Yay! We have almost made it to Christmas 2020!
Just stop and take it in. WE. HAVE. MADE. IT.
What a year huh? Who would have thought that all this malarky would have happened? Do you know what I mean? All this covid 19 stuff is what I mean.
The latest is that we are definitely going into a recession and so we have to be really careful about money. Yes, we still want to have fun and enjoy good quality family time so that we can have amazing memories but this year we just have to change things up a bit. We have to be a bit more inventive and dare I say, creative.
So in this post, I want to share with you a number of ways that you can make Christmas 2020 a memorable experience without breaking the bank. Just as it was hard for us to think about how catastrophic coronavirus was going to be, it is similarly hard to think of the catastrophe awaiting us due to the looming recession.
I suggest seriously though that you all are very careful about spending, save as much as possible, avoid the ‘sales’ and make Christmas more about family memories than an accumulation of ‘things.’
That being said, I know that we all live in a time when it is cultural to exchange gifts. So let’s do this. But let us be purposeful about gifting and give gifts that matter, that last and that will be loved.
Ideas for Handmade Gifts
If you are good at making things with your hand, then make special gifts that you can give to your loved ones. If you are not too adept at this, then this is a good time and opportunity to use the services of local craftsmen and women. That is also a good way to support your local economy as well as to be as economical and environmentally friendly as possible.
Shop local. Avoid shipping costs and the pollution that comes with it. Avoid postage costs and save that money.
Scarves, blankets, and other cuddly stuff
At Christmas time it will be cold (that is almost a given) and so I think a handmade scarf would be greatly appreciated. If you can crochet or knit, use your skill to make friends and family blankets, scarves, and any other cuddly item.
Here are some of my Christmas handmade gifts for this year
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Why not start a tradition and choose suitable colour and pattern and make all your family members a set of matching scarves. I can see this becoming a trend and you can, with a pleased smile on your face say, ‘I started this trend’.
Many families sit together and watch nostalgic movies, perhaps some that they have watched many times in the past. Can you imagine the family photos to be shown to grandkids in years to come of everyone cuddling together with matching blankets? How blissful.
Perhaps the best ideas for gifts this year are those gifts which either keep on giving or gifts which can be used to make more money. So as many of us are at home and doing most of our shopping and other interactions online, it might very well be a good idea for more of us to look at ways to interact with others online and make money in the process!
So for your crafter friends, you might want to get them something that can enhance their craft or that will allow them to move their craft up a notch. This will then make their craft more marketable thus allowing them to earn more. Admittedly, some tools used for craft can be quite expensive but if you are to weigh up the cost against the long term benefits, you might find that it is worth the additional cost, and you yourself might be the beneficiary of some really cool craft gifts.
Some suitable Christmas handmade gifts to consider for crafters may include the following:
Cricut Maker and associated tools
Wood carving set good for eco-friendly gift ideas
Embroidery hoops, needles, and cotton thread
Wax melt kits including essential oils
This list is by no means exhaustive, in fact, as I am writing this now, so many more ideas are coming to mind. You just need to do a bit of research and Pinterest is a good place to start.
Know who your recipients are, and use that to guide you in gifting.
I think though that this year more than ever, we are to avoid buying gifts just for the sake of it. By that, I mean that with a recession looming, you certainly don’t want to spend money on a gift that your recipient is just going to add to a pile of gifts that never gets used. So this year, with gifting, be thoughtful, be considerate and more than anything else, be smart.
Have a wonderfully safe Christmas 2020. Hold on to your nearest and dearest. Have a blast enjoying each other’s company and cherish the things that really matter.
Cheerio,
Jo and Leisa
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