Remember, when the going gets tough, the tough have fun. I guess that sort of turns a cliche on its head, doesn’t it? We can’t ignore it; we are in a severe economic downturn, and everyone is feeling at least a little pinched. But…people are still going to have that annual birthday, the year is still filled with those never-ending greeting card holidays, so can you really just forget about some of our most enjoyable cultural rituals?
When it comes to gift giving, maybe it’s is time to alter a few of our attitudes about what makes a gift valuable. At the heart of gift giving is the thought, but now the economic conditions give us an extra reason to remember that the cost of a gift isn’t what really matters. Presenting a beloved relative or a cherished friend says that you remember them and care about them. That’s all our message of a gift means, or that is all that it needs to say.
So here is a tip for giving the frugal way: Think jewelry! I realize that the word “jewelry” doesn’t really bring to mind the notion of frugality, however what I am suggesting is Italian charm jewelry, and that truly is inexpensive giving at its most fun. Let me explain.
If you have a friend who has a stainless steel Italian charm bracelet, you can add a whimsical Italian charm to her alternatives for around four dollars. You might even have enough left from your five dollar bill to treat yourself to a small soda.
If she doesn’t have any Italian charm jewelry, yet, you can buy her an entire Italian charm starter bracelet while only investing less than ten dollars. That’s probably not even as much as a cup of coffee and a muffin at the corner coffee shop. Furthermore, that will give you an opportunity to build her collection for years to come.
What if your loved one is a guy? Try an Italian charm keychain. The keychain to get it started is only seven dollars or less, kick in another funny charm for an extra few dollars, and your shopping is finished. When the economic recovery comes in a few months or a few years, you can spend a little more to get an official sports related Italian charm licensed by NASCAR, the NBA or even his favorite college team.
Remember that you don’t have to give up giving or a little whimsy when times get rough. In fact, this is just the thing to bring fun, rather than high price tags, back into the spirit of giving.
