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Lacking Money? Get Imaginative!
Thinking about what to give the one who is closest to you for Christmas can be stressful enough. When the pressure is on to find that perfect something for those near and dear who are decades younger or older than you, it's possible to feel out of touch with what they might consider desirable. When that includes a large family, your wallet could get drained rapidly on items you are unsure the recipients will like. Instead, try this alternative gift-giving idea that is good for the wallet and the heart.
Give the gift of charity — get the gift of health
Research is finding that giving to others — of your time or money — actually does improve your health. It's a gift that's not only good for the receiver, but also for the giver. The bottom line is that charity makes you feel happy and the results can be as great as improving the health of people with asthma, cardiovascular disease, weight problems, and insomnia.
Apply this concept to holiday gift-giving. Get rid of the stress of buying an individual gift for everyone on your list and instead give one gift in your family's name. First, determine what you can afford to spend on gifts, then donate that amount to your favourite charity or get your family's buy-in by asking for their input on where they would like to see the money donated.
Spread this type of gift-giving cheer to your friends. If you get together over the holidays, suggest collecting non-perishables as a group for your local food bank.
If cash is really low this year, giving the gift of your time is especially appreciated during the holidays when everyone seems to be preoccupied with the hustle and bustle of shopping, parties and decorating. Soup kitchens will welcome your help. Ask your friends or family to go with you and together you can experience the satisfaction first-hand of helping those in need. You will be giving the gift of your time to people you don't know, as well as showing those close to you how altruism can make them feel better than receiving a physical gift.
It's definitely not the traditional gift under the tree, and you might meet some initial resistance. But the results can be even better than what you bargained for. You may find yourself experiencing what has been dubbed the "helper's high." Think about how it feels when you receive money — it feels pretty good, right? MRI brain scans have shown that people who give money have the same brain activity you get when you receive money, which is associated with the feel-good chemicals, like dopamine. It is thought that these chemicals are actually activated even more when you give than when you get.
So say "no" to the lineups and trying to figure out which Wii game the grandkids would like. The joy — and resulting health benefits — you all will feel by helping someone else in need is invaluable.
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