A less commercial way to give this Christmas

And save a small fortune

If money’s no object and you’re braced to embark on a spending frenzy for the must-have Christmas gifts this year, scroll on — This one’s not for you.

If, like most of us, you find yourself crumpling beneath the weight of Yuletide expectation, the unrelenting commercial avalanche, and a degree of financial foreboding in meeting the escalating cost of Christmas gifts, read on…

You might just want to do Christmas a little differently this year.

At the risk of being nominated for Medium’s Scrooge award during the season of giving, I’ve got an idea that might work for some of you.

It might restore some overlooked Christmas values, a little bit of unexpected magic and some much-needed goodwill way beyond the festive season.

Anyway, in true Peter Pan style, I’m going to fly with it. No sleighs required.

It might also provide some inspiration for those struggling to find the perfect gift for loved ones and those problematic gift recipients we all have on our Christmas lists and in our lives.

One of the biggest benefits though is the considerable financial saving you could make.

How does it work?

The principle’s simple. Instead of conventional presents purchased online or in the high street, you give loved ones, close friends, or neighbours a time–gift.

It’s a gift of your time to do something they can enjoy; you can enjoy together; or that frees-up their time to relax and do whatever makes them happy or makes their lives a little easier.

As I’ve mentioned on previous occasions, I believe time is one of our most precious commodities. That being the case, if we can give the gift of time in the form of a personally tailored time–gift token or tokens, surely this would be appreciated by those closest to us.

You can give as much or as little of your time as you feel is deserved by the individual in question.

If you have a particular skill, you could employ this to create a super bespoke gift — Music lessons, arts, crafts, jewellery-making, cookery lessons, singing, poetry, swimming, yoga, archery, soccer… You get the idea.

You can be creative. Add your own embellishments to the starter list below. You could give a solitary time–gift token you know would be well-received, a batch of tokens, or a tick-box list gifting, say, three time–gifts.

They just tick the boxes adjacent to their chosen time–gift(s). You agree the arrangements and timings that work for you.

Having done a calculation based on the amount spent on presents 12-months ago, I’m quietly confident I could easily save the equivalent of a month’s net salary implementing a time–gift approach to giving, this year.

Time–gift suggestions to get you started

Morning coffee and cake A pre-arranged coffee either at home, or out. Who doesn’t enjoy a coffee with a pastry and a good friend? Time well spent, together.

DIY/maintenance If you have a craft or you’re a handyperson, why not give the gift of an hour, a morning, or a day’s home DIY/maintenance. That’s worth so much to someone without time or DIY skills.

Housework/chores Few of us enjoy these. Why not offer the gift of an hour, a morning, or a day’s household chores — Ironing, vacuuming, cleaning windows, shopping. Who wouldn’t want some of that time?

Decorating If you’re a dab hand with a roller and a brush (if you’re not, best leave this one), why not offer to decorate a room for your partner, a relative or friend. Decorating together is always more fun.

A candle-lit supper Now we’re getting romantic. For that important person in your life. Candles, that special playlist, a recipe you haven’t tried previously and a nice bottle of wine. We all love spending time dining with those we love.

Walk in the park A stroll in the park on a beautiful day with a friend or loved one is a gift they’ll never forget enjoying fresh air and nature’s wonders.

Afternoon tea Tea at home or that little tearoom you both enjoy. A pot of tea, toast and jam. Scones and cream. Those little trianglular sandwiches. What a treat.

A massage session Another option for the more romantically inclined. A quiet evening in with some candles and soft music just for the two of you. Precious time together.

Car wash and clean Another of those chores we’re always putting off. So, why not time-gift a nominated number of car washes and cleans during 2024.

Taxi service Taxis can be a chore and expensive. If you can drive and have a vehicle, why not offer the gift of some taxi rides for a shopping trip, night out, or an airport run.

Dustbin/trash token One to consider for older, less mobile family members and neighbours. Offer a time-gift to take out/empty the dustbins/trash for every collection during 2024. A gift that keeps giving.

Bicycle ride For your partner or a family ride to a favourite park or landmark. Maybe a picnic. It can be tailored to suit all ages and abilities and is bound to create lasting memories.

Trip out in the car This could be another thoughtful gift for elderly relatives or friends who don’t get out much and would love a trip to a favourite countryside location or the seaside. A trip down memory lane.

Dog walking / dog sitting Invaluable for those canine lovers among family and friends.

These are just for starters. You get the drift. Tailor them to your own needs and skill sets.

You could come up with your own time–gifts for your children. With a bit of imagination and tailoring, these ideas can be adapted to suit your family or for godchildren.

If you have your own ideas for time–gifts, I’d love to hear them.

And, if you’d like me to send an example of my time–gift scroll as a Word Document to edit or use as a template, just let me know and I’ll email it to you. No subscription required. No charge. It’s my time–gift to you.

Wrapping your time–gifts

It’s always nicer to give a gift that’s well wrapped carrying with it a little of the magic of Christmas. Print your time–gifts on a quality paper. Roll it into a scroll tied with a red or green ribbon and place it in a box with a label.

It’s not the latest, hot off the high-street toy or gadget of the year. It’s not going to rank in the top 20 trending gifts for 2023. I’ve already looked.

But, it’s a little bit different. It won’t sell-out. It won’t break the bank. And, it will show that you’ve put a lot of care and love into creating an extremely thoughtful and totally personalised gift.

To my mind, that captures the true meaning of Christmas. Doesn’t it?

Particularly so in an increasingly frantic world in which quality time with loved ones is at such a premium and so often falls by the wayside during our increasingly stressful lifestyles.

With a time-gift, we could do something to address that.

Who knows? It might just catch on.

Season’s greetings to you all.

It helps when you read

Every word read on my Medium account during 2023 helps someone. All money earned goes to the following charities:

Children with Cancer UK — Helping children and young people with cancer. Young Gloucestershire — Supporting disadvantaged young people facing challenges in their lives. The Big Yellow Bus Project — Shelter and support for the homeless. Fastlane Ukraine — Transporting humanitarian aid to Ukraine and carrying displaced refugees to safety.

It’s a small gesture and it’s not going to change the world, but if it helps one person, it’s worth it.

Thank you for reading, highlighting, clapping, and commenting, but most of all, for making a difference.