Time to Simplify Christmas?
The holiday shopping will be kicking into high gear very soon. But if your family is like many others, times are tighter than usual. But even if they aren’t, could this be a good time to simplify your Christmas gift giving?
My family has long kept our gift giving pretty simple. My sisters and I draw names to shop for, with definite budgets for everyone. It allows for smaller budgets all around. Even so, we’re looking at simplifying further yet as most of us are facing financial challenges of one sort or another.
Ways to Simplify While Still Giving Great Gifts
Visit Thrift Stores and Consignment Shops
A great gift doesn’t have to be new. It’s amazing sometimes what you can find at thrift and consignment shops. There may be a lot of stuff that is just too worn down to give as a gift, but other times you will find beautiful items to give.
This also allows you to be more creative. You probably aren’t going to find the latest and greatest anything at one of these stores, but you probably will find something you wouldn’t have thought to give otherwise.
Give Experiences
A family day out, tickets to movies or the theater, play time on a miniature golf course. You can make it memorable and avoid the clutter of unneeded stuff.
Agree to Skip the Adults
How often do you get frustrated with buying for the adults in your family because they don’t need anything? Talk it out and consider just giving to the kids instead.
Do Favors
My sisters and I have done things such as painted my mother’s house for her rather than buying gifts. It’s great to be able to help her get something done that was being put off.
Babysitting, painting, massages, house cleaning, organizing… follow your skills.
The beauty of simplifying is that it lets you focus on the real reasons why you are celebrating at this time of year. It’s not all about the gifts. It’s about the meaning your family puts into the holiday season, no matter which holiday you’re celebrating.
