PRESENTS
Don’t be afraid to set a limit on the cost of presents. Others may be only too grateful that someone has decided to spend less; it also opens the way for those to follow suit who may want to spend less but do not want to say it. Expressions like ‘How does everyone feel about setting a price limit on presents this year?’ or ‘Seeing as everyone is watching the pennies, how about we just buy for the children this year’. If you feel uncomfortable with broaching the subject, general statements or questions like these are a good way of gauging the feeling within the present buying circle. There is no point going into debt just to give another a present or to pretend that you can spend a lot at Christmas when you really cannot afford to.
Any type of present, no matter the cost, will look a bazillion times better (and of better quality) if wrapped well. Similarly, an expensive present wrapped without thought or effort is often seen as less quality. Beautiful wrapping paper doesn’t need to be expensive (especially if bought in the January sales!) and tissue paper is usually very low cost if bought in pound, dollar or euro shops.
It’s nice to put the effort in at Christmas and make the unwrapping of the present part of the gift. Opening a lovely presented gift on Christmas day adds to the meaning behind the gift. Taking the time to wrap nicely tells the receiver (consciously or unconsciously) that you have thought about their gift and care enough about them to present it in a special way. A less expensive present bought with real thought and wrapped well is often more appreciated than an expensive something which will only be put in a drawer after Christmas. Or, as I mentioned in the What is your true meaning of Christmas? post, you might like to give a non material gift – the upside of that gift is that it doesn’t require any wrapping!
A nice idea is to match your wrapping paper to the Christmas colour scheme you have chosen, it all adds to the lux feel and the presents look extra special under the tree.
Enjoy
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Other posts you might like:
Look for the oneness in others today
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