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Alternative Gift Giving
Letter from the Editor
BY Melissa Tosetti
I find that much of my stress during the holidays is not really about spending money. It's about finding the "right" gift. When I can't find the "right" gift for someone, I tend to overcompensate by spending more money. It's a silly and expensive mindset.
I have written before about the holiday pact I made with my friends almost 10 years ago. We decided that instead of buying presents for each other, we would all pitch in for a cabin at Lake Tahoe over President's Day weekend. If you ask any one of us, it is the most anticipated weekend of the year. The memories we have created are priceless!
My sister-in-law Gina and I were chatting last week about the stresses of finding those "right" gifts. We decided to start our own tradition of having our families spend a day together instead. This year we will be heading to Safari Adventures (http://www.safariwest.com) in Santa Rosa, CA. Paul and I have been wanting to go there for years. It will be especially fun sharing the experience with Gina, my brother-in-law Matt and my 2 ½ year old nephew Jordan.
As Jordan and his soon-to-arrive cousin get older, I hope they will treasure the memories of these times we will all spend together.
It's not practical to do this with everyone on your holiday list. But, if there are a few people on your list that you wish you could spend more time with, ask if they would like to go out to dinner or away for the weekend instead of exchanging gifts. Start creating your own memories.
Melissa Tosetti
Editor/Publisher
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