It’s Turkey Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Woohoo!  Hope you are doing something lazy and wonderful.

Tomorrow is Black Friday.  A day that I have never in my life participated in.

Why?  Shopping gives me anxiety.  I greatly dislike crowds and spending money on things I didn’t even know existed until you put them in front of me.  Not my idea of fun.

However,  Giving + People = Super Happy Betty Jean.

I think giving should be something sincere, true, and real – not obligated.  Yet, opportunities to give and show love are awesome!  (Birthdays, holidays, etc.)  Increasing debt out of social obligation is not right.  If you really want to show your friends and family you love them, do NOT max out your credit cards.  People who love you would not ask that of you just because it is a holiday.

So… I’m posing a question plus some ideas and alternatives to buying at major stores on Black Friday and during December.

How does one approach a holiday based on giving (and consumerism) without submitting to the social obligation of spending money and racking up credit card debt for giving’s sake?

Ideas for True Giving… & Spending in a Way that Loves YOU, too.

I’ll preface this by saying that I’m brainstorming ideas here.  More importantly, I’m ASKING FOR YOUR IDEAS! Share them!  Do you have any awesome traditions in your family that help you save cash, keep your heart in the right place, and make giving at the holidays something that is done with love… not obligation?

BJB Idea No. 1)  Big family?  Big group of friends? Draw a name!

Have everyone draw a name out of a hat and buy for one person in the group.  Here is how to do it and allow the receiving person to LOVE their gift:

1.  Have each person not only write their name, but write the top 5 things they’d love to receive under $100 (or a predetermined amount).

2.  If you know the friend or family member really well and know something they’d love to own that wasn’t on their top 5 list, that’s even better!  But the ideas the person put on their top 5 list could spark some great ideas.

3.  Always include a gift receipt!  ALWAYS!

BJB Idea No. 2)  Buy a hilarious gag gift at a really nice store that your friend of family loves.

Gift cards are easy… but they are unoriginal.  If you know a place your friend or family member loves but don’t know what the heck to get them, go into their favorite store(s) and buy them something absolutely ridiculous.  Make sure to include a card that says something equally ridiculous so they know it’s a gag gift and don’t think you are trying to be serious.  Include the gift receipt with the card.

P.S. I reiterate: write in the card that this is a joke gift.  Don’t leave them guessing, or worse, re-gifting.

BJB Idea No. 3)  Have a Blind-folded Hot/Cold Gift Store

Games like this are the most rewarding when there is a list of awesome gifts within the predetermined price range for people to pick from.  Ask around and ask what’s hot for $XX.xx or poll family/friends for what they’d LOVE to receive for the holidays.

1.  Have everyone in the family get a really cool gift at a predetermined value.

2.  Arrange the gifts (wrapped) all over the room.

3.  Blindfold one friend or family member at a time.

4.  Have them go into the Gift Store and blindly find a gift.  Feel free to put obstacles in the way of gifts (but don’t let anyone get hurt).  Help guide them through saying “Warmer” or “Colder” the whole way.  Don’t hold back your laughter.

5.  Have everyone unwrap them at the same time.  Feel free to have a gift trade at the end.

BJB Idea No. 4) Do something REALLY unconventional.

What struggles are your friends or family experiencing?  It isn’t always about the toys we wouldn’t buy for ourselves.  It’s also an opportunity to offer solutions our loved ones don’t know are available.  There are tons of possibilities for this idea.  However, I’m going to go ahead and create an Unconventional Gift Store to (hopefully) help ease your shopping pain.

If you have any ideas for the Unconventional Gift Store, please share them.  If you have ANY ideas for cool ways to provide love, opportunity, and gifts during the holidays, please let me know.  I’d especially like to publicize ideas that cost little to no money.  But no matter what… share your ideas with us, PLEASE!

BJB Idea No. 5) If you are going to spend money on friends and family, why not spend it on something that might make them money or improve their life?

A resume service?
Life coaching?
Career coaching?
Small business coaching?
Fitness coaching?
Spiritual coaching?
A special local retreat in one of their personal interests?

Idea No. 6) Help an Annie in your family

This is an addition to the original article.  But it is so touching that I had to add is here and re-post.

Check out this article by Job Jenny about Annie, her story, and why you should spend $7.99 on Annie (or the Annie in your family) instead of the singing reindeer from Walgreen’s this year.

Sending great thanks and love to all of you.

What are your ideas for this article?  What ways do you know of to give to your friends and family with love and intention (that suits everyone’s budget)?