1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning, 2 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:16,480 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: tip is to give gifts that money can't buy. Gifts 4 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,159 Speaker 1: of time and expertise could be a great way to 5 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: get loved ones what they really need and to strengthen 6 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:35,160 Speaker 1: relationships at the same time. If you've visited a gift 7 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: registry at baby List lately, you have probably had the 8 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: opportunity to select the usual gear for expectant parents, such 9 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: as baby clothes and strollers, but you may also have 10 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: been able to select unexpected gifts like a homemade meal, 11 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:56,639 Speaker 1: help with dog walking, or various other chores that can 12 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: fall by the wayside during the busy newborn days. I 13 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: love the idea of registering for a gift that doesn't 14 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: come from a store. Sure, new parents could simply ask 15 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: relatives or friends to babysit or cook them a meal, 16 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: or mow their yard, but asking for help isn't easy, 17 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: especially when you don't have a sense of whether the 18 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: person has the time to help you out, and when 19 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: you are so overwhelmed that even thinking through what needs 20 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: to be done and who might be able to help 21 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: feels like one more thing to do. By registering for 22 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: gifts of time and expertise, expectant parents create a way 23 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,919 Speaker 1: people can show that they would like to help. Taking 24 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 1: them up on these formal offers is a lot easier 25 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: than asking cold. Registering for services also honors providing a 26 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: meal or babysitting, or doing house or yard work as 27 00:01:56,240 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: the gifts that they truly are. Now. I know this 28 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: isn't the usual approach for registries, but for gift giving 29 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: and receiving in general, there is a lot to be 30 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: said for getting out of the mindset that gifts have 31 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: to be material things purchased somewhere. Many people would prefer 32 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: to avoid more clutter, and certainly, by the time people 33 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:26,519 Speaker 1: are having their second or third or fourth kid, they 34 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:29,639 Speaker 1: probably have a lot of baby gear and toys already. 35 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: If you are invited to a wedding for people who 36 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: are past their twenties, or maybe are even on their 37 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 1: second marriages, they probably already have dishes. Indeed, if they 38 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:48,239 Speaker 1: are combining two households, they likely have more dishes than 39 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 1: they need. But gifts of time and expertise are different. 40 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: These are about helping to make people's lives easier or 41 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: more enjoyable. So if your friend who is having a 42 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: new baby loves your veggie lasagna, make her a few 43 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 1: of them for freezing so no one has to cook 44 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: for several nights. If you are not a cook, you 45 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 1: can go pick up take out for them for three 46 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: tuesdays in a row. Just wrap up a little certificate 47 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: saying that's what you are going to do as a 48 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: baby gift, and text to confirm that it works. I 49 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: think most new parents would appreciate that more than a 50 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: third copy of good Night Moon. If a new couple 51 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: is furnishing their apartment and you've got decorating expertise, you 52 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: could offer to help them pick out a new couch. 53 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: You could offer to help frame and hang a few 54 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: wedding photos. And if you've got friends whose expertise you admire, 55 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 1: you can ask for that as a gift too. If 56 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: a stylish friend asks what you would like for your birthday, 57 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: ask her to take you shopping. You will enjoy the 58 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: time to get and you will likely buy items you 59 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: are pleased with thanks to her guidance. Now, obviously you 60 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: need some self awareness with all this. If you think 61 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: highly of your own artistic ability but aren't sure that 62 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:19,160 Speaker 1: anyone else does. Maybe don't create a wall sized mural 63 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: for someone thinking it's going to be welcomed. Think about 64 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: ways to reduce the mental load for gift recipients too. 65 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: Just telling someone that you will babysit some night means 66 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: the other person then has to check in and see 67 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: what your schedule is and then plan around that. Instead, 68 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 1: why not offer three slots when you are ready and 69 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 1: willing and just see which the person wants most. But 70 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: when it works out, giving gifts that money can't buy 71 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: can often reduce waste and give the recipients something they 72 00:04:55,680 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 1: really want. If you wind up spending time together, you 73 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: can strengthen the relationship too, which is a lot of 74 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:09,919 Speaker 1: value for something without a specific price tag. In the meantime, 75 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:15,799 Speaker 1: this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's to making 76 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 1: the most of our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to 77 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,799 Speaker 1: hear from you. You can send me your tips, your questions, 78 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: or anything else. Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook 79 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod that's b E the 80 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: number four then Breakfast pod. You can also shoot me 81 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: an email at Before Breakfast Podcasts at iHeartMedia dot com 82 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: That Before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters. 83 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: Thanks so much, Should I look forward to staying in touch. 84 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts 85 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 1: from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 86 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 1: you listen to your favorite shows.