Excessive Christmas Gifts

[Magster]

catholicrose:

*nstead of buying gifts for each other (that is the whole family) we get together and celebrate Jesus’s birthday by having a birthday party. We have a cake and each gift goes to the needy. QUOTE]

Thanks for this suggestion - it reminded me of a childhood friend whose family had a similar tradition. I always liked the idea of celebrating Jesus’ birthday.
Unfortunately, I don’t think my husband’s family would think it is such a great idea. They were just as generous as always, and again we are inundated with stuff that we don’t need. In fact, we bought little for each other because we knew how much we’d end up with from the extended family. I think we will just tell them that we are not doing it again next year so please don’t buy for us and hope it does not create a rift in the family.*

 

[Island_Oak]

One other idea I absolutely love is one that I stole from a good friend and her family’s tradition. It was a great idea not for saving money, but keeping the focus on generosity as opposed to greed.

The family had 4 grown siblings living in the same metropolitan area–each with several small kids. In lieu of a family present fest or gift exchange, they decided to “adopt” a needy family from one of our sister parishes in the city. Each sibling’s family was assigned gifts to purchase for a specific member of the needy family (they were provided info on age, gender, approximate sizes as well as a “wish list”). They picked a date and met at one house with the unwrapped gifts, oohed and ahhed over all they had selected, wrapped them, shared a meal together, then the dads and kids drove the gifts into the city and delivered them to the sister parish. It became a tradition that they all loved: they shared a festive holiday family meal, taught the kids about sharing instead of receiving and provided Christmas cheer to a family greatly in need of it! (and inspired other families to make this a tradition in their own families!)

 

[ktm]

My extended family does something called a “Pollyanna” in which everyone’s name goes into a bag, and then each person in turns picks a name out. You buy one gift for that person, period. That’s it, one gift. If you pick yourself or an immediate family member, you put the name back in and pick again. So long as you pick the names at least a month or two in advance you have enough time to buy the gift.

In practice, my aunt or one of her (grown) children does the actual picking and then sends out an individual letter or email to each person to let you know for whom you are expected to buy a gift. So instead of each person buying 20+ gifts, you buy one only. Then when you open your gift you find out who gave it to you. That part is kinda nice I guess.