Thanks to movements like Advent Conspiracy, people are starting to think about doing Christmas differently. I have a couple of ideas (and do not claim all of these to be original). More importantly, I would love to hear yours.

• Take time to make a gift. The best gifts I’ve ever received were hand-made by the giver. It can be something simple. It’s the time you take and the creativity that is the big win here. Google is your friend if you are at a loss for ideas.
• Give stories. If your budget is tight, sit down and write a memorable moment you shared with the friend of family member and give it to them. Or sit around and share stories over Christmas dinner. They will remember this more than a coffee mug or gift card.
• Adopt a family. You know families who are having a rough go of it this Christmas. Why not adopt them? Invite them to your family Christmas parties, buy them gifts, give them cash. Whatever adopting a family for Christmas looks like to you, go for it. I’m sure any little bit would help hurting families this Christmas.
• Buy someone’s coffee. I know this sounds weird, but last Christmas, a random man in Starbucks paid for my (and a couple of others in line) coffee and said, “it’s my Christmas gift to you.” It probably cost him $15, but I will remember it for a long time. Not earth-changing, just a really neat way of saying Merry Christmas.
• Sponsor a child. If you have it in the budget, you can sponsor a child for $38/month through Compassion International. If you don’t have it in the budget, find it. $38 about 9 cups of coffee from Starbucks or 4 meals dining out per month. If you don’t think it makes a difference, watch this video from Catalyst of a sponsored man meeting the man who sponsored him. Or read this blog post of Molly Piper meeting the child her family sponsors.
• More ideas: You can find fun, easy, cheap ideas in this brochure from Advent Conspiracy or at Rethinking Christmas.

What are some other ways you can do Christmas differently?