Show Transcript

0:00:01 - (Kevin Lowe): Maybe it's not though, you gifting an experience. Maybe it's somebody you don't really want to go out to coffee with. You would really rather just do the Starbucks gift card. But then again, you don't want to have to buy a bunch of gift cards. Why not do something like baking some cookies? I'm sure you can get the ingredients for some chocolate chip cookie, some sugar cookies for relatively cheap, bake up a couple of dozen cookies, separate them out into a couple of tins.

0:00:34 - (Kevin Lowe): No, you don't have to give one person a couple dozen cookies. No, just give them a few. Wrap them up in some nice tissue paper and that would make such a beautiful gift. What's up, my friend? And welcome to grit, grace and inspiration. I am your host, Kevin Lowe. 20 years ago, I awoke from a life saving surgery only to find that I was left completely blind. And since that day, I've learned a lot about life, a lot about living, and a lot about myself.

0:01:06 - (Kevin Lowe): And here on this podcast, I want to share those insights with you. Because, friend, if you are still searching for your purpose, still trying to understand why, or still left searching for that next right path to take, we'll consider this to be your stepping stone to get you from where you are to where you want to be. What's up, my friend? Welcome it back into the podcast. You are joining me for what is episode number 243.

0:01:36 - (Kevin Lowe): So if you're listening to this episode at the time it's being released, then you know we are getting really close to Christmas, to New Year's, to all the holiday festivities. And that is why today's episode is here for you. Because quite honestly, you might be feeling the stress of the holiday season. Yes, I know we're supposed to be filled with joy and glee, happy to be drinking hot chocolate and sucking on a candy cane.

0:02:09 - (Kevin Lowe): But let's face it, it's life. We're adults and we know that with the holiday season, with Christmas comes the financial worries. Because it's not just the gifts, it's the holiday parties. It's this or that that somebody invites you to. It's a cookie party. It's a, I don't know, crazy gift exchange. Whatever it is, it all takes some moolah. And believe it or not, you are not the only one feeling the pressure this holiday season.

0:02:44 - (Kevin Lowe): And that is why today I am here to bring you a quick episode to give you some tips, some pieces of advice, some helpful insights to help you make the most of this holiday season without breaking the bank. For the past few episodes, I have been mentioning my urging of you to get on the podcast mailing list where you will receive a weekly email from Grit Grayson Inspiration, aka me, Kevin Lowe, with the latest and greatest all with one purpose, to give you a boost to your week.

0:03:27 - (Kevin Lowe): And I want you to sign up because coming up on January 1, I have a special offer only to those on the email list. Head to gritgraceinspiration.com newsletter. That is gritgraceinspiration.com newsletter to sign up today. That link, of course, is inside of today's show. So if we want to make this holiday season the best that it can be without breaking the bank, we first have to get honest. Because it's kind of just been bred into us of what Christmas is all about, what the holiday season is all about.

0:04:13 - (Kevin Lowe): It's bigger. It means better. The bigger the gift, obviously, the more you love the person. And gosh, don't we know by now that is so not true. I doubt that the rest of your life, the rest of the year looks like a hallmark movie. So don't feel like Christmas has to. And what I mean is the lavish parties, the amazing gifts, all that luxury that just screams money. Money. That is not what this season has to be for you.

0:04:51 - (Kevin Lowe): And I'm about to dive in to a few different ideas for you to really make this Christmas possibly better than any other you've had. And it's all going to help to save you some money. A lot of people are going to tell you that in the reality of the situation, it's not the gift that really matters. That's not what counts. It's the thought that counts. And yeah, we've heard it and none of us believe it, especially if we're the one giving the gift.

0:05:24 - (Kevin Lowe): Because we want to give our family the best that we possibly can. But what if there's another way, another way to look at things? And that idea, my friend, is to not gift gifts, but gift experiences. If it's a friend at work, don't feel like you have to go out and buy her a gift card for Starbucks instead. Why not just tell her, hey, after the craziness of the holidays, let's go out for a cup of coffee.

0:05:57 - (Kevin Lowe): If it's your family, you tell them, hey, you know what? Instead of us exchanging all kind of gifts this year, all spending way too much money, why don't we all just go do something fun on Christmas this year? Why don't we do something different? Why don't we make some memories? And really, if you think about it, that's what this is about. It's about helping you to make memories this year that don't revolve around simply giving gifts.

0:06:29 - (Kevin Lowe): Another idea that just came to me as I'm recording is maybe it's your mom you're wanting to give a gift to. Now, if it's my mom, mom, please don't listen to this. But maybe for your mom, you could be so nice is to surprise her with a clean house, go over to her home and clean the house for her, save her that chore. Do something that really makes a difference to people. Because the truth is that we can give somebody a gift, even something really nice, but by next Christmas, they're not going to remember what in the world they got.

0:07:10 - (Kevin Lowe): But they will remember walking into a house that they expected to be dirty, that they expected to have to spend time cleaning to realize, oh, my gosh, who did this? What happened? My home is clean. That is what matters the most. Now let me real quick address the elephant in the room. And that is the fact that you are going to feel bad. You possibly feel bad right now that you don't have the money to buy all the gifts that you want to.

0:07:48 - (Kevin Lowe): And I want to be sure that I acknowledge something. I want to be sure that I acknowledge that those feelings are real. And you have every right to be upset. I understand completely. Here's what I want to suggest to you. If this is something that you're struggling with, something that really has you upset over, and maybe you're even contemplating racking up another bill on a credit card, something that's going to set you further in debt, but at least you were able to buy presents for your family.

0:08:24 - (Kevin Lowe): I want you to really take the time to sit and think, and I want you to give yourself time to just be real with yourself, to sit and reflect on the situation and more so I want you to really realize what is it that really and truly matters. Now, I understand if you have little kids, it's a whole different situation. I get it. But in a situation with adults where we're giving each other gifts, you know what? I guarantee you the people that you're giving gifts to, they're hurting. Also.

0:09:02 - (Kevin Lowe): We are in a state right now where so many people are struggling financially, are struggling mentally. And so forget about buying somebody some expensive gift and instead just be a friend, be a family member, do something with that person. I guarantee you that's going to be more meaningful than anything else. Now, maybe it's not, though, you gifting an experience. Maybe it's somebody you don't really want to go out to coffee with you, would really rather just do the Starbucks gift card.

0:09:42 - (Kevin Lowe): But then again, you don't want to have to buy a bunch of gift cards. Why not do something like baking some cookies? I'm sure you can get the ingredients for some chocolate chip cookies, some sugar cookies for relatively cheap, bake up a couple of dozen cookies, separate them out into a couple of tins. No, you don't have to give one person a couple dozen cookies. No, just give them a few, wrap them up in some nice tissue paper and that would make such a beautiful gift.

0:10:15 - (Kevin Lowe): Another idea is just sitting down and writing out a handwritten note to somebody. Literally. It can be as simple as a cute Christmas card that you pick up from the dollar store and you sit down and you fill that inside of that card with a personal letter to that friend. I guarantee you that is something that person will keep inside of their nightstand for years to come. And this, honestly is my message to you, is that memories don't require a credit card.

0:10:52 - (Kevin Lowe): That Christmas isn't about you going into debt because you're buying presents. I know you want to. I know you want to spoil your family, I get it, I understand. But sometimes you're just not able to. And I don't want you to feel bad because you can't do what you've always done in the past. Instead, I want you to get creative and I want you to come up with something to do for that person that doesn't cost you an arm and a leg, and yet gives you time spent with that person.

0:11:29 - (Kevin Lowe): Making memories, having you smiling and laughing, that is what this life is about. That's the good stuff. It's time spent with family and friends, smiling and laughing. That's the best gift of all. And it doesn't cost a dime, my friend. I know schedules are going to get crazy. Things are going to get wild in the next couple of weeks as we head into Christmas and the new year's. And well, just know this, if you happen to not tune back into the podcast, because I will be releasing episodes all the way through Christmas, please know this, that I thank you for being a listener of this podcast.

0:12:17 - (Kevin Lowe): I hope that something I say is a help to you in some way, shape or form. And most of all, I wish you a merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a beautiful new year to come, my friend. My name is Kevin Lowe, your host, as well as transformational life coach. Get out there, enjoy the day, enjoy the season, but don't break the bank.