It’s that time of year, when people begin to think compassionately towards others, giving a little more than usual of their time, and especially of gifts. Who doesn’t love giving a gift to the special people in their life? I think we all do, however, sometimes those extravagant gifts can cause us to bang up the credit cards, go over budget or overdraft or land us in deeper debt than we initially expect. Christmas can lead to overboard shopping and I really have to be careful what I say here, as my husband will likely read this.
One way to ensure that we don’t regret giving after the fact, is to budget well, typically beginning months before Christmas, and buying gifts when they are on sale earlier in the year. But if you haven’t done that, there is still hope. What most people, especially our parents and grandparents, would say they’d like as a gift more than anything is our time. They would much rather spend time with us, than us buying them an extravagant gift or any gift at all. Take time this season to play a board or card game, or put a puzzle together, or if we get some more snow, build snowmen, go tobogganing or just enjoy the winter wonderland we live in. We really do live in such a beautiful place, even in the evenings we can go for a little walk or drive and see the beautiful stars, snow-topped trees and all the lovely Christmas lights all over town. Give the gift of time to your loved ones.
We all know that time is a precious gift, but if you’re like me, I also LOVE to give gifts! I love to get them too, ha-ha. But it is significantly more beneficial to give than to receive. A wrapped present is always a gesture of loving care. What do we get those loved ones when we’re on a budget? Clearwater is an awesome place to take a moment and purchase a handmade item at one the local markets on the weekends, or pop into one of the shops in town for a little something and let us not forget that chocolates, honey, jams and baking make awesome gifts too.
Memberships to services is also another option of something a bit more practical. Even a gift card from one of the businesses in town is a little something that can say, “I am thinking about you.” It’s also a nice way to support those in the community, that like many, are dependent on their Christmas sales.
If you are still a bit stuck, or maybe want to give but have no family near, there are other ways to give in this incredible community. Bring your friends or family along and give your time, gather supplies or gifts to places like the local food bank, the Christmas Eve Dinner, the Clearwater Toy Drive, and to the seniors in the community. Just a few ways that we can give without it costing a lot.
Simple things like pleasant holiday conversations, shovelling your neighbour’s sidewalk, stopping to chat while out for a walk, or just sharing a smile in the grocery store with the cashier at the check-out are all ways to give a gift of kindness to those who may not feel very cheery at this time of year, and they cost nothing.
While Christmas can cost a lot, it doesn’t have to. There are many ways to give without breaking the bank. Memories last longer than materialistic things. Though a gift may be lovely, your time is precious, and the value on that is far greater.
Note from Clearwater and District Chamber president, Kaare Long regarding the Twinkle Town Showdown...Long says, "The Twinkle Town Showdown is well underway, and we're thrilled to see registrations pouring in! Our community's enthusiasm is truly inspiring, and we've already captured some sneak peek photos of the dazzling displays. We look forward to a joyful and creative competition as we come together to light up our town for the holiday season. Let's make this a memorable and magical time for everyone in our community!"
