A common question at a recent financial literacy class where I was talking about really controlling one's debt was this: "I have to put gift purchases on my card. No choice." Well, everyone does have a choice but it can be particularly tough to not give gifts to people you love and care for because you are financially strapped - like Della and Jim in that timeless classic "The Gift of the Magi" by O Henry.
But what that story does show is you can be resourceful and put to use what you are good at to make personalized gifts for people. Use what you love to do to make gifts (or, at least reduce the costs of stuff you have to buy).
Personalized gifts that harness nostalgia are amazing because they remind people of times and moments that you have spent together. It's a cliched old trick even used by advertisers to get us to buy products and build brands as this amazing video from that hit show "Mad Men" shows (this episode won the Emmy, btw).
One of the folks in our company has a very creative mother - who likes to draw and paint. If she buys a gift, she will paint a card herself. Sometimes she will gift people plain fabrics painted with something that the recipient will appreciate, etc. etc.
So this holiday, try to be creative: harness nostalgia and your talents to personalize gifts for people you care about. They will both appreciate it and you will have spent less.
May your Black Friday be less expensive!
Submitted November 18, 2017 at 10:41AM by arnexa http://ift.tt/2hBbZmZ
