Christmas is a time for giving. Watching TV, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this means ‘giving lots of expensive stuff’! From September, adverts are busy barking at us about the expensive perfumes, toys, gadgets and much more that are all ‘must haves’ for Christmas. However, the real spirit of the holiday season can be found outside of the supermarkets and retail industry.
More and more companies and organisations work hard all throughout the year to make sure that people on their own or in a situation less fortunate than others, are looked after at Christmas time. And trends over the last few years have shown that more and more of us are interested in getting involved. Here are just a few ways we as individuals (without having to spend lots of money), can make a difference.
Check online for your nearest shelter who are always looking for volunteers to help serve Christmas dinner. Kitchen duties may not seem like a lot of fun but dishing out seasonal food to those who would otherwise not be able to afford a meal, or who don’t have anyone to share the holiday period with, will soon make you forget that you’re technically ‘doing work’ as you find yourself immersed in community. In
doing so you may realise how lucky you are and what a difference such a small gesture can make to others less fortunate.
2. We all get very busy throughout the year and it’s easy to lose touch with our own families and friends, let alone people we don’t know so well. But December is a great time to take stock and make that time. Book in a date to catch up with a friend you haven’t seen in a while, go round to your Nan’s with some old photos and have a reminisce, knock on your neighbours door and invite them round for a slice of cake. Connect with people and you soon realise that the commercialism of Christmas is valued far less than giving your real time and effort to the people and community around you.
3. Instead of popping to the shops for some more last minute presents or going online to search for other great deals; why not take the time to instead look through your own belongings and donate things you no longer use or need to charity shops or the local homeless shelter. Look through your cupboards and see what can be donated to food banks. For you it can just mean a bit of a needed clear out, for those receiving your donations it can make a huge difference.
It is becoming more and more necessary for all of us to watch our money; but there is a big difference between ‘cost’ and ‘value’. We could all do with reducing the ‘cost’ of Christmas time, but that doesn’t mean we can’t increase the true ‘value’ of the holiday season.