There are a lot of blog posts out there this Christmas season that are bringing attention to how we aren’t gifting as we should. Click here for an article that goes into a lot of statistics and is a must-read.
Below are some key numbers
- 28% of shoppers are entering the holiday season still paying off debt from last year’s gift shopping!
- Over 50% of holiday shoppers either overspend their holiday budget or do not set one at all.
- Consumers who went into debt over the holiday season racked up an average of $1,054 in new debt over the timeframe.
- 53.1% of people report to receiving unwanted gifts during Christmas.
- $16 billion is wasted on unwanted gifts every year.
- 18% of gifts are never used by the person who receives them. 4% are immediately thrown into the trash.
Christmas is the season where those who celebrate want to make it memorable. What did YOU receive last year? Do you remember each gift and who gave it to you?
You can control some of what you receive by sharing what your needs are. We’re so focused on what new gadgets we want and many times go out and buy them for ourselves even before the holiday season starts. It’s getting harder each year to buy something the person doesn’t already have!
I’ve had several older women tell me to get them something ‘practical.’ One firmly stated not to even think of getting a ‘collectible’ because it would be one more thing she’d have to dust. After reading the snowglobe story that ended in the death of two beloved cats, we also must take into consideration whether any gift we give (or receive) will put a pet in danger.
People who are retired would most likely enjoy a gift card to where they shop for food. If you must give a larger gift then buy essentials like shampoo, lotion, body wash or anything you see she might need.
Today my daughter is at a family Christmas dinner where ‘practical gifts around $10’ are being exchanged. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to show someone you care and it’s time we all stopped the overspending to impress the recipient.
Pet owners may rather receive a gift for a pet. Or if they face a lot of vet expenses, find out if that vet will take call-in payments and make a contribution to that account.
As for our pets, do we really need to spend major money on toys or beds? It’s not like we can impress a pet by showing the receipt. A cat would be just as happy with a box!
Have any of you adjust your spending or your giving and in what way? Please sound off in the comments.
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My best friend paid for me a website for 3 years for Christmas. It’s what I wanted and will give me something to play with and enjoy for years to come. Some of the PoC stories will go on here as well as happy ending news from all over the internet. I’m posting what I enjoy reading and the website is off to a good start. https://mycompassionbuzz.com/
Christmas has become a crass festival of greed in so many countries.
Buying a bag of food to help out your local managed feral colony is a good way to go I think. You can wrap it, write a gift tag, even include a little gift for the colony caretaker.
It’s a gift for the forgotten, that won’t be forgotten