Every holiday season, the Center for a New American Dream encourages people to spend and consume less by thinking differently about gift giving. They have a myriad of resources to simply the holidays like: the pledge and the popular Simplify the Holidays booklet, which offer practical tips for reducing stress and spending while increasing your personal fulfillment during the holiday season. And this year there's the new the SoKind Registry.
By creating a SoKind Holiday Wishlist, you can encourage your family members to stay out of the malls, stay out of debt, and, instead of more stuff, to give gifts that truly enhance your life. From homemade presents and secondhand goods to gifts of time and experience, SoKind can help you design a holiday season that’s about more fun and less stuff!
Looking for a place to get started? Here's 5 top gift ideas to help you get started with your SoKind holiday registry, and stress-reducing tips for simplifying your holidays. In addition to the SoKind Registry, the Simplify the Holidays Coupon Book is an easy-to-use template that you can print out, customize, and give to family and friends with the all of the great gift ideas below.
Top 5 SoKind Holiday Gift Ideas
1. Help With Your Favorite Cause: Whether you love serving meals at a local shelter or helping to build homes with Habitat for Humanity, register for help from your friends and family and get them involved, too. Instead of more clutter, you get to spend time with loved ones while making the world a better place.
2. Membership: Do you have a favorite museum or zoo? Is there a local community center where you've always wanted to take a class? Register for the membership itself or for funds to help cover the costs.
3. Favorite Recipes: Meaningful gifts can be as simple as asking for loved ones to e-mail you their favorite recipes. If you’re really a novice, register for some cooking lessons along with the recipes!
4. Home Project: From big projects, like a bathroom renovation, to little ones, like organizing a junk drawer, most of us have a task on our to-do list that’s been nagging us for years. By registering for help, you’ll finally get to cross something off that list!
5. Adventure Buddy: Always wanted to go camping (or skiing or kayaking or skydiving) but you’re nervous about going alone? Register to have a more seasoned friend show you the ropes.
Simplifying the Holidays Tips
Looking for tips to simplify your holidays? Start here, then work your way over to the pledge for more suggestions.
1. When it comes to decor, adopt a "less is more" attitude. Opt for natural trimmings, such as clippings from local evergreens and holly bushes.
2. Save paper by using alternative gift wrap and making collage cards. Wrap gifts in reused gift wrap, newspaper comics, old maps, or otherused paper. Reuse magazine photos, postcards and old holiday cards to make new cards.
3. Prepare sustainably made holiday meals. Use as many seasonal, locally grown, and organic foods as possible.
Organize an Alternative Gift Fair
Moving beyond your circle of giving, you can help your community join in the fun and have a greater impact by organizing an Alternative Gift Fair. Here's a guide to organizing one and a webinar below.
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