The past few years I have been in what I like to call a “purge phase” of my life. I have been going through lots of “stuff” in my house and donating, selling, and trashing the things I really don’t need. I am not a hoarder, but I found myself looking at the amount of things I had accumulated over a number of years and began to wonder what I was thinking. I didn’t need most of it to live a happy and fulfilled life.
I began to shop and buy less….and then Christmas loomed large on the horizon. What would the holiday season be like once I began buying new Holiday Décor I didn’t need, and collecting more stuff from well-meaning family members and friends? I didn’t want to abruptly stop exchanging gifts, lest I be seen as the Scrooge of the family, and I really enjoyed buying things for others. What I began to realize was that, like most people, time was my most valuable possession. By giving and receiving this most precious commodity, I would be celebrating the season a whole lot better than wrapping and buying a few gifts.
Whether it be a day out with family, or time spent making a special gift, there are so many ways to spread the Christmas Cheer without exchanging gifts. Here are a few ideas I have found and implemented that really make the season without gifts really great!
Make a Date: My mother, sister and I love the holiday season and we rarely get our girl time these days. My sister travels all over for work, and I have a toddler and an extremely busy schedule. Sometime in August we choose a Saturday in December where we all clear our schedules and hubby takes care of my daughter for the day. We love going to New York City so we book an afternoon and enjoy some time with one another over a pot of afternoon tea. Of course, if tea isn’t your thing, you can definitely do something like going to lunch, brunch, or dinner. The point here is that we aren’t wasting money on more stuff for one another, but spending the time together, which makes it even better than a gift card to amazon!
Make it Edible: One of my favorite cookies of all time is the petit fours (also known as rainbow cookies) and my mom makes the best! When some of my family members were uncomfortable not giving me a present on Christmas, I asked them to make me something or to give me something edible (truffles anyone?). This is one of my favorite ways to share the holiday spirit without cluttering anyone’s home. I make dozens and dozens of cookies and make packages as gifts. These are the kinds of gifts I love to receive also. If you aren’t a baker, there are plenty of great edibles you can share like fancy chocolates, a seasonal coffee blend, or even a gift from a gourmet shop. I made my in-laws an amazing basket of homemade pasta, sauces, seasoning, and bread mixes for a snowy day in January when nobody wants to cook.
The Gift That Runs Out: Maybe you really don’t have time to spare and you’re friend has a dairy-free, egg-free, chocolate-free, nut-free, paleo household. No problem! In this case, try to get something that doesn’t stick around too long. Remember what you heard about “the gift that keeps on giving?” Forget it. Get some great handmade soap or fancy dish soap that can be used by the whole family. If you’re sure of your recipient’s favorite scent, your gift could be cologne or perfume. More fantastic ideas can include thank you notes, or even gift wrapping supplies for next Christmas. People love getting stuff that they don’t have to find room for in their already crowded space.
It has always been important to me to spend time with the ones I love, especially around the holidays. While I do enjoy gifts on occasion, I don’t believe that this holiday is just about trading gift cards with one another because it’s easier or nobody has time to shop. Why not take the time to make or buy something that you can enjoy together? Gift-giving is great, so long as it doesn’t break the bank or cause anyone grief or stress.
What kinds of holiday traditions do you use instead of giving gifts?
I love this idea. I am a terrible gift giver, and end up every year getting “stuff” to make everyone happy. A couple of years ago, I decided that instead of stuff, I would give a year of Netflix for my sister-in-law with 4 pre-teen and teenaged kids. It was the best decision yet. They get to watch whatever they want, and are exposed to media in a controllable way, and my sister friend doesn’t have to pick up any extra toys!