It’s here… There are officially 25 shopping days until the Christmas Gift Giving holiday… We have a great tradition at my home in Texas. No gifts. We started this tradition years ago after one year, my cousin and I were frantically wrapped presents (everyone asked us to wrap theirs) and we almost missed Christmas dinner. We all realized as a family that we’d forgotten the real meaning of Christmas and one of those is spending quality time with loved ones celebrating the season. I stopped spending money on gifts that were just for the point of giving something.

I now give gifts that have meaning and purpose… for example, Jeff & I decided this year to give each other a year-long high level coaching program with a brilliant teacher and marketer that will end up costing us hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s an investment in our own learning and growth and that’s the kind of gift we both want for ourselves and each other. Another thing we are giving ourselves (and the boys) is helping feed homebound seniors on Christmas Eve morning.
It’s well known in marketing that people will find a way to pay (with money or time)  for what’s important to them… they will forgo other things. That’s why you see people with fabulous cars or huge big screen televisions while they are living in squalor. Or people who have big dreams whiling away the evenings in front of mindless tv instead of working on their dreams…

What’s important to you..? Shopping for gifts that will be forgotten by January 1 or investing in your own learning (or your childrens) or giving time to people who will truly appreciate it?

That being said, I’ll get off my soapbox for a sec   & for those of you who will be buying presents (and I will be now that I’m in a home with two young boys!) check this out for free shipping coupons to over 1800 stores. Here’s to stimulating the economy and just being clear on knowing what’s important to you.