Welcome to the Holiday Hacks blog series where we quickly describe ways to get kids more involved in the spirit of Christmas and Hanukkah – for yes, less. Our fourth entry is a take on our first: intentional re-gifting. Out of the Cold provides overnight accommodation and meals to the homeless from November to April in various communities across Ontario. We know a family that asks for socks and mittens every year, in lieu of hostess gifts, or as their preferred office gift exchange present…. they take what they have collected every December and distribute them at an Out of the Cold dinner for the homeless at a local church in early January. For the price of a simple request, and one Sunday evening, they turn the idea of socks being the proverbial unwanted gift, into a reminder of how even the smallest gesture, can make the biggest difference.

This holiday season, we at Gifting Sense encourage you to help your children only ask for items they will really use and appreciate. You might free up enough time and money to be able to give back to the community in a similar fashion, as well as give your kids a quick but meaningful dose of financial education. To learn how, click on the pink or green buttons below.