Christmas Without Consuming?

I almost forgot. Don’t underestimate the power of gifts from the thrift shop.

If a child gets that 1 gift they want for the Holidays they really don’t care if they get anything else.

All the rest is just stuff.

For someone interested in tips and self-reflection on Christmas consuption, I recommend the book ‘Unplug the Christmas Machine’ or ‘Hundred Dollar Holiday.’ The first one can be used to facilitate discussions at your church. The Center for a New American Dream also has a plethora of resources online. We also observe ‘Buy Nothing Friday’ (instead of ‘Black Friday’) the day after Thanksgiving! 🙂

We give the kids 3 gifts and the spending limit is $50 TOTAL. We started this a few years ago, and this year our goal is even less. It is made easier in that our parents insist on spending $75-$100 each on the children and they will go in together as well. So our kids certainly don’t go without.

Usually one of the 3 gifts is a book, another is some type of clothing and then the other a game/toy. But this year DH and I are trying to make them gifts.

Just today I made little DS, 7, his own LEGO instruction book. I gave myself the idea LOL from another thread on here where someone (Misty I think?) was asking about gifts other than LEGO for boys who love LEGO. Anyway, I found a bunch of free printables at lego.com and laminated several of the sets that I know DS can do, and I made a cover page and spiral bound it. It is so cute. Now I plan to add base plates to an old folding lap tray and give him this for Christmas. I will have to buy the base plates, but I have the tray and the book is made. I think it will be really neat and I know he’ll love it and use it.

For our older boys who love to play football in the backyard with each other (and sometimes the whole family plays), I am thinking we could make some type of field. DH has the painting essentials b/c this is related to his business, and then we could just add some fun small gifts like a new jersey for 10YO DS who loves the Gators (don’t ask me why; we don’t live in FL and never have been a fan of them, though now I sort of am b/c of DS’s love for the Gators since he was 2!).

I am still thinking on DDs, but have some ideas in my head. I once saw an idea for making blocks from limbs, and I know older DD would love this. Now just to find where I saw it. I was thinking I could paint them fun colors as well. I was thinking I would add some other unique building items. DD loves to build with those large cardboard blocks, and then her dolls will live in them, or she will make spaces for herself .. but I am thinking on this and hoping I can repurpose old containers as well and paint it all fun colors. We’ll see how this goes LOL!

I also am looking for used DUPLO sets for little DD. I have just a few of the blocks, but she loves them. I am hoping to find some used sets b/c well, LEGO never wears out and she won’t know the difference. Also, I am thinking on a modified version of the above tray table with DUPLO base plates for little DD.

As for our parents, we always gift them with updated family photos (they have changed every year for the past four years LOL with new additons every year) and then a gift in their honor to an amazing organization that is near and dear to our hearts:

http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/programs/medical/

In fact, this time last year we had learned this organization funded our baby girl’s heart surgery in China while she was still an orphan. So, again, this year, our parents will be receiving gift cards to let them know a donation was made in their honor to LWB. They love it, and always are so glad we didn’t buy them more stuff they don’t need. We also give them gifts the children have made, which we are already hard at working on this year.

My SILs and my sister and I decided several years ago to set a $15 spending limit on each of our children (for gifts from us to them). The kids don’t mind and it is easy to find a clothing item, book, game, etc. that they want. We don’t exchange with the adults, although I saw an idea where you draw names, but then give to a charity in that person’s honor. It sounded like fun, and the way it worked is no one knew who had their name or what charity untl the boxes were opened. Each person would tell why they chose that charity in honor of that person. I like that idea and may float it by our sisters to see what they think.

Oh and we do stockings too, which mainly consist of gum and maybe some new art pencils and probably some candy, because I don’t keep that here so it is treat.

Have to ditto Tristan on THROWING OUT THE TOY CATALOGS!!! My kids don’t watch commercial T.V., so I have always wondered where these gift ideas are coming from at Christmas…and then I realized, “It’s the catalogs!” So now they are going directly to the trash. They are so much happier when they are grateful for the gifts they are receiving rather than coveting things that they are never going to get.

Also, like other posters, we have given to World Vision on several occasions. They are a very reputable company. There are many things to choose from as far as helping a family or village in need. We usually buy Bibles or get with another family to purchase a few animals.