Beating the Black Friday Blues
The turkey is being made up into sandwiches. Remaining desserts are waiting on the buffet to be consumed with a nice cup of coffee or tea. Your Black Friday list waits on the counter. You want to score some awesome deals for your holiday shopping. But something is missing…
Another list. Another toy. Another line. Another gadget. Another person you can’t figure out how to buy for. Another holiday season commercialized and trivialized.
Your list represents special people. You want to give a gift that means something. You want a gift that gives twice. Here are some tips for making the most of the days after Thanksgiving Beating those Black Friday Blues!
On Black Friday shop fair trade. Threads by Nomad supports fair trade practices. Here are eight reasons to make fair trade a part of your holiday shopping.
On Small Business Saturday take a bit of fun time ‘toodling.’ Yes, that is a word…well, it is my word. My family knows exactly what I am going to do when I go ‘toodle.’ Drive or walk around a favorite part of your town or city. Be on the lookout for that small business that appears interesting. Pop in and see what they have to offer. I have found the most unique gifts while I ‘toodle.’
On Sunday rest. Rest? I like to be moving. I rest by making things. Make a gift or two or three! It may be as simple as a painted frame, the beginnings of a scrap book marking a special event, a handwritten coupon gifting a service/task to the recipient or a simple sewing project like a pillow case. Handmade articles gift your time making it extra special.
On Cyber Monday, shop online businesses that give a percentage to a non-profit such as Amazon Smile. When you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice. The Off Ramp is an AmazonSmile charity. The Off Ramp creates opportunities to thrive for those who are displaced or in danger of displacement.
On Giving Tuesday make a donation to the charity of your choice in honor of someone you shop for this year. When you give to The Off Ramp simply put in the note section that your gift honors someone. Include an address and we will send a card to the recipient letting them know you have honored them in this way.
Shop from a non-profit gift catalogue. When choosing gifts from the CBF gift catalog you can honor a friend or family member and give at the same time to someone who needs it.
How about a gift that will give year round? With FLOURISH you give to your cause every time you swipe your debit or credit card as it rounds up to the nearest dollar. Spend $4.75? FLOURISH will round up to $5 donating $0.25 to your chosen charity. Watch your donations make an impact by giving spare change. Simply download the app and choose your charity. The Off Ramp invites you to come FLOURISH with us this Giving Tuesday.
Let us know how you Beat the Black Friday Blues!
Happy Thanksgiving! Nell
