gifts

Dec

2021

Gifts To A Better Life

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Everyone wants to have a better life. This holiday season, why not give something that will improve the life of the recipient? Here are some ideas of gifts to a better life:

Health & Wellness

1.Gratitude Notebook

A gratitude journal is actually a diary of all the things that you are grateful for. Gifting someone a gratitude journal is a way of telling them that you care for them and that you want them to focus on all the positive things in their life.

2.Plants

Plants represent life. They give us oxygen and lighten up the space. Plants help us relax. Gifting a plant to someone means you care about them and you care about their health and overall wellness. Unlike other gifts, plants do not expire. They can last for a long time as long as the receiver cares for them and nurtures them.

3. Reusable Water Bottle

About 60% of the human body is water. That is why health experts recommend drinking at least eight 8-ounces of water each day. Unfortunately, especially when we are on the go, we forget to drink at least the minimum glasses required a day. True, there are bottled waters available for purchase everywhere. However, carrying reusable water bottles is much better not just for the environment but for the individual as well. Not only is it cheaper but it is also free from harmful chemicals that are present in plastics.

4. Scented Candles

Scented candles play an essential role in our mood, stress levels and overall mental health. The soothing effect of candles stimulates our brain and helps release happy hormones such as serotonin and dopamine. Thus, it is effective in reducing stress levels.

5. Teas

Teas has always been a part of traditional Eastern medicine. This is supported by numerous studies which have shown that regularly drinking tea is advantageous to a person’s health and overall wellness. Health benefits vary depending on the type of tea. There are many varieties of teas to choose from depending on taste preferences and needs. In fact, the benefits go beyond treating seasonal colds and flu. Drinking tea can actually help with the following:

Boost Energy and the Immune System
Fight and Prevent certain Types of Cancer
Reduce Weight
Improves Heart and Mental Health
Aids Digestion
Regulates Blood Sugar

Success & Happiness

1. Books

Reading is important for growth and development. It helps shape our thought processes, beliefs and mindset. Books also inspire us to dream and do better in life. They open our mind to a world of imagination and see endless possibilities that we never knew were possible in the first place. Furthermore, reading is also good for our health. It improves memory, brain functioning and fosters concentration. It also helps the reader grow as a person for reading helps increase our knowledge and vocabulary.

2.Experience Gifts / Activity Vouchers

Gift your loved ones a unique, memorable and impactful gift. Bring them somewhere new, fun and exciting. Create memories together. Add layers of excitement that can lead to deeper feelings of happiness. It can be a trip to a theme park, watch a play or even a picnic at the park. You can also learn something new together like a cooking class or art class. You can also opt for an activity voucher so the receiver can enjoy the activity with a loved one.

3. Framed Memento

If you have shared something special together, you can frame a photo or souvenir. In this way that person will be reminded of special moments. The memento can also be related to something important or milestones in life. The framed ‘accomplishments’ can serve as a reminder to never give up and believe in one’s self. Good things will come.

4. Planner

Every successful person keeps a planner. Why? For one, a planner is crucial for effective time management. It helps prioritize tasks and it enhances productivity. In addition, It helps lessen stress because it helps maintain effective schedules. Thus, a person who keeps a planner is not overwhelmed by so many things to do because a planner helps plan, sort out and deal with important tasks first. This in turn helps lower panic and anxiety of failing to meet obligations. A bonus benefit is a planner can serve as a record of appointments, notes and tasks accomplished.

5. Storage Organizer

An organizer helps boost creativity. It saves you time. Imagine the frustration of looking for missing items amidst a busy day? Having a storage organizer can help prevent that. It can also keep your space clean and organized. This is also good for your health and mental well-being because a cluttered environment leads to stress. A storage organizer can help remove or reduce clutter.

Feature Image by Pexels

Dec

2021

Christmas Gift Ideas for Less

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Need Christmas gift ideas for less? Just a short time before Christmas day is upon us. If you’re still not done with your gift list, you might be stressing out. But all is not lost yet. There are still some gifts that you can make for your loved ones and friends without having to splurge. Some of them you can make at home too.

Your gift doesn’t have to be expensive for it to be appreciated. Personalized gifts are always much appreciated. It gives the gift a sentimental value that commercial items cannot convey no matter how pricey. Here are some gift ideas for less that you can create at home for your loved ones.

Recipe Jars

This is a nice gift for friends and loved ones who love their pancake, waffle or brownies. Just pick a recipe, measure all the dry ingredients and place them in layers into the glass jar. Try to alternate the ingredients in such a way that the colors make an interesting pattern.

Print out the recipe on sticker paper and paste unto the side of the jar. Or print it on cardboard paper and tie to the neck of the jar as a gift tag. You can also use this for chocolate drink mixes or coffee blends.

DIY Kits

Got a family member who loves drawing and coloring? Gather different coloring and drawing materials; a sketchpad, pencils, erasers, a ruler and sharpener. Put everything in a handy file folder that they can conveniently carry with them.

For a friend who loves making her own jewelry, gift them with more beads and trinkets for their jewelry-making collection. You can get them the special beads, or a tool that they’ve been wanting to buy; but just can’t get their hands on. This is one of the Christmas gift ideas for less that’s always appreciated by young students. They are the ones who are passionate about their hobby but can’t afford all the materials.

You can also gift friends with a kit for getting rid of negative energy in their homes and work places. This gift does not only benefit them personally but the people in their space too.

Personal Coupons

If you’re broke but really want to make the effort; then gift your family members and friends with your time and energy instead. This is one of the Christmas gift ideas for less that doesn’t even cost you anything.

Design your own personal coupon stating a service that you will offer for a certain duration of time. For example, you can give your mom several coupons for a neck and shoulder massage for 20 minutes. You can give your dad coupons for washing the car and so on. Give the gift of a memorable experience that you will all recall with a smile later on.

For friends, you can give coupons for accompanying them to shopping errands. They can then claim these coupons any time of the year. Make sure that you state in the terms and conditions that they have to schedule these events with you first.

Use Your Talents

If you’re good at crocheting or knitting; make a scarf, or a beanie, or a pair of mittens, for a good friend or loved one. If you’re good at sketching, drawing or painting, then gift one of your creations to a valued friend.

Got a talent for writing poems? Create one for a special friend and print or write by hand on special paper. It would be great to present this gift by reading it to them aloud. Preparing this kind of gift is a fun process too. Plus, the result can be a very memorable experience.

Are you good with a camera? Take candid photos of your friend, select the best ones and display in a special picture frame. You can also put these in a scrapbook. Label each photo to tell a story about your friendship. Or just showcase your friend’s endearing character or unique personality. You get the idea, so go ahead and start planning for your next creative gift.

Use Available Resources

If you’re not too confident about your talents yet; then the next best thing that you can do is to use your resources to create a personalized gift. Get on your computer and go online.

For a friend who loves their tunes, download them a collection of their favorite songs. Transfer to a USB so they can load it on their laptops and mobile phones. Got a friend or relative who is too busy to take care of putting together a business card? Get your design skills to work and gift them with a simple calling card. Now, they don’t have to write their contact details on a piece of paper whenever they meet clients.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

You know the saying that one man’s trash can be another man’s treasure? If you’ve got stuff just lying around and gathering dust; think of who these might be of more use to and give that item to that person as a gift. Not only will you reduce your clutter, you get to reuse stuff and recycle them for a purpose.

You might have a friend who’s been pining to have a jacket or bag just like what you have. If you’re planning to buy a new one anyway, why not give your old jacket or bag to this friend? You might have a friend who loves your sense of style. If you’ve got a top that you already have several iterations of; why not give away the one you don’t use most often to your friend?

Got an old lamp that you’ve never even used? Check if the bulb still works and replace if necessary. Give to a friend who has just moved into a new house; or who has been wanting to make-over their bedroom. This is another one of the Christmas gift ideas for less that will definitely be appreciated by the receiver.

Give with Love, Receive with Gratitude

These are just examples of what you can do with your skills and talents. Some creative thinking is needed to make a personalized gift that your loved ones and close friends can appreciate. But before rushing for supplies; set aside some time to do some writing. Make a list of what gifts you can create or find in your own home. Think of what gift would suit the tastes and personalities of certain friends and loved ones.

As a last note, some of your friends and relatives might be giving you these kinds of gifts too. Remember to be grateful and appreciative of all their efforts. After all, it’s the thought that counts. Bonus! You can add gift-planning to the list of things you can do for fun.

DIY gifts take time and effort. Because of this, they truly communicate your appreciation for the person you are giving them to. So go ahead and give these DIY gift ideas a try.

Updated. Republished 2020.12.03. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2018.12.17.
Featured Image: Original Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash.

Dec

2020

Avoid Overspending This Holiday Season

Reading Time: 2 minutes

It’s the Christmas season once again. Christmas is a big cultural and religious event as Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is about celebrating love and joy with families, friends and loved ones. But, it has also become a huge commercial phenomenon as people spend so much money on gifts, parties and new things. Although Christmas celebrations and parties may be different this year compared to the previous years because of the new normal, it is still easy to fall prey to consumerism. To avoid starting the new year with piles of debt, here are a few tips on how to avoid overspending this holiday season.

1. Set up a Christmas budget and stick to it.

First of all, you should have created a plan even before the Christmas season even began. Plan on how much you can afford to spend on gifts, food, events, travel, decorations, clothing, etc. Once you have it, by all means stick to it. Don’t be tempted to buy a more expensive gift for your loved one just because it’s Christmas. If it is way above your budget, it simply means you cannot afford it.

2. Track your spending.

The easiest way to make sure you are spending within your budget is to track your expenses. Write down everything you are spending on a daily basis. Just record all the items you have spent and compare them to your budget. Do this on a daily basis. It will take some time and effort on your part but it will serve as a reminder to help you stay on track.

3. Be creative with your gift giving.

You don’t need to spend a fortune for your gifts. Be creative. There are so many Christmas gift ideas for less. You can give them something handmade or cook for them. It is kind of cliche but it’s the thought that counts. What is important is that you remember them during this holiday season.

4. Look for Deals.

Most stores over holidays deals this Christmas season. Buy these items because they are normally offered on discounted rates.

5. Pay cash.

Never ever use your credit card if you think you won’t be able to pay the full amount due in January. Instead, always pay cash so as to not get carried away with your purchases. Don’t be a victim of paying more than your actual purchase by paying fees and interests in your credit card.

6. Don’t overspend on yourself.

Once you are done with your Christmas shopping, go home. Don’t expose yourself to temptation by lingering in the store. The displays are there to lure you into buying them. By going home, you are preventing yourself from buying unnecessary things.

7. Entertain for less.

If you plan on hosting a Christmas party, skip those costly dinner parties by telling your guests to do potluck. Don’t put the burden of preparing for all the food yourself. And besides, until this pandemic is over; it is still not advisable to hold gatherings most especially if it is done indoors.

8. Get better deals after Christmas.

If you can postpone giving yourself or even other people a gift after Christmas, then by all means do so. Stores normally start selling items on discounts the day after Christmas because they need to clear their inventory for new ones for the coming year. By shopping after the holidays, you will get larger discounts for the items that you want.

First Published in Pinoy Smart Living on 12.04.2018

Feature Image by StockSnap from Pixabay