In less than two weeks the major holiday gift-giving time will be behind us.  How are you doing your shopping?  Are you feeling stressed?  Are you spending too much?  Are you concerned that you haven’t purchased the perfect gift for everyone on your list?  You are not alone!

Every year I go through the “who do I need to buy for?” “what does Aunt Mildred want?” “what’s meaningful, but still easy to ship?” . . . the list goes on and on.  Although there is magic in finding the perfect gift for someone, often-times finding the perfect gift is incredibly stressful.

My shopping list is pretty minimal, but I work with clients every day that are stressed to the max about finding the PERFECT gift, while at the same time working around the clutter of “not so perfect gifts” they’ve received in the past.

What kind of gifts can we give that will bring more meaning and joy to those we love and not create clutter?

Here are some places to start:

The White Envelope Project:  I saw this on my Facebook feed a few days ago and think it is a brilliant way to honor someone you love and support those that may need it the most.

Do a good deed:  Instead of giving store-bought things, offer to:

• Run errands.
• Take down their holiday lights and decorations.
• Babysit.
• Mow their lawn/shovel their driveway.

Cook: For busy families or those who find it difficult to cook, fill their freezer with the home-made goodness of soups, casseroles, etc.

Adopt-A-Family or Child:  There are many ways to support those in need, and adopting a family or foster child is a great way to do it.  Check with your place of employment, local businesses, or Chamber of Commerce for specifics.

Purchase a gift in the recipient’s name from well-known, reputable charities:  It’s easy to want to donate to whoever makes a heart-felt solicitation this time of year.  To ensure your donation gets the biggest bang for the buck, check out  Charity Navigator.   The Charity Navigator site is America’s largest independent charity evaluator, providing free ratings of the Financial Health and Accountability & Transparency of thousands of charities.

Whatever gift-giving solution feels best to you, remember the spirit of the holidays is really to spend time with the ones we love.

Happy Holidays!