Give Thanks and Presents :: A New Spin on Holiday Gifting
We know, all too well, that once Halloween ends, the holiday season marathon begins. With it comes the ever-growing gift list: family, friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, school staff, therapists, coworkers, delivery drivers, clients, your boss – and don’t forget those white elephant exchanges and hostess gifts. No matter how many times you promise yourself that this year will be different, somehow you still end up praying to the Amazon Prime gods on December 22nd.
So what if we flipped the script and gave Thanksgiving presents to some of the people on our list? Before you call me the Grinch, hear me out. This just might be the secret to keeping your holidays merry and bright instead of crazy and frantic.
1. It celebrates the people, not the calendar
Thanksgiving isn’t typically a big consumer holiday. It’s not centered around “stuff” the way Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas often are. Thanksgiving gifts come from a place of appreciation, not pressure. It’s the perfect time for an intentional gesture that says “I appreciate you.” It is a way to give gratitude to your relationships when your heart feels it rather than when the calendar says you should.
2. You can avoid the December dash
It feels like every day in December you’re either researching, purchasing, or wrapping a gift. By giving some gifts at Thanksgiving, you can knock out a big chunk of your list early and actually breathe easier through the rest of the holiday season. Say goodbye to frantically tearing the house apart looking for that one missing gift and wrapping presents as you’re running out the door. The holiday season can already feel like a full year crammed into a few short weeks, so take away the unnecessary stress where you can.
3. Money, honey
Just like a few too many espresso martinis at the holiday party, nothing hits quite as hard as a December credit card bill. To make matters worse, January brings school registrations, spring sports leagues, and summer camp sign-ups. Your pocketbook barely has time to recover before it’s being pinched all over again. By giving gifts in November, you’re helping spread out the financial impact of the holidays.
Obviously, we all know certain gifts can’t be given in November. But I challenge you to take a look at your list. Maybe a few of those gifts can be moved up a few weeks. Thanksgiving gifts can work beautifully for teachers, neighbors, coworkers, and friends you might not see over the holidays. Think of it as your own little Black Friday BOGO: they get a thoughtful surprise and you get more time to hotel hop.
