Thought Provoking Thursday

Thought Provoking Thursday

Thought Provoking Thursday's goal it to offer a new-ish perspective to saving on necessary items aside from our grocery and household needs. Each week I will bring an idea to the table to share how I personally tackle areas of my own family's spending. I am hopeful that my faithful readers will feel the freedom to offer more advice through comments below each post

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?

For years, I would beat the pavement in search of the 'perfect' gift for my loved ones! Year after year I'd succumb to purchasing gifts that the recipient would like and that would fit into my holiday spending budget, but they were never the over the top kind of gift. I think that the most likely reason for mediocre gift giving is because we are so blessed to have all of our needs met, we really don't need anything!

Last year was a very pivotal year of gift-giving for Dave and I. We decided to give more meaningful gifts within our families. Now don't get me wrong... I LOVE shopping and purchasing and all of the ribbons and wrappings- but it felt so good to give gifts that would be put to greater use!

Last year Dave and I, along with my parents and siblings, pooled the money that we would have spent on each other and gave it instead to an outreach organization.

Our gifts for Dave's side of the family last year were animals from Heifer International! I was surprised that Dave's family actually had the same ideas as us, and we received animals and handmade gifts supporting families and villages from around the globe!

I am so excited to be giving (and receiving... I guess I shouldn't assume!!!) these types of gifts again this year!

I love selecting the perfect gift for each person from a single Heifer International catalogue! One of the best parts about Heifer International is that they offer gifts staring at $10! Giving the gift of an animal benefits the receiving family by bringing hope, byproducts like milk and eggs and also the money for clothing and education!

This also got me thinking about Raincatchers, and the amazing work that volunteers do to bring access to clean drinking water to families living in rural Haiti. Making a donation to Raincatchers in lieu of a more traditional Christmas gift this year means healthier living 365 days a year for families in Haiti living without clean accessible water.

As for wrapping your less than traditional gifts:

Heifer International has printable gift cards sharing in depth information about the animal or gift that you have selected.

A gift to Raincatchers could be shared by tying a ribbon around the neck of a bottle of water!

Sorry family for possibly spoiling your gifts this year, but this is how I plan to wrap my gifts!!!

Have you ever though about purchasing these types of gifts?