Saving Christmas

In my last blog “Saving Thanksgiving,” I discussed trying to come up with a few ways a friend on a tight budget could afford Thanksgiving and all the trimmings.  This time I want to write about ways of saving the spirit of the holidays.

Let’s admit it, Black Friday has gotten out of hand.  Last year a man in front of a store doors was trampled to death when they opened by the frenzied crowds.  This year a woman shopper turned Rambo on her competition with pepper spray.  This is just gross behavior and certainly not in the spirit of Christmas.  What’s the solution to the pattern of hitting the big box stores with the masses and buying tons of stuff?

May I suggest you contribute to charities online in your friend or family member’s name? No lines, no crowds, no pushing and shoving and no wrapping paper glittery excess.  Here are a few of my favorite charities - even a $5 or $10 contribution this season can help. You can gift from the comfort (and apparently safety!) of your home:

Make a Wish Foundation (www.wish.org) 
Grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions

Heifer International (www.heifer.org)
All around the world in countries like Uganda, recipients in need receive from your contribution a goat, a sheep, or a heifer to make their lives sustainable

National Public Radio (www.npr.org)
Advertising-free.  Donate to keep alive favorite news, entertainment, and music programs on your local public radio station

You can also break away from the computer and act locally by donating blood once during the season to the Red Cross, inserting a few dollars in the Salvation Army’s red kettles or just putting a few well-chosen food products in your supermarket collection bin.

Let’s get it straight:  it’s not about competition and it’s not about more stuff.  Let’s make it the year about saving the true spirit of the holiday.  All you’ve got to do is give a little.

Cindy

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Cindy Battles is a freelance writer based in Rutland, VT, winner of the National Disability Institute’s 2008 Blog Contest and a regular contributor here on the Real Economic Impact blog.