5 Inexpensive Ways to Feel Generous this Holiday Season 

(Last Updated On: )

Don’t you love the feeling of being generous? It’s totally self-serving, in a good way. You give because you want to make a difference. Perhaps you feel the best when you know the gift is practical, needed, and unexpected. However, many gifts around the holidays seem to miss the mark in this regard. When you’re swamped in student loan debt, have a young family, lost a job, or are simply living paycheck to paycheck, giving can sometimes be difficult. That’s why it’s important to find inexpensive ways to feel generous this holiday.

Minimalism and Generosity

There are other ways to give and feel generous without money, or at least very inexpensively. As a teacher, I learned first hand how being generous with your time can make a significant difference in a child’s life.

Furthermore, as a budding minimalist, I recognized rather quickly that buying tons of toys for my daughter, actually just leaves me with a mess to clean up most nights. However, giving to those outside my family who could use extra food, an exciting Christmas, or even a listening ear is what brings the most joy.  

So why all the hustle and bustle to find the next best deal? Granted, the thrill of a new toy is exciting! The thrill of 10 new toys is about the same amount of excitement. What I’m getting at here is that if your holiday budget is usually X amount, try to buy one less toy, useless gadget, piece of clothing, thing, or decoration this year and instead give that money anonymously away. Guaranteed you will feel better, and you can even share in the generosity with your family as you create traditions built on this instead of shopping, consuming, and excess this holiday. Just cutting down on one or two extra toys or things to buy this Christmas could be your generous gift and this requires no more extra time or money.

5 Inexpensive Ways to Feel Generous this Holiday Season

Here are a few inexpensive ways to feel more generous, outside of the sometimes mandatory holiday gift giving.

1. Give a Loan

Kiva loans money to low income entrepreneurs. I can’t think of a more practical way to give a gift. The money gifted will go to grow a business, and when you get your money back you can give again and, again, and again.

2. Donate Your Time

Whether it is time spent making cookies for a fundraiser, or ringing the bell for the Salvation Army time spent for others is never wasted. Your entire perspective will change when you see others giving generously of what they have.

3. Mentor

Mentoring is the most rewarding experience I’ve ever had. Mentoring someone on their life goals and aspirations will provide you with great insight and also satisfaction. There are many mentoring programs including Big Brothers Big Sisters, and even organizations through your local school system.

4. Create

Anytime you create something with your own talents you are giving a gift. It could be creating a party for all your friends to attend, giving a great skating lesson to your niece, or cooking dinner. Create more and you will surely give more.

5. Listen

We are sadly most of the time not actively listening to each other. I personally, often cut people off, and interject my own opinions. It’s something I’m working on… In the age of social media,
We all could use a little improvement. Have conversations with the intention to just listen to the other person. What a gift it is to feel heard, and respected.

Final Words

Feeling generous this holiday season could open you up to a new perspective. Gift giving is fun, but generosity is deeper and more meaningful. Generosity is the feeling you have when you know you’ve made a difference in someone’s life. Wishing you and your family a holiday filled with the true joys that generosity brings! 🙂

You might also enjoy how to avoid feeling jealous this holiday, and 4 Items I Don’t Buy my Toddler.

Join the Discussion

What are some of your giving traditions around the holidays? How have you created a generosity habit?

P.S. We always ask readers to follow us on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. We consciously try to document our everyday simple lives with wellness, financial literacy, and minimalism tips. If you’re trying to cut out social media, you’ll need to subscribe directly to this blog. We welcome you to join us!

Author

Maria Halcumb is a teacher, reading specialist, and mother. You can find her reading books, being in nature, minimizing her life, and spending time with family and friends in the great PNW.