Get Some

Shari Foos posted a piece on the Huffington Post yesterday entitled, “My Kinky Habit: Giving.” Titillating! Or wait, is it? Nah, not really. She writes, “It's not dirty but it's definitely deceptive. Doing this makes me seem better than I am, look better than I look after a root job and a blow dry…my secret is this: I like to give. I like to give because I like to get. It's selfish, really, but I'm sort of addicted. The more I do it the more I want. It's a pretty good jones. Giving anonymously is an orgasmic secret. Supporting good efforts is an honor. Loving the people in my life is a privilege. As anyone with this kinky habit can tell you, the amount is not what makes the gift valuable. Arguably, a gift from those who have less is more profound.”

Is it cheating if you like seeking out just the right gift for someone because their reaction will make you feel good? There is something so satisfying about being the One who Gets It, isn’t there? The One who knew just what kind of slippers Dad would actually like, or the One who writes the poem that makes the boyfriend tear up?

That’s why I love this new Holiday Gifts & Shopping board . In the spirit of sharing, people from all over are posting great gift ideas and deals. And I am promptly stealing them and pretending I thought of them myself. Mwah ha ha.

socialcrawl has a great tip for a free stocking stuffer your family will actually like.

cl-jdonahue1 shares how to get the much-coveted Elmo TMX for half-price.

ohkelly74 is getting lots of cute ideas for gifts for a stay-at-home mother of three.

And roll_a_mage has an issue many of us can relate to: the man in her life is impossible to shop for.

Stop in and add your own money-saving tips or inspired ideas. We all need a little extra help at this time of the year.

And what about giving anonymously? Are there charities or less-fortunate people or, as Foos puts it, good efforts, that you make an effort to remember at this time of year? I feel like it’s hard to find money, at this time of year, for anything extra, but maybe that’s exactly what makes it the right time to donate money or time. In fact, gosh darn it, maybe I should put my money where my mouth is, and donate some money to a cause I believe in. Right now. After all, Shari Foos says it’ll make me feel and look great.

And you can’t beat that with a candy cane, now can you.