Have a merry, cheaper Christmas

[primsong]

Our family has decided we're tired of 'doing Christmas' the same old way and having the stress of figuring out presents for everyone and the expense of buying them and the weariness of wrapping all of them.

SO...

This year we aren't buying any new gifts. We're just using our little fake tree. We're going to take a couple trips to 'The Bins' (the local Good Will distribution center), where everything being rotated out of Good Will stores is very cheaply sold by the pound. Our only rule is all of our gifts must be dug out of the heaped bins. We might spend $10, I estimate - for ALL of us, total. Maybe less.

Then we're taking the money we saved and getting a nice movie camera for our family, something all of us have wished for but it cost too much.

I am amazed at how heavy the 'presents burden' was for me, I knew it was getting to feel like more and more of a bother, instead of a pleasure, but I feel like I've been miraculously freed from a huge obligatory job. I can't wait to go dig in the bins! It's been a long time since I was truly excited about Christmas shopping.

Comments

[iorhael94.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a great idea! We are doing Christmas on the cheap too...I made my presents this year (earrings) for the woman-folk in our family and a few friends..though it still cost a bit for the materials. We are not going to Portland so that will save a bit so it will be a quiet (and a bit lonely) Christmas but we felt it was for the best. The Blackberry (or iTouch) is to be my main birthday/Christmas present. I'm still trying to come up with ideas for Bob.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Maybe you can hook up with some other folks who have little family around - and you're so creative, I'm sure the earrings must be lovely. :-)

[estellye.livejournal.com]

That is evidence of sheer brilliance if I needed any more evidence, which I didn't. You'll all have a great time with the bins, enjoy Christmas just as much or more and release all the associated stress. Plus you'll get a groovy new useful plaything to record the memories. I am really looking forward to hearing about the experience afterwards. :)

[primsong.livejournal.com]

I hope so - the little home movies my kids have managed to make with our old digital camera have been a lot of fun but they'll really benefit from being able to be seen in 'dim' (i.e. regular indoor) lighting, etc...

[maidoforange.livejournal.com]

Yay for that, Prim! I'm going to use a tiny fake tree. I mean, I'll be at Mom's for Christmas anyway. Also, Mom and I are going to donate some food to a food bank instead of gifts for us.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Thank you for doing that - I know our own food ministry at our church has been hard hit, we can barely keep up with the people coming to us and need every donation we can get. Soaps and feminine hygiene things are especially needed, btw - food stamps and the food banks don't usually have them and they're rarely donated... if you give food, consider jams and syrups, another thing that rarely comes in and is always wanted.

[mrs-pippin-took.livejournal.com]

Hey Prim!! I want to use a fake tree in my new home! It's my first Christmas on my own *grin*
I agree with you, the traditions are nice but sometimes so......annoying! I never cared about the gifts but more about the spirit of Christmas. Maybe I'm going to make christmas presents on photoshop.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

I would think a creative gift like something photoshopped would be a great gift! No need to even wrap it. :-)