Give More. Spend Less.

Give More. Spend Less. By Natalie Pace.
Last-minute, affordable gifts that will arrive on time and be treasured.
 
This year presents all kind of challenges for gift-giving. If our budget is leaner, then we might be forced to choose creativity over consumerism. If we still haven’t found the perfect gift, we might have to select something that can be emailed, so that it is sure to arrive on time. (There is a delivery crisis going on right now.)
 
Fortunately, these challenges don’t have to mean that your present winds up in the re-gifting closet. Below are a few ideas for last-minute, affordable holiday gifts that could truly be treasures to those you love.
 
7 Ways to Give More, While Spending Less.
​When we think of gift-giving, we often reach for our wallet. However, time and talent are also very valuable and can create lasting memories. Sometimes these shared special moments can be the vicissitude that creates a springboard into a more fulfilling life. Have faith that your thoughtful gift could be the perfect one, even if you don’t purchase it on Amazon.
 
1. The Gift of Time
There are many ways that you can make the gift of time sparkle. If it is for a child, why not have a special King/Queen for a Day card? If it is for a retired parent, perhaps it is a Weekend Adventure Ticket. With a little creativity, you can come up with a special idea for your Sacred Beloved, as well. Doing something special with a loved one doesn’t have to cost a lot.
 
On the 12th Night of Christmas in medieval England, peasants were royalty and royalty were peasants for a day - until midnight ended the reign of the Lord of Misrule. (Rumor has it that Disney puts the execs in character costumes once a year, too.) It takes courage to give the gift of freedom, particularly to your children, but if you are brave enough to make your child King for a Day, the outlandish frolics that ensue will be epic pages in the family history. Let's face it, even when you've been good, there are some years that Santa's gift bag is going to be a little bare. That's when experiences are rich.


2. The Gift of Talent
Are you great on TikTok? Can you create a one-of-a-kind slideshow of photos set to music on iMovie? Would a calendar of the grandkids bring a smile to your parents’ faces? Do you knit, sew, write poems, sing or dance? Personalizing your creation in a way that honors the person receiving the gift will make it far more special. Even a dreaded Christmas sweater can be the highlight under the tree if it inspires laughter and jokes.  
 
I have a cousin who sends out a Christmas song every year. My sister crafts the most intricate and beautiful afghans. One friend gifts delicious homegrown tangerines annually. Honestly, the handcrafted cards that my son designs are the best gifts I've ever received, while my own coconut oil sugar scrub has been a hit with my girlfriends when I give it. Because many of us already have the studio equipment, trees, yarn, baking goods and calligraphy tools to create their masterpieces, the costs are low, while the value is priceless.
 
3. The Gift of Money
If you just want to know the hot gift of the year, you can Google that. However, there are some fun ways to give money that aren’t on everyone’s radar. For instance, it might sound too practical to fund a College Fund for your kids. However, if you tell them that they are going to invest that money in companies they believe in, it doesn’t feel boring at all. In fact, you achieve a second benefit of starting them on the path to financial literacy and learning more about how to get their money to make money. You might be surprised how excited your tweens and teens get when you empower them with making some investment choices of their own for the college fund.
 
In some cultures, giving a silver coin in a decorative envelope is a tradition for some holidays. That might be a fun gift, particularly if you already have many collectible coins. Be careful here. Many of the retail coin hubs upsell at a premium that is well above the value of the precious metal, and if you purchase from an individual, you’ll need to know how to spot a fake.
 
4. Family Heirlooms
If you’re a little light on cash this year, or feel you need to conserve your capital in case the pandemic or recession persist, why not look into the family heirlooms and see if there is something that might be perfect to gift? Why hoard heirlooms until you pass away, when they might be treasured now by someone you love? The keepsake doesn't have to be auctioned by Christie's to count, particularly if it embodies family folklore. Telling the story about why the momento is precious will add to the value of this gift.


5. Last-Minute, Affordable Gifts
The ABCs of Money (4th edition) and The ABCs of Money for College ebooks are both under $5 and can be delivered instantly. (They are Amazon Exclusives.)
 
If you know what literary genre or area of interest your loved one leans toward, it shouldn’t be difficult to find the perfect ebook or iMusic that is instantly delivered – whether it is a Gordon Ramsay cookbook or Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite. A subscription to Spotify, Hulu, Netflix or Amazon Prime might also be valuable in today’s “Do Everything from Home” pandemic-enforced reality.
 

6. A Free Holiday Gift from Me to You (Which You Can Give to Anyone You Desire)
For my Holiday Gift this year, I’ve recorded 21 Days of Prosperity and posted the videos on my YouTube.com/NataliePace channel. Each morning you watch and listen to the day’s prosperity mantra (which might take about 10 minutes) and then keep that mantra and mindset top of mind all day. At the end of 21 days, you’ll have completely changed the way you think about everything, and will be embodying prosperity consciousness. (Many people are trapped in Debt Consciousness without being aware of this.)
 
Shifting out of fear and victimization and into gratitude and ownership is fundamental to all of the things we truly desire – whether it is happiness, a better planet, a sexier body, more loving relationships and even to live a rich life. Fear immobilizes you, prevents you from seeing possibilities that lie right under your own nose, and releases cortisol, the “stress” hormone. So join me in this free 21-day New Year, New You coaching call series, which is based upon my Amazon bestseller, The Gratitude Game.
 
Again, the gift is FREE. There are no strings attached, and you can gift it forward to anyone you desire. Receive your free 21 Days of Prosperity Coaching gift by emailing [email protected] with the subject: I WANT MY FREE HOLIDAY GIFT.
 

7. Charitable Giving
Charity lies at the heart of the winter holidays. In a pandemic, showing goodwill toward those less fortunate carries more meaning than ever. So, rack up the karma points this year by donating time, talent and/or money to help those who are truly suffering most from high unemployment, isolation or other hardships.
 
Sometimes, the best opportunity for charity is within reach - in our own families. It doesn’t have to be a 501c3 or qualify for a tax deduction to be an act of beneficence. One year, we took a family who was near and dear to us, who couldn't afford the tickets, to Disneyland.
 
 
Bottom Line
The lean years helped my family to develop our favorite family traditions - from home-made ornaments, to our Nomads’ Christmases, Bad Santa parties and beyond. If you have a tradition to share, please do so on my pages at Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and use the hashtag #NataliePace, so that I’ll be sure to see them!
 

Gabe (son's friend), Natalie Pace & Davis (Natalie's son) at the iconic Hotel Negresco in Nice, France.in 2010.

Are you interested in an easy-as-a-pie-chart nest egg strategy that earned gains in the past two recessions and has outperformed the bull markets in between? Why not gift yourself a free money makeover? Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] to register for our Jan. 16-18, 2021 Online Investor Educational Retreat. 

Natalie Pace New Year, New You Wealth Empowerment Retreat. Jan. 16-18, 2021. Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] to learn more.

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​
Important Disclaimers
Please note: Natalie Pace does not act or operate like a broker. She reports on financial news, and is one of the most trusted sources of financial literacy, education and forensic analysis in the world. Natalie Pace educates and informs individual investors to give investors a competitive edge in their personal decision-making. Any publicly traded companies or funds mentioned by Natalie Pace are not intended to be buy or sell recommendations.

ALWAYS do your research and consult an experienced, reputable financial professional before buying or selling any security, and consider your long-term goals and strategies. Investors should NOT be all in on any asset class or individual stocks. Your retirement plan should reflect a diversified strategy, which has been designed with the assistance of a financial professional who is familiar with your goals, risk tolerance, tax needs and more. The "trading" portion of your portfolio should be a very small part of your investment strategy, and the amount of money you invest into individual companies should never be greater than your experience, wisdom, knowledge and patience.  

Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, NataliePace.com does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Opinions constitute our judgment as of the date of this publication and are subject to change without notice. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. Securities, financial instruments or strategies mentioned herein may not be suitable for all investors.

About Natalie Pace
Natalie Wynne Pace is an Advocate for Sustainability, Financial Literacy & Women's Empowerment. She has been ranked as a No. 1 stock picker, above over 835 A-list pundits, by an independent tracking agency (TipsTraders). The ABCs of Money remained at or near the #1 Investing Basics e-book on Amazon for over 3 years (in its vertical), with over 120,000 downloads and a mean 5-star ranking. The 4th edition of The ABCs of Money was released on October 17, 2020. 

Natalie Pace's easy as a pie chart nest egg strategies earned gains in the last two recessions and have outperformed the bull markets in between. That is why her Investor Educational Retreats, books and private coaching are enthusiastically recommended by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary S. Becker, TD AMERITRADE chairman Joe Moglia, Kay Koplovitz and many Main Street investors who have transformed their lives using her Thrive Budget and investing strategies. Click to view a video testimonial from Nilo Bolden. ​

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