Are you caught up in a shopping frenzy, buying things that might just end up in the bin? Hold off on that checkout and consider better ways to spend your money. Here’s the scoop.
The festive season is here, bringing joy but also a hefty bill and loads of stress. What gifts should I buy? Have I remembered to thank everyone? Who’s hosting this year? How do I keep the whole family happy? And most importantly, how do I keep the costs down? With the cost-of-living pressures biting harder than ever, holiday stress might be at an all-time high. Here are some great tips to reduce it and give more meaningfully this festive season.
Ways to Do Good This Time of Year
The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect and find ways to give back to the community. Here are some meaningful ways to make a difference:
- Buy Gifts from For-Purpose Organisations: Support businesses and organisations that have a positive impact on society (see our Shop lists below).
- Buy Experiences: Give the gift of memorable experiences instead of material items.
- Pay It Forward: Perform random acts of kindness and encourage others to do the same.
- Donate to Charities in Someone’s Honour: Make donations to charities in the name of your loved ones (see our Give list below).
- Volunteer Your Time : Dedicate time this festive season to help with sorting donations, wrapping gifts, etc.
- Embrace the Circular Economy: Donate quality pre-loved items and encourage a culture of reuse.
- Pledge to Give Regularly in the New Year: Commit to regular giving throughout the year.
- Write Google Reviews for Small Businesses: Support small businesses by leaving positive reviews.
- Buy Less Stuff That Ends Up in Landfill: Be mindful of purchasing products with a longer lifespan.
- Wrap Your Gifts Sustainably : Use reusable bags, tea towels, cloth wrapping, or fabric wraps for your gifts.
- Practice Self-Care: Look after yourself so you can give more to others.
- Show Kindness and Practice Gratitude: Spread kindness and be grateful, understanding that this season may be abundant for some and scarce for others.
Purchase with Purpose
When choosing to buy gifts, consider purchasing from these for-purpose organisations that give back to the community:
- The Beautiful Bunch : Flowers
- Dreamtime Pyjamas : Sleepwear
- SisterWorks : Various handmade products
- Kakadu Plum : Health products
- Mettle Gifts : Gift boxes
- The Torch : Artwork by Indigenous artists
- Mabu Mabu : Indigenous foods and condiments
- HoMie , Label for the streets: Streetwear with a cause
- STREAT : Cookbooks or hampers
- Free to Feed : Cooking class experiences
- GG's Flowers : Flowers and hampers that provide employment for people with disabilities
Explore Ethical Marketplaces
Explore these platforms to find gifts that support small businesses and social enterprises:
- Yarn and Welcome to Country : Marketplaces of First Nations businesses.
- Hey Good Thing : Gifts from purpose-driven, B Corp certified or social enterprise businesses.
- Goods4Goods : Marketplace with a mission.
- Catalyser | Prezee : Buy a charity GiveBack card – a socially impactful twist to the traditional digital retail card.
Donate to Make a Difference
Making charitable donations can be a thoughtful and impactful gift. Consider supporting these organisations:
- Wildlife Victoria : Support mobile vet services for injured native animals.
- Myriad Australia : For international charity efforts.
- RefugeVic , Juno , Bridge It : Women’s accommodation and support services.
- We Are Mobilise , StreetSmart Australia , StreetSide Medics : Homelessness support.
- Raise Foundation , The Venny : Youth mentoring and children's play areas.
- Little Big Steps , Make a Wish , Camp Quality's Oranges Toolkit : Support for sick kids.
- The One Box , FareShare , SecondBite , Meals with Impact : Food security initiatives.
- Wilya Janta , KKT , The Torch : First Nations housing and community projects.
Talk to the Be BlueRock Foundation About Your Giving Strategy
Through our experience setting up the Be BlueRock Foundation , we’ve worked through the steps involved in developing a giving strategy, and our Philanthropy team can help BlueRock's individual, family , and business clients set up their own philanthropic structure and giving strategy. Get in touch with our philanthropy consultants if you’d like to learn more.
This festive season, let’s move beyond the stress and commercial rush, and towards meaningful giving that spreads love and hope.
