Gift of giving

I joined the 30 days of giving challenge ...just haven't had time to blog much about it. It is also hard to talk about simple things I have been doing ...tooting my own horn and all.

I love to give gifts but I don't have a lot of money right now.
Instilling in my children the idea that gifts don't have to be just monetary ones is important to me.
Teaching them the art of kindness in doing things for no reason for people you love and random acts of kindness in general is a practical life skill.

My top 10 ways to give of myself

1. Donate blood
2. Smile or say hello to a stranger who needs it , hold a door open, let people queue jump at the supermarket and on the road.
3. Pick up rubbish ...on Clean up Australia day or anywhere that you see.
4. Mind a single mum's children for a day/afternoon.
   
5. Donate good quality unused clothing to friends or other organisations where money goes to your favourite charity.
   
6. Cook extra meal servings for a struggling mum or sick friend.
7. Feed the neighbours or a friend's chickens our vegie food scraps.
   
8. Donate by simply clicking or doing free online actions: Free Rice (Play Trivia),The Breast Cancer , or on others requests I see tweeted to help them further their chances in voting competitions.
9. Clean the house for my spouse or do something special for him spontaneously .Spend quality time with my family by giving up something for one day that normally takes free me time…and use the time for something more valuable. (For me, it would be giving up blogging to spend time with my husband or play Duplo or paint with boys).
10. RT tweets and linky love in my blog posts.
    

Ways to Give financially:

• Give pocket/purse change to charity money boxes at home or when out.
  
• Paying for a friend’s meal or coffee or bring a slice to share when out.
• Donate money or sponsor children through World Vision, buy Christmas smiles gifts and other gifts from other missions catalogues or Ozfam ~ chickens, school supplies, clean water etc ...$5 -$20 gifts of love.
  
• Send money anonymously to a friend, acquaintance, who you know needs financial help of some sort.
• Provide money for a takeaway meal for somebody (a lovely blogger did this for us after my husband finished his radiation therapy).
• Buy grocery items for a friend/family in need or who has special dietary concerns.
• Organise a group of people to participate in a group random act of kindness...spreads the love further.
  

I have been the recipient of many random acts of kindness and gifts.

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Are you wondering what to buy your children for Christmas ?
I am or was ...

Today I came upon this brilliant post about a parents' philosophy on simple gift giving @ Simple kids website .It is simple enough to follow for anyone ...

• something they WANT
• something they NEED
• something to WEAR
• something to READ

then they added over time

• something to WATCH
• something for DRESS UP
• something to LISTEN TO
• something to EAT
• something to CREATE

Though they stress the children don't always receive something from each category.
Please read the whole post for more detailed explanations. I think it is the best article I've read in a long time. They also have a homemade/handmade gift guide for kids.

My 4 yrs old don't ask for much - we have so many toys fortunately a legacy of their elder brothers hand me down toys & their cousins.
This year there is less to spend.
I don't want Christmas to be just about 'them' and a bundle of presents , nor do I want them disappointed ...the Simple kids site has given me some simple and inexpensive ideas.

PS :I found the link via Adventures with Kids, an awesome site sure to inspire 'dozens' of ideas to have fun and cool adventures with your kids.
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