Beating Broke

Personal Finance from the Broke Perspective

10 Reasons To Help A Neighbor This Year For Thanksgiving

By Leave a Comment

Helping a neighbor this Thanksgiving
Image Source: Shutterstock

In these trying times full of food insecurity, rising prices, and instability, Thanksgiving feels all the more poignant. Many people focus on family plans, good food, and gratitude for all they have. But what about your community and your neighbors? Some people right in your neighborhood are facing financial hardship and struggling to make ends meet. They may not be able to put food on the table this holiday. Just one simple act of kindness may give them hope that times will get better. Here are 10 meaningful reasons to lend a hand this Thanksgiving.

1. Combat Loneliness

Loneliness can be compounded during the holiday season. Many older adults and widowed neighbors spend Thanksgiving alone. Human connection is one of the most powerful gifts you can offer. You may not realize it, but even a short conversation can change someone’s day. Or you could go the extra mile and invite a neighbor to your celebration. Even a phone call to check in may be the difference.

2. Share Surplus Food

What do you do with your Thanksgiving leftovers? While you may try to repurpose leftovers, in reality, some of it usually goes to waste. What if, instead, you brought over a plate to a neighbor? A homemade meal is the ultimate comfort for someone who may not be cooking this holiday. Food is love, and sharing it can be the most thoughtful gesture.

3. Support Seniors With Limited Mobility

Do you know neighbors who have limited mobility? Age or disability may make it impossible for some of your neighbors to shop for holiday essentials. Help ease their burden by offering to run errands for them. Your support can turn a stressful day into a joyful one.

4. Teach Kids the Value of Giving

Do you have children? They are always watching and learning from you. Helping a neighbor is a great way to involve children in acts of kindness. It teaches gratitude, empathy, and community responsibility. Kids can help bake cookies, make cards, or deliver meals. Let them know that Thanksgiving becomes more meaningful when it’s shared.

5. Strengthen Community Bonds

Reaching out to a neighbor for Thanksgiving open the door for connection throughout the year. When neighbors help each other, trust grows. A strong community is built on small acts of care. Kindness is contagious, and it starts with you.

6. Ease Financial Pressure

Some families are struggling to afford a holiday meal. Donating groceries, gift cards, or inviting someone to join your table can relieve that burden. You don’t have to solve every problem. But you can lighten the load. Your generosity could be the reason someone enjoys Thanksgiving this year. If you’re looking for where to donate, reach out to your local food bank.

7. Honor the Spirit of the Holiday

Thanksgiving is rooted in gratitude and sharing. Helping a neighbor embodies the true meaning of the season. It’s not about perfection; it’s about connection. When you give, you honor the values that make Thanksgiving special. It’s a celebration of community, not just cuisine.

8. Create New Traditions

Helping others can become a cherished part of your holiday tradition. Whether it’s delivering meals, hosting a neighbor, or volunteering together, these acts add depth to your celebration. Traditions don’t have to be inherited; they can be created. And the best ones often involve giving.

9. Inspire Others to Act

Your kindness can spark a ripple effect. When others see you helping, they may be inspired to do the same. One act can lead to many, creating a culture of care in your neighborhood. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to lead by example. Be the reason someone else gives.

10. Feel Good

Helping others boosts your mood, reduces stress, and increases feelings of purpose. It’s scientifically proven that generosity benefits the giver as much as the receiver. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what you have, and share it. The joy you create will come back to you tenfold.

Kindness Is the Best Side Dish

This Thanksgiving, don’t just think about what’s on your plate; think about who’s around you. Helping a neighbor is one of the most powerful ways to celebrate the season. Whether it’s a warm meal, a kind word, or a helping hand, your gesture could be the highlight of someone’s holiday. Gratitude grows when it’s shared, and so does joy.

Are you planning to help a neighbor this Thanksgiving? Share your ideas or stories in the comments. We’d love to hear how you’re spreading kindness.

You May Also Like…

What To Do When Your Child Asks for a Present You Can’t Afford

By Leave a Comment

White present trimmed with red ribbon.

Most parents will experience the uncomfortable moment when their child asks for a gift the parent can’t afford. This item may also be the one your child is most passionate about and feels he must have. In our case, my daughter, who was a huge Lego fan when she was younger, wanted a $300 Lego set. You may hate to say no to your child, but if they’re requesting a present you can’t afford, that’s what you most likely must do.

How to Prevent This Situation

I always like to be proactive, so from the time my children were little, they knew our gift-giving budget for their Christmas presents. Rather than being a damper on their holiday joy, my kids were able to work creatively around the amount. This had two benefits:

First, they didn’t ask for gifts beyond the budget because they knew we couldn’t buy them.

Second, my kids learned to look for deals. For instance, my 13-year-old daughter wants several items from Bath and Body Works, so she already gave me her Christmas list and told me that Bath and Body Works is currently having a sale, so that I can buy her more within the budget.

What to Do When Your Child Asks for a Present You Can’t Afford

If you can’t afford the item, you have several choices so your child can eventually get it.

Ask Grandparents to Chip In

If your child’s grandparents, aunts, and uncles typically buy her a present, you can ask them to all chip in with you to buy the expensive gift she wants.

If the gift is still too expensive or others who buy her gifts don’t want to chip in, you have other options.

Give Him Additional Chores to Do

You can explain that he would value the item more if he saved for it himself. To help him with that, you can give him additional chores around the house so he can make money more quickly than saving his weekly allowance.

Match Your Child’s Savings

As she earns extra money for chores, you can offer to match her savings rate. If she saves $100, you contribute $100. Especially if your child is younger, matching savings is a great way to keep her motivated; otherwise, saving for an item that is several hundred dollars may seem impossible to attain.

Final Thoughts

Some parents feel they should give their children the gifts they ask for, even if they’re expensive and require the parent to get a second job to give their children an unbelievable Christmas. However, my husband and I believe in setting a budget that the kids are aware of so they know not to expect too much. If the item is too expensive for our budget, we’ll help the child by offering extra chores and matching what they save. After all, we adults can’t get everything we want. We are constrained by a budget and must work extra hard to get those things we want that are out of our budget. This is a good lesson for kids to learn, too.

Read More

9 Ways to Get Your Child a Christmas Gift If You Can’t Afford One

What Christmas Expectations Are You Setting for Your Children?

How I Plan to Have a Low-Cost Christmas

It’s Not Too Early to Make Your Holiday Spending Plan

By Leave a Comment

Presents and ornaments in front of a Christmas tree

Did you overspend last holiday season? When January rolled around, did you face credit card debt with no real plan to pay it off? If so, don’t despair—you’re not alone. My husband and I had one holiday season like that, and we quickly learned to make a holiday spending plan that we stuck to.

If you want to rein in your spending, now is the time to make that plan and talk to your loved ones. Although the conversation might be awkward, you’ll feel much better in January 2024 when you’re not facing new debt from the holidays.

How to Make Your Holiday Spending Plan

Christmas is about ten weeks away, so don’t waste time implementing a plan.

Decide How Much You Have to Spend

The first step is deciding how much you have to spend on gifts. If you only have 100 dollars to spend on gifts this year, that’s all you have, and you’ll need to plan how to maximize that money or make more money before Christmas.

Once you have your holiday spending plan, you can find creative ways to stretch those dollars.

Make Some Gifts

If money is tight, plan to make some gifts. If you’d like to give a gift to your mail person and your child’s teacher, but you don’t have cash, consider making something like a yummy dessert or a canning jar filled with the ingredients for bean soup, cookies, or brownies.

Make a Plan for Extended Family

Likewise, if your extended family typically exchanges gifts, now is the time to talk to them about that tradition. Some families decide not to give gifts to the adults, but if you still want a gift exchange, consider drawing names and putting a price limit on the presents.

I come from a large extended family (I have over 30 cousins on my mom’s side), so we would draw names every holiday. Each person was responsible for only one gift, and the price limit was 10 dollars. Talk with your family about a cap on the gifts at an amount everyone in the family is comfortable with.

Have a Talk with Your Immediate Family about Fewer Gifts

Once you determine how to handle gifts for the outsiders in your life and your extended family, it’s time to look at your immediate family. If your kids are older, reducing their gifts may be difficult. Instead, you may need to tell them that you must cut back this year and why.

If the kids are still young, this is the perfect time to start a tradition of only giving a few gifts. Many families give four gifts—something to wear, something to read, something you need, and something you want. I haven’t gone that minimalistic, but over the years, we have gradually reduced the number of presents the kids receive.

If you don’t want to cut down on the number of gifts your kids receive, remember, there’s no shame in buying secondhand gifts. You can often find items in a secondhand store that haven’t been opened yet, but their price is much lower than retail.

Final Thoughts

Each of us would like to give our family members everything they want for the holidays, but that isn’t realistic. Instead, develop a holiday spending plan, then make a Christmas buying plan based on your budget. Although you might give fewer gifts, you’ll be happy to be in the black in January rather than facing credit card bills.

Read More

9 Ways to Get Your Child a Christmas Gift If You Can’t Afford to Buy One

What Christmas Expectations Are You Setting for Your Children?

How I Plan to Have a Low-Cost Christmas