Holiday shopping

HOW TO SHOP THOUGHTFULLY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

To shop thoughtfully is to think not just about the individual who will be receiving the gift but also who you are purchasing the gift from. In this post I am listing out some ways to give more thoughtfully during the holidays.

It is more convenient for me to open an app on my phone and order a gift rather than go to a shop myself. Amazon makes it even more convenient by getting the gift to our doorstep in less than three days. (Fellow procrastinators raise your hands!!) To shop thoughtfully challenged my desire for convenience and immediate gratification. Does it take a little more searching, a little more money, a little more planning, and a few more days of waiting...yes, but I think it’s worth it. Here are 4 questions to think about when shopping this holiday season:

  1. Is there a small shop you can support? Whether online or local there are many small shops to choose from. Your purchase will directly support an individual who has put a lot of thought and care into their product.

    1. Do you have any friends that sell products? Do you love what they are selling? Supporting your friends in an awesome way to shop more thoughtfully. 

  2. Is it handmade? We looove handmade things! One way to save money and to gift thoughtfully is making something yourself or by purchasing something handmade from someone else. There is so much talent out there! We encourage you to invest is some of your local artists!

  3. Is it ethically made? Shopping ethically is so important in today's world. Even simply doing research about a brand before buying it can change where you may want to spend your money. We are all for ethical and fair treatment of people but sadly that isn’t always the heart behind every company. It is thoughtful to do research and make sure the individuals behind the product are being treated kindly.

  4. Is it sustainable? It easy to gift something simply for the sake of gifting something but it’s better to think it through before spending money on something that may only last a season or two. I think it’s important not only to be intentional on where you spend your money but also what you spend your money on. It may be as simple as giving a gift card to a local store or getting something practical for them to use. Here are some helpful ways to think more sustainably this season:

    1. To buy or not to buy: Maybe this year you choose not to buy gifts. Instead of receiving or giving a gift maybe you donate the money that would have been spent on a gift to a charity or to someone who is truly in need. This could be a shock to some family traditions so try and navigate those waters lightly.

    2. Quality over quantity: Make quality purchases, don’t buy for the sake of buying something. Try not to fall into the trap of consumption. Instead of buying a bunch of meaningless small items maybe this year you do one big quality item.

    3. Stick to a budget: Sometimes its easy to get caught up in the holidays and forget that there is a bottom to our pockets. Create a holiday budget and do your best to stick to it. Going into debt for christmas is not sustainable at all.

Remember that living more sustainably and thoughtfully isn’t always easy. Every thoughtful action, big or small, makes a difference. Your sustainable journey may look different from the next persons, so don't compare yourself and always give yourself grace. When we started this journey it was a bit overwhelming to do sustainable swaps especially during christmas time. The first year I decided that the headache, the expense, and the limited time (always procrastinating) was not worth it. That year I only managed to buy three gifts from small shops and the rest were off of Amazon. Did I regret it? nope! I bought things I knew people would love, stayed within our budget, AND it all arrived before christmas day. I encourage you to shop more thoughtfully this holiday season. Happy holidays my friends!

Kings and Co.

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