Gift Giving on a Limited Budget

As most of you reading this have discovered by now, growing older is not always cheap! Even with good financial planning, good insurance and a somewhat good bill of health, there are unexpected things that can come up and break the bank pretty quickly. Because of this, it can make birthdays and gift giving at other holidays all the more stressful. The bad news might be that you find yourself in the position of not being able to spend much, if anything, on gifts for those you love. The good news is that there are options other than buying expensive gifts that are open to you if you are able to take the time to look.

The Gift of Food

Food can be a very economical gift to give if you’re on a tight budget. You could bake sweets before a gathering and box them up. Or create your own baking mixes or spice mixes and put them into jars to be use. You might even go so far as to make a few freezer meals that would be of great benefit for other people with busy schedules so that they could just pull it out of the freezer, thaw and cook for a real meal. If you wanted to do something like this, you’d need to be sure that the person(s) in question do not have any particular food allergies. If you’re unsure, always provide an ingredient list to those who will be receiving the gift.

The Gift of Time

Many people do not realize how valuable the gift of time may be to another person. If you are older, but greatly enjoy cooking, perhaps you could offer to cook a few meals for a growing family that is busy. If you enjoy reading children’s stories, have someone help you start an account on YouTube where you can record yourself reading to your young family members so that you are able to read to the children even if you’re not able to be physically present at the time. Even better, set aside time each week to video call or Zoom call your younger family members.

Another avenue is to think through things that you’re good at, or things that you’ve done for work in the past and offer services in those areas. Perhaps someone could benefit from your tax knowledge and would love to not have to pay someone to do their taxes if you’re able to do it. Maybe someone could use help with mending clothes or framing a window. Do not think that just because you’re aging that you cannot offer your knowledge and skills to those that would appreciate it.

Personal History & Diaries

A very thoughtful and inexpensive gift for those close to you might include a small book of memories of them. You could begin writing in advance so that it would not become a chore, but rather a delightful walk down memory lane. Include some photographs if you have them. If you are quite elderly, perhaps a book of memories and stories of your childhood would be in order for those younger ones in your family. Include the struggles that you’ve gone through, things that have helped you remain positive in order to overcome defeat and maybe even some inspiring quotes or pictures. This gift is greatly appreciated by loved ones and could prove very helpful for them if you are related and you include a bit of anecdotal health history, as well.

Books

Books are generally inexpensive and can be given with the recipient in mind. If you know hobbies or interests that they enjoy, they are sure to love books that you give them on the subject. If you do not know their interests well, you could always give them a book that you’ve found enjoyable, inspiring or helpful. E-books can also be very economical (sometimes less than $1.00) for those of your friends and family who enjoy reading on a digital device.

Love

At the end of the day, all that people really want most is to know that you care. If you show love and care for them, there is no greater gift that you could give and there is no greater gift you could hope to receive.

9 Ways to “Give Back” to the Elderly

Have you ever taken the time to think about the things that people have seen throughout their lifetimes? Today's elderly population have been through many wars, including a World War. They have more than likely been through a part of the Great Depression & through the recovery from those things. They've seen the invention of automobiles & how they've taken over our national landscape. They've seen flight & how it has become commonplace, radio, television, epidemics & cures for certain diseases. They've seen space travel, the moon landing, and countless other disasters & advancements. They've also experienced all of these things while simultaneously going through their own family's personal triumphs & tragedies. Imagine all of those things contained within one person's lifetime! It's incredible to think about! Now think about that wealth of knowledge & experience being wasted because very few people will slow down in order to benefit from it. That is what is happening, by and large, in our society right now. I know. I get it. We're all terribly busy. But what if we are missing out on opportunities to help those around us while learning things that may make our lives (& society as a whole) a better place because we paid attention to those who are experienced? In this article, we'll discuss ways that we can give back to those who have already been through so much in their lives, but lest we think more highly of ourselves for what we do, let's remember what they've already been through, & try to learn from them as we offer thanks for paving the way for our generations.

Ask them about their lives. You may wonder how this might be considered “giving back”, but please imagine going through all of the things that they have been through & having no one who is willing to listen and learn from those things! One would wonder if it was all a waste & it might create deep sadness. When you're around someone of an older generation, ask about their lives & experiences & what they remember about the major world events of their times. You'll learn about them & also about world history. You'll also help them to know that they have important things to teach to the next generation.
Offer to help. Many of the people who are now considered elderly still live in their own homes. Even if they're mentally sharp, their bodies continue to age. Offer to do landscaping or yard work for them. Yes, they can possibly pay someone else to do it, but many times the elderly are on very fixed incomes. You offering to do yard work might help them to have enough extra money to buy a necessary medicine or more nutritious food. Besides, you'll get exercise in the process!
Cook for them. Find out if they have certain meals that they really enjoy. Cook them for your family and make a couple of extra portions to bring to them. It makes much more sense to add an extra meal into your regimin than for them to buy all the ingredients for them to make it & many times they won't bother to do it because of the extra cost & bother.
Eat with them. Have them over for meals, or if they're at assisted living homes or nursing homes, go and share a meal with them. Community & conversation are increased around the dining table.
Celebrate with them. Find out the special days in their calendar. Birthdays, anniversaries, special holidays are good places to start. As you get to know them better find out times that might be more difficult for them, the anniversary of the death of a loved one might be an even better time to visit them to remind them about the life & love that are available to them now.
Offer to shop with them or for them. If they're able to go out, they may not shop often because they don't want to inconvenience anyone. If they do go to a store, they might not go to all the places they really need to visit for the same reason. They may choose to only have a person run into a pharmacy, but not stop by the department store for necessary undergarments because they don't want to take too much of their day. Make it clear that you want them to feel free to go to any store they need to within their energy level, or that you're willing to run in to get what they need. If you can afford it, give a little extra & pay for something if they'll allow it & not be offended.
Share your life with them. If you have children, let them visit with you, make pictures for them, pick flowers for them, dance for them. It is in seeing life in all stages of development that we get to truly experience it. Do not rob them of those moments because you're afraid that the children might be a little rowdy.
Play games or do activities with them, whether that means checkers, painting or another kind of activity or if they'd like to learn how to use Facebook to keep in touch with family. Spending time can automatically translate into feelings of care and well being.
Finally, show deference and respect. Even if you don't understand all of their ways, there is probably a reason why they have them. Always be respectful & caring for them. It will not be long until you are walking in their shoes through the sunset of life.

What We Can Learn From Old Family Stories

The Holidays have a tendency to bring out stories from the past. It can be a great time of re-living tales of holidays past, or other entertaining memories. It can also be a time of disturbing or deeply saddening stories that tell tales of your family history. As family members age, sometimes they feel the freedom to finally speak about times past that they haven't been able to bring themselves to speak of before. These times are certainly meant to be enjoyed, but sometimes they can be greatly beneficial to those who are willing to think a bit more deeply about what they mean.

Listen attentively to the stories going around you. You may catch hints of the emotion behind them if you listen carefully. Ask questions for clarification if you do not understand certain parts. Ask about where the events took place, ask about the age of the people involved. Get as many details as you can so that you can record the stories for future generations to enjoy.

Record the stories later by writing them down in a special book that you've set aside for this purpose. If you speak with older family members on the phone frequently, consider keeping notebook beside the phone so that you can jot notes while you speak.

Think through the implications. If you hear disturbing stories about women in your family history who have gone through strange events after giving birth, consider whether that might mean that post-par tum depression could be a pre-disposition in your genes. If there are bizarre stories of ancestors, question whether mental illnesses might be prevalent. If several people struggle with alcohol or drug abuse, think about what that could mean. There might not be official health diagnoses from those time periods, but stories can give you valuable information that may shed light on struggles that surface in your own life or those of other family members.

Research. Find out if there are ways to ensure that you & your loved ones can overcome those undesirable things that have been recurring in your family history. Even if there are things that are not physical in nature, but rather more emotional. If you see tendencies toward bitterness or unforgiveness, consider how you could change that trajectory in your own life so that you don't have to live with that extra burden. Instead of lamenting about how awful things have always been, take a chance at changing it!

Focus on the good. When you hear family histories that are about good in nature, be sure that you share those with others! Take note of those around you who have attributes that you would like to adopt. If you have a grandmother who is uncomplaining despite physical pain, ask her how she maintains her positive outlook. If you have a family member that is always good at choosing the perfect gift for others, ask them their secrets. If you have a father who perseveres despite repeated hardship, ask where he finds his strength. In short, learn from those in your family that have things to teach. They may also have tons of other attributes that are not so endearing, but choose to focus on their strengths & improving your strengths.

Old family stories can be valuable just for passing the time of day, or they can be valuable for generations to come, it just depends on you perspective. Listen, to the good and the bad. Take the good & learn from the bad. Then tell the stories (and the things you've learned from them) to those younger in your family & continue the family history!

Gift Giving on a Limited Budget | Beehive Assisted Care

As most of you reading this have discovered by now, growing older is not always cheap! Even with good financial planning, good insurance & a somewhat healthy body, there are unexpected things that can come up and break the bank pretty quickly. Because of this, it can make birthdays and gift exchanges at other holidays all the more stressful. The bad news might be that you find yourself in the position of not being able to spend much, if anything, on gifts for those you love. The good news is that there are options other than buying expensive gifts that are open to you if you are able to take the time to look.

Food. Food can be a very economical gift to give if you’re on a tight budget. You could bake sweets before a gathering & box them up. You could create your own baking mixes or spice mixes & put them into jars to be use. You might even go so far as to make a few freezer meals that would be of great benefit for other people with busy schedules so that they could just pull it out of the freezer, thaw & cook for a real meal. If you wanted to do something like this, you’d need to be sure that the person(s) in question do not have any particular food allergies. If you’re unsure, always provide an ingredient list to those who will be receiving the gift.

The gift of time. Many people do not realize how valuable the gift of time may be to another person. If you are older, but greatly enjoy cooking, perhaps you could offer to cook a few meals for a growing family that is busy. If you enjoy reading children’s stories, have someone help you start an account of youtube where you can record yourself reading to your young family members so that you are able to read to the children even if you’re not able to be physically present at the time. Think through things that you’re good at, or things that you’ve done for work in the past & offer services in those areas. Perhaps someone could benefit from your tax knowledge & would love to not have to pay someone to do their taxes if you’re able to do it. Maybe someone could use help with mending clothes or framing a window. Do not think that just because you’re aging that you cannot offer your knowledge & skills to those that would appreciate it.

History. A very thoughtful & inexpensive gift for those close to you might include a small book of memories of them. You would have to begin writing in advance so that it would not become a chore, but rather a delightful walk down memory lane. Include some photographs if you have them. If you are quite elderly, perhaps a book of memories would be in order for those younger ones in your family. Include the struggles that you’ve gone through, things that have helped you remain positive in order to overcome defeat & maybe even some inspiring quotes or pictures. This gift is greatly appreciated by loved ones & could prove very helpful for them if you are related and you include a bit of anecdotal health history, as well.

Books. They are generally inexpensive & can be given with the recipient in mind. If you know hobbies or interests that they enjoy, they are sure to love books that you give them on the subject. If you do not know their interests well, you could always give them a book that you’ve found enjoyable, inspiring or helpful.

Love. At the end of the day, all that most people really want is to know that you care. If you show love & care for them, there is no greater gift that you could give & there is not greater gift you could hope to receive.