Money Well-Spent
In the last couple of weeks I have received gift catalogues from World Vision and Heifer International. The idea is that rather than buying a gift for a family member or friend (who doesn't really need anything), you purchase an item like a goat for a needy family, and your family member or friend receives a card saying that you have purchased the goat in his or her honor. I think this is a great idea which we could utilize to a far greater degree. How often have you sat racking your brain trying to come up with a gift idea for someone who really doesn't need anything and you eventually buy something that may end up sitting in a closet? I am wondering how many of you have tried this route of giving Christmas gifts and how successful it has been. I have had mixed results. Some family members feel that this kind of a gift is too impersonal, I think, and prefer to give and receive specific gifts intended for the person. Others think it's a good idea. How about you?
posted by UCC Medfield at 4:17 AM
1 Comments:
While an admirable idea, I think it falls apart rather quickly. I’ve tried this on numerous occasions and in the end, it never feels like a gift has truly been exchanged. In one case, a very dear friend and I vowed to make donations to charity in lieu of gifts … problem was, we made donations to charities in each others names and in both cases, they weren’t charities that we would have chosen ourselves. I prefer calling a spade a spade … we do overspend on Christmas and the gift giving is way out of control. So my take is to just reduce that spending and redirect the money to where it’s truly needed. Same outcome – just no delusion that you’ve actually purchased a gift for a friend or family member.
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