I don’t know about you, but I really like December. The Christmas season always brings back fond childhood memories. The grandparents had red apples hanging on the tree. There was a lot of eating and laughing. We children waited eagerly in the room until we heard the bell – the sign that the Christ Child had lit the candles and placed the presents under the tree. For many of us, it is our own memories that motivate us to organize an unforgettable Christmas for our loved ones and want to give them rich gifts in celebration of love.
But what does generous giving mean? Should it be gold, frankincense and myrrh – or what meets today’s standards of preciousness – or should it rather be a lasting gift? In surveys, three out of four people indicate that sustainability aspects play a role for them when buying gifts and celebrating Christmas (EY). For anyone who might not feel like digging through the Christmas rummaging table, here are a few alternative ideas for sustainable, lavish gifts that cost next to nothing and can bring a lot of joy to the recipient and yourself.
According to EY’s Christmas survey, we spend an average of CHF 334 on Christmas gifts. Often the material value of a gift is equated with love and appreciation. So, can a free gift run the risk of sending the wrong signals? A quick look at the kids and we’ll gladly accept the candles and Fimo key chains we’ve made ourselves – every year.
And that is the crux of the matter. Giving is just as important as receiving. Were the shepherds then driven out? thought. When it comes to gift giving, it’s about being together – having a happy moment together.
This is also confirmed by the sociologist Michael Norton in his book “Happy Money”, according to which money makes us happiest when we give ourselves new experiences or buy time with it. Thus, giving rich gifts can mean not only handing over high material value in the form of a gift, but also interacting with your loved ones when giving gifts.
When choosing gifts, make sure that the possibilities of future generations are not limited. Future children of the earth should also enjoy a gift under the Christmas tree – ideally in the form of a hologram powered by renewable energy sources, unless you do away with the tree altogether, as recommended by the WFF.
Finding out how sustainable your gift really is takes some research, as each product can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer. Local production, an organic label, manufactured under fair working conditions, made from biodegradable materials, etc. are certainly useful – if you want to see the environmental impact of the chosen gift, you can do so, for example, with the Codecheck apps while shopping.
Apart from your personal clock, time is estimated to be infinite. You don’t take anything away from a future generation when you donate time. Thus the clear test winner.
Give time, give attention, do the shopping – there are no limits to your imagination. Does your 14-year-old godfather like horror and horror stories? Then invite him for the night and take a midnight walk in the ghost story graveyard. Does your mother have a huge garden? Gift 3 Saturdays of spring weeding and planting, cheerful banter included. Your grandfather used to read you bedtime stories and now lives in a retirement home? Give back and tell him a short story every week.
You can give time in different ways, for example:
How’s giving? Are you brave enough to interact with your loved ones and create a precious, unforgettable moment? 🎁
