Idea: No-money gift exchange
Nov. 22nd, 2007 11:28 pmHere's the deal: I don't really like holiday presents. This is good, because I don't really get that many holiday presents. In years past, I tended to get a few from Ian's family, but my family isn't big on the whole "gift giving" thing for adult relatives. The gifts I do get tended to be generic, decorative items. I don't like buying gifts, partly because I'm not sure about people's tastes, and partly because I don't like spending the money simply because "it's the time of the year that we spend money on Stuff for other people." (Please note: I've got no problem with buying gifts as a general principle, just with buying gifts for specific occasions.)
So here's my idea:
Does anyone want to join me in a no-money gift exchange?
The idea is simple: find or create a gift (the latter is encouraged) that doesn't require the expenditure of money. It may be a scrapbook you made with pictures of you and the recipient; a craft object made from the surplus materials you already had on-hand; a work of fiction; a "gift of time" coupon (eg: for a romantic evening, afternoon babysitting, or morning sleep-in)... the list goes on. Photographers may offer to do digital photo-shoots. Photo-editors may create custom LJ icons. Music-lovers may compile mix CDs on a theme.
Creativity is your friend here.
I will commit to giving a gift to anyone who offers me one in return. I challenge you to post this (or a similar) request on your LJ and spread the love. As fair warning, anyone who chooses to exchange with me will probably receive the gift of a piece of poetry or fiction, specially written just for you. Or I may go for a "gift of time" coupon.
Who's with me?
So here's my idea:
Does anyone want to join me in a no-money gift exchange?
The idea is simple: find or create a gift (the latter is encouraged) that doesn't require the expenditure of money. It may be a scrapbook you made with pictures of you and the recipient; a craft object made from the surplus materials you already had on-hand; a work of fiction; a "gift of time" coupon (eg: for a romantic evening, afternoon babysitting, or morning sleep-in)... the list goes on. Photographers may offer to do digital photo-shoots. Photo-editors may create custom LJ icons. Music-lovers may compile mix CDs on a theme.
Creativity is your friend here.
I will commit to giving a gift to anyone who offers me one in return. I challenge you to post this (or a similar) request on your LJ and spread the love. As fair warning, anyone who chooses to exchange with me will probably receive the gift of a piece of poetry or fiction, specially written just for you. Or I may go for a "gift of time" coupon.
Who's with me?