Keep it Simple

My workplace has a gift exchange for Christmas and I want to participate, but I am a single parent on a limited budget so I don’t know how “special” my gift will be. Any suggestions?

The ability to share gifts with others should never be dependent on the cost since sharing your heart is what makes any gift special. But I can also appreciate that your gift budget is limited, so consider these suggestions:

Do you have a skill that can be offered as a gift certificate, to be used whenever the recipient is ready to redeem it? This may include lessons of any kind: baking, music, painting, dancing, horse-back riding, hair-cutting, yard work, babysitting, etc.

If you offer a gift based on your personal talents and abilities, your only cost will be your time.

If you’re crafty, you can make a gift that should be light on the budget. How about crochet/knitting an item; baking cookies or bread; sewing a pillow or blanket; arranging flowers; creating a basket of low-priced items, etc. Start brain-storming how your skills can be translated into a small item to share.

If you don’t like these options, do you have items in your home that you no longer use or want, but they’re in good shape? Or can you find an item at a thrift store? It’s acceptable to re-gift or purchase used items since the cost of a gift is not the point of the gift exchange.

Participating in the exchange with your colleagues and offering your time or making a certain gift or purchasing one for the recipient is what the season is really about.

So have fun and enjoy the holiday with your coworkers.