LiveWorkBalance

As we’re now looking at one week left until Christmas, we’re already in the thick of the season. There are many ways one can look at balance in this season, and one of the big ones is from the financial perspective.

Christmas can be a very expensive time of year, from the parties, to the clothes to the parties, to the food and drinks we buy, to the gifts we give. Perhaps one of the largest categories (at least for me) is that last one, that of gifts. But how can we balance giving people the Christmas we want with making sure we don’t have a stroke when we see January’s credit card bills?

The joys of giving and receiving, yet another spot to find balance

When gift giving, there’s an important thing we need to examine, and that’s balancing the joy of giving with the joy of receiving. I’d say that in most cases, we’re giving gifts to make others happy, and that in turn makes us happy. However, we need to ensure that we consider several other factors as well.

The costs of giving

As I’ve said, Christmas can be an expensive time of year. I myself am somewhat guilty of spending a little more than I probably should, but at the same time, I don’t really do it at any other point in the year, so I always make sure that my budget is padded with some room over and above what I’m thinking of spending.

The thing is, I’m planning for it, and I generally plan for it all year long. I try to set a little money aside, and I make sure that I’m tracking what I spend so I don’t get the unfortunate January surprise.

So be aware of your spending in its larger context. If you’re working on significantly paying down debt, consider that before dropping a whole bunch of money on gifts.

“I just knew you’d love this . . . “

Make sure that when you’re giving gifts, you’re also considering the other person as well. Now, you may be thinking, “Of course I’m considering the other person, I’m trying to think of the perfect gift!”

I’m asking you to think deeper. Sure, if you do a good job, they’ll really like the gift, but again, context is key. If they’re on a limited budget, and you’ve given them an extravagant present, then maybe they’ll feel bad that they can’t match the splendor of your gesture. Or if they love chocolate, and you give them a membership to the “World’s Greatest Chocolate of the Month Club” , but they’re trying to lose weight and thus, it conflicts with their personal goals. Don’t just try to think of what they’ll like, but think of the deeper impacts as well.

Room for more?

If you read other blogs in the productivity and personal development niche, one topic that comes up frequently is simplifying things and eliminating clutter. However, when giving gifts, this is something many people may not consider. Sure, your best friend talks about making toasted sandwiches all the time. But seriously ask yourself if you want to add a sandwich press to his kitchen as a surprise Christmas gift.

This is a different situation if the recipient has asked for the gift, as then it is their decision to add to the clutter. The key then is similar to the previous point, think about what the other person really wants. Is giving up the space required really what they’re looking for in a Christmas gift?

(On a related note, if anyone has been considering buying me a nice hi-def TV, I DO have the space available ;))

A E I O U and sometimes WHY

We need to look deeper at our reasons for giving gifts. We don’t want to find ourselves in a situation where we’re giving gifts for the wrong reason. Don’t give a gift because you feel you need to (even though you really shouldn’t be), to hurt someone else, or to get something in return. Give it because you enjoy it and you want to bring some happiness to others as well.

“Surprise, I’m thinking of getting you something great!”

We all do our best to try to surprise those we love with their gifts, and that’s an admirable pursuit. The thing is that’s not always the best idea. If you’re thinking of a gift that might be tough to find, or you can’t decide between a few things, there are times when you can actually ask for help. Asking the recipient isn’t always your best course of action, but it can also show that you’re seriously considering what they’d like, or that you’ve given a lot of thought to the various options, but can’t get them all (even though that’s what you’d like to do).

So much of this just comes down to being conscious of our reasons, our choices and our situation. If you consider these things, finding balance in your gift giving can be much more attainable. It’s also important to remember that when it comes to Christmas, one of the most valuable gifts you can give is your time, so spend it wisely.