A Time For Giving - 7 Ways To Help Others This Christmas

 

Christmas is one of the best times of year in terms of generosity. There is something about the festive spirit that makes people more giving - it's a great thing!

 

There are so many ways you can go about giving at Christmas time which makes it easy to embrace your generous side. Not just giving to friends and family, but also to people we don't know and those less fortunate than us.

 

Here are a few ideas that I've put together of ways you can help others this Christmas:

 

1. Buy Charity Christmas Cards

One simple way you can help someone this Christmas is to buy charity Christmas cards instead of ordinary ones. Pretty much every card shop sells them and it's no extra expense if you're buying them anyway. The only difference is, the money you spend goes to charity. I've seen animal shelter cards that have dogs in Christmas hats - who doesn't want that?

 

2. Reverse Advent Calendar

My inspiration for this is actually from The Mad House who I found on Pinterest and the basic concept is simple. Instead of or alongside your normal advent calendar, you have an empty box. Every day of advent, you then place an item into the box that you will donate on Christmas Eve. By Christmas, you'll have 24 items such as toys, clothes or ornaments which you can donate to charity. Or, you could fill it with food to give to a local food bank.

 

3. Buy A Hot Drink Or Food For The Homeless

I know some people don't like donating change to people sitting on the street because you don't know how they'll spend it. Instead, next time you pop into Costa to buy a coffee or hot sausage roll, pick up two and give it to them as you go past. They'll be forever grateful and you'll have done your good deed.

 

4. Participate In A Charity Christmas Campaign

Another way to get involved this Christmas would be to participate in a charity campaign which can range from volunteering to help the homeless or donating a gift to children in war struck countries. For example, the Samaritans Purse shoe box appeal or the Salvation Army gift appeal.

 5. Have A Clear Out And Donate To Charity

By having a sort through all your belongings, whether that's your bedroom or the whole house, you could get together a huge number of things you don't need anymore. This could be clothes, toys, ornaments, furniture or any other bits and pieces. Not only will you be making room for the things you'll get for Christmas, you'll also be having a sort out in time for new year and have a collection of items to donate to your local charity shop.

 

6. A Simple Money Donation

This is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of charities but its worth is so underrated. You can really help that charity make a difference, whether its a monthly donation of just £3 or sparing your loose change after buying some presents.

 

7. Give A Gift That Keeps On Giving

Another creative way to support a charity this Christmas would be to donate as a present for someone else. For that animal lover in your life, why not 'adopt' a big cat or a panda with WWF. Not only is it a really positive and helpful donation to charity, but also a really creative gift idea!

These are just some of the many ways you can go about helping others this Christmas. It really does just take five seconds of kindness to make a difference in someone's life.

I hope you have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!