The Christmas Challenge: Shop local/WAHMs

We have talked about giving as much as you spend.

We have talked about shopping stores that give back. 

Another great option this Christmas??? 

Shop local and work at home moms!!! I am not going to lie and tell you I have never purchased something from Amazon, because I do, BUT choosing to take some of our spending to our own community makes a difference!  Those local stores that you love visiting… purchase a few gifts off your Christmas lists there.

You can also support work at home moms (dads, friend, etc).  Many times people are using these businesses to help ends meet or even raise money for adoption or other ministries.  Buying from these places is a cool way to 

1. Support a family/person

2. Get a unique gift

So check out Etsy, a local shop or your friend's business and use this as an opportunity to connect with them!

The rest of the series...

Introduction
Week 1: Give as much as you spend!

Week 2: Shop stores that give back!
Week 3: Shop Local/WAHMs!
Week 4: Make gifts!

Week 5: Serve!

Hope you will follow along!!! :)

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The Christmas Challenge: Shop Stores that Give Back

Did you ever study econmics? Now, I am no economics expert, but I did take the class in high school. One of the concepts that stuck with me is 

"there is no such thing as a free lunch"

Basically, this means that if you get something for free or really cheap, someone is still paying for it even if it is not you.  In other words if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

There are a million examples... but I will use something I know a lot about- cloth diapers (and stick with me even if you have no interest in cloth diapers, I promise I have a point :)) 

People ask me all the time why I would spend $20 a diaper when there are places I could spend $5 (or less) a diaper. This is very tempting especially for someone as cheap frugal as me. But it comes down to this, someone is paying for that $5 dollar and it is probably someone that is working to gather the goods to produce the product overseas. They are paying for it by working in dismal conditions and/or not making a fair wage or both.  I don't want my baby, myself or anyone in my family wearing (or using) something that was produced in that way if I can so prevent it.  

So what do we do about this?  How so we buy gifts and assurance that we are not supporting dismal work conditions, unfair wages or even slavery just so we can get a new sweater?

1) Do your research.

This can be painful.  It can take a little more time and effort than running to the closest mega store.  But do it.  One great resource that  have found is Free2Work.  The give an A+ to an F rating to apparel companies, toy companies, coffee companies and more!  They go to each brand and ask them 61 questions for each of the three stages of production.  The question fall into four categories- policies, transparency and traceability, monitoring and training and workers rights.  It might be a bit convicting… go over there and check out your favorite stores.  See how they do.

Take is a step further and...

2) Shop Stores that Give Back...

Some stores take it a step further.  Each of these company's goals is slightly different, but their over arching theme is to give back.  Some have people working in specific countries in fair environments for fair wages.  This helps build the economy of the country giving real people real skills.  Others raise funds for orphans and vulnerable children.  These are my favorites and I recommend adding a few to your Christmas list.

The Sound of Hope

My pick…This handwoven scarce from Thailand.

Noonday Collection

My pick… this necklace 

Raven + Lilly

My pick…This recycled cotton travel journal

Mata Traders

My pick… this set of reversible headbands

The Root Collective

My pick… these mustard colored flats

There are lots more…

Funky Fish Designs

The Hunger Site

Come Together Trading

Preemptive Love Coalition 

Aldea Coffee

International Blessings

Furnace Hills Coffee 

Open Arms Shop

CommonThreadz

Global Girlfriend

3seams

Trade As One

Also… if you have another, email me or comment below, I would love to add it!

3) Give a Gift that Someone Else Receives...

For the person that says they don't want anything or does not need anything.  You don't have to give a physical item at all to your friend or relative!

Samaritain's Purse

World Vision

Compassion International

Heifer International

And I know there are more… send them my way friends and I will add them!

The rest of the series...

Introduction
Week 1: Give as much as you spend!

Week 2: Shop stores that give back!
Week 3: Shop Local/WAHMs!
Week 4: Make gifts!

Week 5: Serve!

Want to see the whole series???

Follow along….

Stasia:    BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | BLOGLOVIN'

So I hope you will think about.  How are you going to shop this season in a way that gives back?

The Christmas Challenge: Give as much as you spend

When God first started tugging my heart about our Christmas habits, one of the first things I was convicted about was how much we give during the Christmas season.  To be honest, our family does not go crazy during Christmas with our spending.  We have never spent thousands of dollars or wracked up credit card debt, but we have never really given much either.

As I have been processing all of this, God has been tugging at my heart.  

Stasia, you should be giving at least as much as you are spending.

For me (and others I suspect), I get caught up in a string of excuses with this…

"I give my 10%."

"We don't have that much to give."

"I will give when we have more."

"But we are still living with my in-laws." (okay… this one probably only pertains to us)

etc etc etc

As these excuses have run through my mind, this scripture hit me 

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7~ (read in context here)

It is not about giving 10% and it is not about giving comfortably.  It is about giving cheerfully and sacrifically.  Tweet this!

So, where does that leave us?

We have a budget for Christmas… and for every dollar we spend we are going to give away at least a dollar.  To church, to missions, to charity.  

So where, where does that leave you?

Won't you join our family in the joy of giving this year (and maybe, just maybe it will run into other times in our lives:))?  Pray about it and join the challenge… 

Give as much as you spend this year! Tweet this!

The rest of the series...

Introduction
Week 1: Give as much as you spend!

Week 2: Shop stores that give back!
Week 3: Shop Local/WAHMs!
Week 4: Make gifts!

Week 5: Serve!

Want to see the whole series???

Follow along….

Stasia:    BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | BLOGLOVIN'

The Christmas Challenge: An Introduction

Some of you are probably pretty offended right now… you are just getting a chance to sip on your pumpkin spice latte and here I am talking about Christmas?  Just not allowed, right?

While is seems early, the commercialism and rush of the Christmas season is about to be upon us, and I feel like I need to get a slight head start.

Sometime back in May, God started working in my heart on this.  Stirring me. Challenging me.  Causing me to ask questions about the way we give at Christmastime.  

It has been exciting as I have began to explore where God is leading me in all of this, but it has also been overwhelming.  We love gifts. We love Black Friday.  To be honest, we love to spend money at Christmas. And no worries, I am not going to say stop our gift giving all together… there is something so special in it when done in love and sacrifice.   I am just going to say we take time to reevaluate.  To take a look at how we are giving.

And this is our journey too.  I have a general outline for this series… but to be honest, it has yet to be written. It may even change as we go! I am learning here and excited to share with you along the way!

So here is the plan… 

Week 1: Give as much as you spend!

Week 2: Shop stores that give back!
Week 3: Shop Local/WAHMs!
Week 4: Make gifts!

Week 5: Serve!

I hope you will make it back each week… her are some ways to follow along :)
Stasia:    BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | BLOGLOVIN'


And I will just leave you with one more thing- this video from the Advent Conspiracy… please take a minute to watch, it is awesome!