Gift Giving Lessons for Teens
Body
With the holidays approaching it’s the perfect time to think about gift giving. It’s natural for kids to think about what they’re hoping to receive as gifts, but as they get older it’s important for teens to understand the holidays are as much about giving as they are about receiving.
The Center for Financial Empowerment, the nonprofit founded by SCE Credit Union, empowers teens through financial education. Sometimes life lessons naturally combine with money lessons, such as when a discussion about saving money includes tips about planning ahead for gifts. It’s easy for teens to assume they can’t give gifts for the holidays because they don’t have much money. But we encourage creative thinking about ways to give gifts “from-the-heart”.
Here are some interesting gift-giving ideas for teens.
| 1 | DIY gifts |
Making gifts for loved ones is a sure way to bring more joy to the holiday season. Handmade gifts can be especially meaningful when they align with unique interests or skills. Trust us, the gift will be special to your family, friends, and loved ones regardless of the money or time spent. Try these suggestions:
|
| 2 | Create special memory moments |
Family understands you can’t afford to buy everyone a fancy gift. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do things for and with your family to make a memorable holiday season. Consider doing some of these actions that might surprise them and put everyone in the holiday spirit:
|
| 3 | Get frugal |
If you have some money to spend, being really smart about how you spend will make your dollars stretch farther. Here are some good ideas to stay low budget but still make a meaningful gift during the holidays:
|
Helping teens focus on giving, as well as receiving, can make the holidays more meaningful for them and their families. It might take some gentle coaxing – or let’s be honest, maybe some firm prodding – to get them into the “giving spirit.” But the lessons learned and experiences gained make the effort well worth it.
The Center for Financial Empowerment is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower disadvantaged youth through financial literacy education. Find out more about our work at Center4FE.org.