Welcome to Christmas Giving!

Hey, friend! I’m Suzy Oakley, and I’m thrilled to have you join me in celebrating the most wonderful time of the year – and the greatest Gift ever given. 

Whether your Christmas spirit skews more toward joyful elf (that would be me – most of the time) or grumpy Grinch (also me), you’ll find something here to cheer you.

Part gift-giving guide, part faith boost, Christmas Giving is here to steer you and cheer you toward your best, most meaningful Christmas season ever.

There’s lots in store, and you’ll find more specific info on the About page.

Have you taken our fun quiz? If not, what are you waiting for? Click on “What’s Your Christmas Personality?” below for a playful (yet thoughtful) take on the season. As you finish, you’ll be given the option to subscribe for a weekly dose of holiday spirit, including tips, ideas, recipes, and a window to my thoughts as I wrestle with focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. (Spoiler alert: It’s not a mountain of gifts under the tree.)

Suzy Oakley, a woman with blond hair, wearing a white long-sleeve shirt and a red vest and leaning on a set piece of greenery with brown and white velvet Christmas ornaments.

Latest Blog Posts

  • Quote from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" about the meaning of Christmas
    To give or not to give; it’s OK if the answer is no
    One Christmas many years ago, money was tight – I mean, really tight – and I decided to make my family’s gifts rather than buy them. For one niece, I…
  • Ideas for gifts that cost $20 or less
    Not every meaningful Christmas gift has to come with a big price tag. In fact, sometimes the most thoughtful presents are the simplest ones. Whether you’re on a budget, shopping…
  • Wooden cross on red background with price tag that reads "Paid in Full."
    The best Friday was not Black Friday
    Black Friday seems to come earlier every year. The phenomenon started as a day-after-Thanksgiving opportunity, when shoppers were off work and poured into stores to take advantage of sales that…
  • Graphic with green background that says "Boundaries are a gift." The gift is a red and white Kawaii figure.
    9 tips for saying no at Christmas without sounding like the Grinch
    Boundaries really are a gift — just not the kind you can wrap in shiny paper. Let’s be honest. The holidays come with enough pressure to make a diamond. Everyone wants your time, your money, your famous fruitcake recipe – your very soul, basically. And yet … you’re only one person. You can’t say yes to every invitation, request, donation …
  • Warm scene with mug wrapped in yellow knitted cozy surrounded by cinnamon sticks and gingerbread cookies tied with natural twine. Nuts and spices are interspersed throughout the scene.
    10 ideas for gifts that are free (or almost!) but feel priceless
    We all know the pressure. Christmas rolls around, and the inbox floods with ads that scream “last chance,” “must-have,” “price goes up tonight!” and “your worth as a human depends on overnight shipping.” OK, maybe not that last one – but it feels that way, doesn’t it? Let’s call a time-out and reframe the whole gift-giving thing. Because the truth is …
  • An elderly person's upturned hands holding a child's hand that's holding a red heart.
    Teach your kids to give (without making it feel like a guilt trip)
    Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” But if we’re being honest? That’s a hard sell when there are shiny toys, sugar cookies, and wish lists flying around like tinsel in a wind tunnel. And let’s not pretend it’s just the kids who struggle. We grown-ups get the gimmes, too – just in fancier wrapping. That’s exactly why Christmas Giving exists: to help us (and our families) focus on what really matters …