stores, and I usually end up buying online to avoid the mess. I think I’m going to look into a lot of these suggestions this year. Thank you!
I’m becoming a big fan of shopping on-line too, now. I tired shopping in town for Small Business Saturday but my toddler was less than cooperative! Luckily we can still shop small online.
All great ideas and I agree 100%! The funny thing is the last 3 years I have asking for donations for my holiday gifts and it is not always greeted well. You would think that donating to a cause would be a good thing? Some people just feel the need to spend money on useless china made gifts! This year all our gifts are Canadian and waste-free except for one gift. My mom desperately needs a new computer and we decided last year to all pitch in and get her a new one!
I have noticed a resistance from some to charitable giving for Holiday giving, too. I think it’s hard when you don’t have something concrete to present as the gift. My sister made a donation to WWF for my gift a few years ago. She “adopted a penguin” in my honor and I got a stuffed penguin doll along with some info about the donation. It was my favorite gift that year!
Great information thanks!! It’s a great list to help us all do our part and in the long run give something so much more meaningful than just another “thing” thank you. I’m bookmarking this so I can refer back to it through my shopping.
On Small Business Saturday I shopped at Barbara’s Bookstore in Burr Ridge, IL and bought four of my favorite children’s books. All four books are “Printed in the USA.” Then I purchased a beautiful poinsettia at Sid’s Flower Shop in Palos Hills, IL. My husband had our daughter’s car washed, waxed, and detailed as a gift for Christmas.
All of the Christmas cards I have bought this year are made in the USA by UNICEF (sold at Hallmark stores) and Leanin’ Tree (printed in Boulder, Colorado). But the Hallmark brand boxed Christmas cards are all unfortunately “Made In China” now.
Caroly, you rock! You are a true buying American superstar. Thanks for the heads-up on the cards.
I love your ideas! I just went shopping for this weekend for ornaments for friends and shopped ONLY my locally owned stores and found the cutest things. I make jewelry (hemp and glass beads) which a huge hit with all of the girls in my life! I do buy some commercial products but try to stay with American-made!
Sounds like a really fun shopping experience! Also would love to see the jewelry you make.
This is a great list, and I hope we can turn the tide, and bring back the strength of our local small businesses…cheers!
All exelent reminders on how to have an “American” Christmas! I’m definitely going to be putting many of these to good use!
Lisa
What a wonderful website! Your focus and interest runs similiar to mine. We vote every day with how we spend our money. There is true power in that. Keep up the good work and thank you!
Thanks for visiting, I love your blog and it’s intentions. You are bringing awareness to so many important issues!
These are some really awesome ideas. With money being tight this year since I’m not working, I need to cut back on spending. I’ve been “pinning” ideas for homemade gifts and plan to give quite a few.
Pinterest is a great way to keep track of DIY ideas. You can make so many neat gifts without spending much at all, and everyone loves getting a homemade present! You’ll have to let us know what you end up making.
I found a company called Carolyn Pollack Jewelry in Albuquerque New Mexico who’s products are made in the USA. They have employ 200 local artisan craftsman and woman. They were featured on the ABC’s Made in America Challenge. More than 150 of their employees signed up to take the Made in America Christmas challenge and spend $64 on gifts made in America. For good gift ideas Visit the $64 Carolyn Pollack Gift Group on their website: http://bit.ly/MadeinAmericaGiftGroup