Does Money Breed Insensitivity?

Does Money Make You Insensitive?

 

Many of you may have listened to Paula Pant’s Afford Anything podcast with Suze Orman where Orman completely destroys the idea of FIRE (Financial Independent Retire Early). I was utterly speechless at the comments that she made.

 

Orman’s Perspectives

 

Orman speaks of the money she has, her private island, her prior 5 houses and 5 cars, and the tens of millions (or more) that she has made over her lifetime. She thinks retirement requires millions of dollars, and that $80 thousand a year is not enough to live on.

 

She goes so far as to talk about extremes, like what if a pole goes through the front of your windshield and you are disabled? She also thinks parents should pay for private school and post-secondary education for children.

 

When did people with money forget what it’s like to not have money?

 

What Orman did not realize was that she was so opinionated, she made listeners like me absolutely sick. From the idea that lower income earners can never dream of FIRE, and that FIRE will break our economy, it was demoralizing.

 

Orman is not the only one who forgets what it’s like to not have a 6-figure income. My background of working for professionals reminds me of the differences between the haves and the have nots.

 

Does Privilege Breed Insensitivity?

 

Some people find it encouraging to see others who have amassed a large income, but there are others who simply did not have the means to attend a post-secondary education institution for the extra years it takes to become a doctor, lawyer, or other professional designation. What bothers me the most is when the assistant/employee/lower-wage earner is clearly an important and necessary part of the foundation of a high wage earner’s enterprise, and yet they are treated as unnecessary, and paid either under a living wage or just at a living wage.

 

I want to ask them, was there a time when you did not know how you were going to pay rent? Did you ever have to decide between going on a vacation or investing in your retirement? Did you ever stop to think that your employees do not have the same options as you in life? And yet, without them, you would not be as successful as you are today.

 

I spoke about the inequalities in my minimum wage post, and still wonder what it will take for people like Orman to realize that the options for her and the options for the rest of us will never be the same.

 

Some of us will be fortunate, and may have a successful career, minimal health issues, and be able to plan for retirement. Some of us will always be playing catch up; hoping we can work long enough to save for retirement.  But for those who are extremely wealthy, why do you forget the struggles? Why do you discount the privilege?

 

While I am not saying that those who are wealthy beyond their needs should give handouts to others, I am really hoping that they consider paving the way for some others to find opportunities. Many wealthy people use charitable donations to minimize taxes, but when was the last time they stepped out of their private island comfort zone and gave a hand up? Got their hands dirty, and blessed people who work hard and may never have enough to travel their continent, never mind the world?

 

Callout to the Wealthy

 

This is a callout to all those who have had tremendous success. Please reach out to someone and help them on their way. People like Orman need to stop putting others down for not having as much as she was blessed with, and she is not a matriarch or model for the rest of us. She is someone who has been fortunate and forgets that our life doesn’t need to be 45 years of steady work in the event of a tragic accident or dire straits.

 

The FIRE movement will still pay taxes, and will open up other jobs that may not otherwise be available. It’s all about options, and when people like Orman tell you that it’s stupid to desire the freedom of options, and that her words are “truths”, she forgets that there may be other paths, and other roads which can lead to the same place.

 

Are you pro FIRE or do you think Orman is right that it’s a slippery slide to the end? Do you think privileged folk forget the rest of us? I’d like to hear from you.

 

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through these links. Please see my disclosure for more information. Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by providing links to Amazon.ca and affiliated sites.

53 Surprisingly Frugal Gift Giving Ideas for the Holidays

Have You Started Thinking
About the Holidays?

 

The kids are going back to school, and that means Christmas is just around the corner. Let’s talk about Christmas budgets or holiday budgets, whatever that will mean for your family.

 

FRUGAL GIFT GIVING

 

Begin With a List of Holiday Expenses.

 

What are you responsible for this holiday season?

 

Are you hosting dinner? Are you responsible for the full meal, or can you request each guest to bring a small item to help?

 

Some small items could be a bag of buns, a salad, pickle tray, cheese tray, one or two non-alcoholic beverages, etc. It’s the little things that can add up (beyond the cost of meat and potatoes!) therefore don’t be shy on asking people to spend $5-10 on a donation to the meal.

 

Doing a gift exchange with work?

 

Do you have teachers to purchase for?

 

Take a few minutes and brainstorm what you need to deal with over the month of December.

 

Do Inventory in Your Home.

 

Do you have a gift stash somewhere? Do you still have wrapping paper and Christmas cards? Check to see what you will need, and make a list of the gifts you may have already purchased, and what incidentals you will require.

 

Make a full list of all the people you will be giving presents to this year. Here are some suggestions to consider:

  • Parents
  • Grandparents
  • Children
  • Grandchildren
  • Aunts & uncles
  • Cousins
  • Neighbours
  • Teachers
  • Paper carrier
  • Mail carrier
  • Babysitter
  • Service providers
  • Friends
  • Spouse
  • Coworkers
  • Employees
  • Employers
  • School bus drivers
  • Nursing home residents
  • Donations to charity/families in need
  • Pets

 

Once you have your list, prioritize. Who are the most important people on your list to buy for?

 

Be Honest With Your Budget

 

How much do you want to spend this year? This is a big question. How much CAN you AFFORD to spend? If it’s September, you will have 3-4 months to save up. How much can you truly afford to spend?

 

Start by budgeting a figure for the top priority people on your list. That may be children, grandchildren, parents, etc. Give each person a value and then deduct it from your budget. Does it fit? How much is left? Count the remaining people on your list and divide by the difference. How much per person?

 

Example:

Budget: $500.00

I know I need wrapping paper, tape and bows. I have cards. My estimate is $30 for supplies. I will deduct $30 from my budget.

I have 6 people who are top priority to buy for. Since my budget is now at $470, and I have more than 6 on my list, my plan would be to spend about $30 per person on my priority list. 6 people at $40 is $180. I deduct that from my budget of $470, and I am left with $230.

I have 10 people on my secondary list, and I have $230 remaining. I know I want to give two gifts to a charity, so that’s 12 people. I can spend $19.16 per gift.

 

How to Maximize Your Spending Allowance

 

There’s more than one way to buy for people. Here are some suggestions that will help you maximize your per person gift costs:

  • Do you have any pre-bought gifts? Who can you give them to?
  • Do you have any gifts you’ve received and are still in new condition? Can you regift?
  • Do you have any gift cards you’ve bought or received and can gift?
  • Have you earned any points on credit cards and can purchase items at a discount or with points or money on the card?
  • Can you exchange rewards for gift cards?
  • Instead of purchasing for each adult relative, can you make a secret santa draw and only buy for one at a higher value than each of them individually?
  • Has your family discussed just shopping for the under-18 crowd?
  • Try a mystery gift where each person spends $10-20 on one gift that could be for anyone (like gift cards, socks, etc.) and do a gift game where people can “steal”, pick and trade wrapped gifts. Whatever you end up with is your mystery gift!
  • Shop at a bulk store and package gifts into baskets:
    • Can you buy movie tickets at a discount and pair them with movie snacks bought in bulk and divided up?
    • Gifts in a jar or gifts in a box are very popular. Is it cheaper to give gifts in a jar?

Here are some examples of gifts in a jar:

 

More Inexpensive Bulk Ideas

  • Make a bulk batch of wine at your local craft wine location and create holiday labels, like “Merry Christmas from our family to yours” or check out some ideas here.
  • Try glass etching on wine glasses. You can find the etching solution at your local craft store, and wine glasses at a dollar store. Make a set of four Christmas wine glasses for under $10, or make a set of two and fill with candy or some other treat for even less.

 

Make ornaments.

There are so many ways to be creative with ornaments:

 

Search online for different ornaments you can “diy”. Depending on your crafty skill, you could create some complex gifts, and even if you are not crafty at all, you will find some that look wonderful and are very easy to do.

 

By packaging these with some nice ribbon, a gift box or bag, you can make an inexpensive homemade gift outshine the most expensive trinket.

 

Be Creative

  • Get together with a couple of friends and make big batches of cookies. Share and divide the cookies up, and then divide them again into smaller gift boxes lined with parchment paper. Many people crave the homemade Christmas treats but never have the time (or interest) in making the treats themselves.
  • Check out your direct sales representatives. Many reps have Christmas packages on sale and they make great basket gifts. Display them in a bag, basket or caddy with a big bow.
  • Design something that will last through the year. Find an inexpensive journal or notebook and take some stickers or washi tape and decorate the book. Create a theme, like inspirational, devotional or reminder to your parent/child of your love and support for them. Include a picture or two, and/or a small gift card.
  • Check out Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Be careful not to get carried away or purchase things that you are not familiar with online. You might be dissatisfied or surprised with what actually comes in the mail.
  • Give a gift of time. As discussed in my post about saving for the holidays, there is no shame in giving the gift of time. The time given for parents to go on a date, a single mother to grocery shop alone, or anything that requires childcare is a gift in itself. Offer to child sit for a couple of hours while your friends or family enjoy the time to themselves.
  • Give a gift of service. Do you mind cleaning, cooking or shopping for others? You can offer to clean a house, cook a couple of meals or go errand shopping for relatives who may not be as capable to do that themselves. Don’t be surprised if the job you offer is worth more to them than a plant or a new pair of slippers.
  • Consider sharing an event with friends instead of gift giving. Have a fondue party, watch a movie with gourmet popcorn, or go for a wine tasting tour.

 

Time is Money too

 

After reading these “DIY” and inexpensive gift ideas, I want you to remember something.

Remember that your time is worth money too, so never be embarrassed about gifting something that did not come prepackaged at the store.

 

Your time is worth money too, so never be embarrassed about gifting something that did not come prepackaged at the store. - On Gift Giving The Frugal Way Click To Tweet

 

Small Tokens of Appreciation
are Worth More

 

Some of the people on your list, like teachers and service providers, often receive small tokens of thanks from their clients, students or customers. Do not feel obligated to give anything other than a card if you cannot afford it. Also, a $5 – $10 coffee gift card is often more appreciated than another mug, serving plate or trinket purchased from the local department stores.

 

Minimalism Counts

 

There are two conditions on gifts that we aim for in our house: consumable and memorable. We no longer search for trinkets, big gifts, etc., as we are all adults and can purchase much of what we want for ourselves. We aim for items that are consumable (think socks, towels, blankets – things that can be used every day or used up and that we would normally need anyways) and memorable (like event tickets, gift cards, investment donations, charitable donations, etc.).

 

Review the Budget

 

Looking at the number of people you would like to gift something to, is there anyone that you could move into a homemade gift section or a token of appreciation? Are there people who you no longer feel the need to purchase for? Can you reduce that budget? Can you ask others for gift bags that are in good condition to use for gifting?

 

If you are just starting out, be realistic with your budget. Times are tough for many people, and you might be surprised at how many people would be relieved to do something different this year.

 

Good luck!

 

 

Do you need a few extra dollars each month? Try a direct sales avenue, like Arbonne, Scentsy, Tupperware or hundreds of others. Learn where to start with my MLM & Networking books, now available on Amazon. 

make money with direct sales affiliate income passive income

 

 

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through these links. Please see my disclosure for more information. Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by providing links to Amazon.ca and affiliated sites.

23 Ways To Save For The Holidays

 

 

The holidays, or Christmas, is coming up quick, and with that will be some hefty bills if you do not plan accordingly.

Here are some ways to save money quickly for the holidays!

 

SAVE FOR HOLIDAYS

Save Money

  • Make a budget. Start by deciding how much you think you can afford to spend, and work from there. Make a list of the people you need to buy for, and establish a value within the budget.

 

  • Change banking institutions or change banking plans: do you really need the premium plan with free everything? When was the last time you used any of the specialties they charge you for? Consider downgrading your plan and bank the savings for the holidays (pun intended!).

 

  • Do you have a credit card that offers cash back, or cash refunds for particular stores? In Canada, our credit card hacking is more difficult, but some stores that offer credit cards for use anywhere and give you a percentage back to spend at their stores are Canadian Tire, Walmart, Costco, etc. Others offer reward options that you can redeem for gift cards. Gift cards make great gifts, or you can use them like cash at those stores.

 

  • Do a luxury audit. Do you watch TV or movie channels during the fall/winter, or are you too busy at work? Do you use the cross-border or international calling on your cell phones? Do you need all the gigs of internet you are paying for? Can you cut back on a service or two for a few months (or for good!)? Bank those savings for the holidays.

 

  • Make your gifts this year. Think about an assortment of baking goods, gifts in a jar, an event in a bowl (like popcorn, drinks, chocolate, and a small gift card for the movies or a movie network), or other creative ideas instead of spending big bucks on something that the stores would overcharge for.

 

  • Double up on your gifts: make a donation and gift the donation to your recipient. Calendars for charities are popular – it’s an inexpensive gift that donates to charity and still provides something for the recipient to open and look at throughout the year.

 

  • Have a few challenge weeks leading up to the month you need the savings for: Meatless Monday, Soda-free week, bring your own coffee to work week, bring your own lunch to work week, etc. Make it a game and set aside the extra grocery savings.

Make Money

  • Do you have an extra room in your house? The next few holidays are centred around family (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, etc). Consider listing a room in your house as an AirBnB rental. If you are planning to be away for a week or more in the upcoming months, you could also rent out your home to a family on AirBnB. With the right insurances in place, you could earn more than your Christmas budget.

 

  • Drive for Uber or Lyft. You can make up your own shifts (choose times that are safer for driving strangers, if you are concerned), and make a few bucks while carting others around.

 

  • Sell old and unwanted items around your house. Electronics that no longer have a place in your life might be welcome in someone else’s (think replaced cell phones, iPods, etc.). Do you have clothes that you no longer wear and could be sold? Bridesmaid dresses can often be repurposed into Christmas party gowns, prom dresses, convocation parties, etc.

 

  • Watch for great sales or clearance at your stores. Check places like eBay, Craigslist, and Kijiji for current values, and try selling them online. (Check the return policy in case they don’t sell, or repurpose into a gift!)

 

  • Sign up for survey sites, like Survey Junkie, Swagbucks or PanelApp. You can earn cash from some, and others you can earn Amazon dollars. With just a few hours a week, you’d be surprised how much you could earn.

 

  •  Write a book and self-publish. By using Kindle publishing, you can have your work of art online and selling within 72 hours. Choose a niche that is popular and write. Fiction may take you a little longer than non-fiction, but it may sell better.  Want to learn more about self-publishing? Read this.
Here are some of the books I’ve published on Kindle:

MLM & Network Marketing: 30 Days of Tips, Tricks and Hacks, How To Grow Your Brand

MLM & Network Marketing Book 2: 30 MORE Days of Tips, Tricks and Hacks on How To Build Your Brand

Love Reconstructed: Love in Pine Meadows

If I can do it, so can you!

 

  • Direct Sales. Sign up for a company like Avon, Arbonne, Scentsy, Pink Zebra, Thirty-One Gifts, Stella and Dot, J.R. Watkins, Melaluca, etc. Many of these companies do not require a kit for start up, and if you are thinking about gift giving, that means others are as well. Why not be their source for gifts? The days of signing up your families to sell, or being designated sales areas are virtually over, and you can sell anywhere to anyone.

 

  • Get a part-time job. Now is the time that stores are looking for seasonal help. Some stores will work with your schedule without complaint, and the added perk is a discount for most stores you work for! Make money and pay less for the items you buy. Win win!

 

  • Sign up for a service on demand site, like Fiverr or Upwork. Do you have special media skills, design or editing prowess? People are always looking for affordable matches to help them out.

 

  • Become a freelance writer. More and more content will be consumed with advertising and discussion of the best of the best this holiday season. Seek out advertisements online, like ProBlogger, to see who needs writing assistance.

 

  • Start picking up odd jobs. Call friends who have businesses, and ask them if they need an assistant for a day or two. Offer to babysit (for money), walk the neighbour’s dog, and housesit for the snowbirds (people who go somewhere warm for the winter). Think like a teenager who needs cash: all the little jobs are still out there, and waiting for you to ask to do them!

 

No-Spend Ideas

  • Offer to provide a service for your time: babysitting, cleaning, or something else that the recipient could use. Oftentimes, the idea of a “coupon” is deemed as cheap, but sometimes a gift of time or doing something for the recipient is priceless. A single mom would love a couple hours to herself, a senior would appreciate a couple hours of cleaning (moving furniture for a vacuum for example), or a friend who is tight on cash would appreciate an indoor spa day at your house, or dinner made for them.

 

  • Consider making a date of it instead. If you regularly go for manis or pedis, consider making a deal with a friend that you two will go together and spend the day/afternoon together instead of spending money on each other. Memories are more special than things.

 

  • Regift. I know this option has an “icky feeling” attached, however if you have something that you do not use or like, and and it’s brand new, why let it sit and be wasted? So long as the giftee was not the one who gifted it to you, no one is the wiser, you have not spent any money and cleared out some space in your house, and they are happy.

 

  • Give with love: do you have coveted items in your home that you no longer care for? Example: My mother-in-law has a beautiful Christmas tree with all glass ornaments that I drool over every year. If she decides she doesn’t want those ornaments anymore, I would appreciate that gift so much more than anything store bought.

 

  • Check the free section of your local classifieds, Craigslist, Kijiji, etc., for re-givable gifts. Sometimes people just give perfectly good things away because they are moving, don’t have the time to sell it, or simply can’t be bothered.

 

There’s Still Time

I hope some of these ideas come in handy for you, especially since the holiday season can creep up on us really quickly! Good luck, and remember to stay on budget.

 

 

Do you need a few extra dollars each month? Try a direct sales avenue, like Avon, Mary Kay or hundreds of others. Learn where to start with my MLM & Networking books, now available on Amazon. 

make money with direct sales affiliate income passive income

 

 

 

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through these links. Please see my disclosure for more information. Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by providing links to Amazon.ca and affiliated sites.