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10 November 2008

Christmas: Back to basics

The holiday season is nearly upon us and I'm wondering if this is my favourite, or least favourite, time of year. After years of over indulgence, trying to bring back the real reason for Christmas is difficult, not impossible, but difficult. I want to get back to basics. I want a Christmas that is all about spending time with my family and not about spending money. I welcome any ideas.
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9 comments:

  1. Home made gifts (cookies, candy, ornaments) could make a wonderful gift. Also, if you can barter for something instead of paying for it (my husband works on computers in exchange for miscellaneous things--we got a gift for our nephew this way) that could work too.
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  2. I second amy, we have friends (kids are abit younger) but for brithdays and aniversarys they always made us something. While cards would be "filed" away after a day or two there gifts stayed out for months.

    I've read enough stories to know some families go present crazy, but I suspect with the difficult finacial times this year will be different.

    If your extended family is big into gift giving than suggust exchanging names with a limit on how much to spend.

    As well emphasis visiting meeting up eating (not that any of us need help in that part)

    As well I lived in Germany and Germans are surprsingly very low key about Christmas, very few lights a tree and some presents.

    Needless to say Americans (and Canadians) are way over the top on Christmas

    rob in madrid
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  3. Hi there-I really don't get into the full hype at christmas. as long as my sons can have what we can afford to give them, this suits me fine. I'll only buy a few extra groceries on the last week of christmas too. only do and get involved with what you feel happy doing and buying.
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  4. Hi :)

    Last year I agreed with my Mum and my sister that we'd have a no-spend Xmas.

    We made gifts for each other using only things that we had to hand (within reason.)

    My sister gave me and my Mum a hamper of homemade biscuits and chocolates.

    I gave my sister and her husband a DVD which I'd made using all their wedding photos and backed with some appropriate music.

    It definitely took all the financial-related stress out of the season.

    I did buy gifts for my son though because, well... "My Mum gave me some homemade biscuits" doesn't really cut it in the playground, does it? Maybe when he's older!

    This year we've agreed to buy gifts instead, because we're all working longer hours and thus have less time to invest. However, we've imposed a strict £10-maximum-spend rule. As long as everyone agrees the limit and sticks to it, this can also really take the stress away. It's bad enough having to deal with noisy kids and cooking a meal without worrying about your overdraft too!
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  5. think about how much you dont need any more stuff. the whole 'stuffness' of christmas - at least that consumerist christmas - is totally annoying. homemade presents and cards are the way to go. make your own decorations. go help out at a charity. go carol singing. get involved and do stuff instead of buying stuff
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  6. It might sound a bit obvious, but make sure you actually sort out spending some time with your family. Take in a Christmas market (low cost), go and look at the Xmas lights in your neighbourhood, find a free carol concert/service, play a board game with friends/family together with hot chocolate and festive snacks.
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  7. Take advantage of free community shows or Christmas tree lighting, bake and decorate a gingerbread house, make homemade gifts (such as a cookie mix in a jar) that are inexpensive. Those are my ideas for a frugal yet meaningful Christmas. Hope you have a good one!
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  8. Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.
    I now have some great ideas and have more of an idea what direction to take. Thanks again :)
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  9. One year when we were finding Xmas a bit hard the only thing we spent money on was the kids presents. My husband and I exchanged vouchers as we did for our immediate family. Vouchers for car washes, foot rubs, gardening, massages, or just company. The receivers found it as much fun as we did and we had some real laughs.
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