This Holiday Season - save some cash and invest in someone's time!
Ok. It's December 9th...are you ready for Christmas or Hanukah?
I, like most of you, have a lot of holiday stuff still to do. My house is decorated, but there are gifts still to buy - for my family, and some friends. The tough economy has us all rethinking gift-giving this year: how MUCH can we spend?
Maybe we have this all backwards. Maybe money isn't the object, after all.
How about giving the gift of TIME to your family? Give them an experience - go skiing for a day, go to the zoo with kids of all ages, go hiking and pack some snacks for the trip, or go ice skating and then take in a movie. I am not saying to forgo wrapping a token or two, under the tree with a bow, but make sure to tie in some true, intangible gifts as well.
I can barely remember the things my parents gave me every year. As I got older, the gifts were less fun and more practical. What I would give to spend a whole day, uninterrupted, with my family - my parents, a relative, and a one-on-one day with each kid - just US. I remember those moments SO well, like the day trip my parents took us on to St. Genevieve, Missouri (we lived in St. Louis growing up), or the little trips we took to St. Charles for lunch and goodies right before Christmas. There was this one little country store that always had a grab bag for kids for a $1.00. I couldn't wait to go!
My mom is a pilot, so I really liked the days when she "needed me" to help her fly somewhere. We got to spend an entire day together, which was rare, but so very treasured. I loved watching her fly!
When my dad would take me to work, I got to sit in his office and "help" him with stuff, and go around his workplace (a hotel) feeling like a big cheese (or the big cheese's daughter) and check things out with him. We took back stairwells, talked to the employees, and I got to have lunch with him in the fancy restaurant. I felt like I was the only person that mattered to him. It was awesome.
My point is: Give YOU this holiday season. Take a friend to lunch that you haven't seen in a while. Call someone you miss, and set aside the time to really TALK. Go shopping with your daughter and take her for a milkshake. Listen to your teenage son tell you about a video game that he really likes to play while you both walk the dog. Go on a date with your spouse and ask him/her about anything, and hear what he/she has to say.
It will be the best investment you ever make.
-Jill
I, like most of you, have a lot of holiday stuff still to do. My house is decorated, but there are gifts still to buy - for my family, and some friends. The tough economy has us all rethinking gift-giving this year: how MUCH can we spend?
Maybe we have this all backwards. Maybe money isn't the object, after all.
How about giving the gift of TIME to your family? Give them an experience - go skiing for a day, go to the zoo with kids of all ages, go hiking and pack some snacks for the trip, or go ice skating and then take in a movie. I am not saying to forgo wrapping a token or two, under the tree with a bow, but make sure to tie in some true, intangible gifts as well.
I can barely remember the things my parents gave me every year. As I got older, the gifts were less fun and more practical. What I would give to spend a whole day, uninterrupted, with my family - my parents, a relative, and a one-on-one day with each kid - just US. I remember those moments SO well, like the day trip my parents took us on to St. Genevieve, Missouri (we lived in St. Louis growing up), or the little trips we took to St. Charles for lunch and goodies right before Christmas. There was this one little country store that always had a grab bag for kids for a $1.00. I couldn't wait to go!
My mom is a pilot, so I really liked the days when she "needed me" to help her fly somewhere. We got to spend an entire day together, which was rare, but so very treasured. I loved watching her fly!
When my dad would take me to work, I got to sit in his office and "help" him with stuff, and go around his workplace (a hotel) feeling like a big cheese (or the big cheese's daughter) and check things out with him. We took back stairwells, talked to the employees, and I got to have lunch with him in the fancy restaurant. I felt like I was the only person that mattered to him. It was awesome.
My point is: Give YOU this holiday season. Take a friend to lunch that you haven't seen in a while. Call someone you miss, and set aside the time to really TALK. Go shopping with your daughter and take her for a milkshake. Listen to your teenage son tell you about a video game that he really likes to play while you both walk the dog. Go on a date with your spouse and ask him/her about anything, and hear what he/she has to say.
It will be the best investment you ever make.
-Jill
posted by Jill Revitsky at
8:19 PM
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