A Non-Consumer Christmas, Part 1

By
Are you tired of the shopping orgy that passes for Christmas in America, the U.K., Australia, and other parts of the world?  Are you convinced that the push to buy, buy, buy is not only ruining your budget but destroying your soul?  Are you ready for a change, but worry that a simpler Christmas will be too bleak and miserly for your family?


Maybe you've been unable to work at your usual job for all or part of this year because of quarantine and other COVID-19 protocols.  Maybe you've struggled to find part-time jobs that would let you pay your basic living expenses, but have almost nothing to spend for the holidays.


vintage Christmas truck



Psssst...


What if I told you that most of what you really love about the holidays requires very little shopping or even none at all?


Don't believe me?  Make a list of your favorite Christmas activities and think about ways to accomplish them for little to no money. 





10 minimal-cost holiday activities 
 

1.  Savor the season.

One benefit of COVID is that we have reason to stay home, and are less bombarded by Christmas displays everywhere.  I find myself getting tired of the holiday long before it arrives, and I think it's because my senses have been assaulted by red and green, holly and tinsel, Santa and the Elf on the Shelf for so many weeks.  It's hard on kids too, and with so much buildup over so much time, letdown is almost inevitable.  So take advantage of the situation and stay out of stores (including virtual ones) as much as possible.  Let the season unfold more slowly.


2.  Obtain a permit from the U.S. Forest Service and take your family to cut a wild tree.

Decorate with ornaments and lights you already own.  


If you can't make a trek for a tree:

  • Fill a large glass bowl with your shiniest holiday ornaments.
  • Make a wreath with evergreen cuttings from your yard and add a festive red ribbon.
  • Group every candle you own on the mantel or a side table and light them for a glorious glow!
  • Spray a large leafless branch from your yard with white, silver, or gold paint (or just leave it au naturel).  Use pebbles to anchor it in a vase or pot, and hang paper snowflakes, Christmas cards, popcorn strings, origami creations, pinecones, candy canes, or some of these simple beaded icicles.

Don't put up every decoration at once.  Instead, add one or two things a day to build anticipation.


3.  Spend a Saturday or two making your favorite holiday goodies.

Prepare trays to give to neighbors, teachers, and friends.


4.  Use the entertainment you already own.

You probably already have several holiday books and movies you can read and watch, or you can borrow some that are new to you from friends or the library.  You probably already own plenty of holiday music, or you can use the radio, Pandora, or Spotify.  For a different, ad-free holiday playlist (don't you get tired of "Rudolph" and "Jingle Bells"?), try classical radio.


5.  Serve your community.

Help your kids go through their clothes and toys to find items in good condition that they can donate to the Goodwill or a homeless ministry.  Volunteer at your local food bank or animal shelter.  Pick up trash in your local park, or shovel snow for a neighbor.


6.  Get outside.

Built a snowman, go sledding, walk in the rain, or learn the winter constellations.  Come home for dry clothes and hot cocoa.


7.  Go caroling with family and friends.


8.  Drive around and look at holiday light displays.


9.  Attend virtual performances.

Normally, I would suggest that you attend the Christmas Eve service at a church or the winter program at a school.  These are free and festive occasions!  But in 2020 those options may not be available to everyone.  Look for free virtual concerts, such as Portland Baroque's Pocket Messiah on December 20.


10.  Save some activities for after Christmas, instead of shopping the sales.

  • Skype or Zoom with friends or family you couldn't see during the holiday.
  • Play favorite board games.
  • Use leftovers to make turkey pot pie or ham quiche.
  • Do some decluttering.
  • Have a movie marathon, such as all of the Toy Story saga, or three different versions of A Christmas Carol.
  • Cozy up for a family sleepout in the living room by the tree.





I don't think we could create a warmer, merrier holiday with fancy clothes, expensive outings, a huge catered party, or this year's trendiest décor.  You may never go for the holiday shopping orgy again!





Updated May 2023

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

45 Useful Tips to Help You Responsibly Declutter Unwanted Items

By
Image
Do you ever drive down the highway or out on a country road and see someone's old couch or mattress?  When driving through the orchards and croplands around my town, I sometimes see stuff like this in an irrigation ditch.  I can't believe people do this, and leave it for the farmers to clean up or pay for disposal. Tossing stuff you no longer need or want into a dumpster isn't minimalism – it's the equivalent of littering , just like the people who throw things out on the side of the road.  It may seem simple, but it's not responsible or good for the environment. Unfortunately, some of what we remove from our homes is garbage , and there's no place for it but the landfill.  But when getting rid of clutter means mindlessly tossing it into the garbage, it becomes too easy to buy more and fill our homes up all over again.   By becoming more accountable, we change our minds about purchasing.  I believe that when you thoughtfully declutter, you'll become very sen
Read more

12 Tips to Try When You're Frustrated with Decluttering

By
Image
I won't sugar-coat it – decluttering is a hard job.  The more you're stressed and challenged by your home – the more you need the benefits that come with decluttering – the bigger the job probably is.  The advantages are real, but so is the frustration.  At times, you may feel tired, sad, or overwhelmed.  Letting go of stuff requires constant decision-making, and sometimes you'll need a break. And you deserve one!  You're not just decluttering, you're in the process of changing your mindset and your habits , and that's hard for anyone.  So when you feel like the job is too big, or that you should have everything under control, remember that no one has it all under control.  We're human, which means that we often have to learn the hard way.  But the victory will be even sweeter because you made it through the highs, the lows, and everything in between. When you feel like giving up, on decluttering or anything else, be gentle with yourself, and say goodbye to
Read more

Why You Should Make "Less is More" Your Mantra for Life

By
Image
Maybe you've heard the saying popularized by architect Mies van der Rohe in 1947:  "Less is more." It's an oxymoron – a phrase that seems to contradict itself.  Others include "old news," "open secret," "unbiased opinion," and "awfully good."  Or the lament, "Parting is such sweet sorrow." What does "less is more" mean?  It's wonderfully open-ended.  Answers to that are as varied as the people who reply.  Consider: Less anxiety, more peace. Less debt, more savings. Less busywork, more substance. Less clutter, more space. Less comparison, more contentment. Less sugar, more vegetables. Voluntary simplicity Back in the 1990s, a fair number of Americans realized that the continual quest for more and better was stressing them out and keeping them from creating lives of purpose.  After the consumerist binge of the yuppie-era 80s, some started wondering if the big house, flashy car, exotic vacation, and Rolex we
Read more

Why You Should Try Wearing the Same Clothes Every Day

By
Image
Wearing the same clothes every day would get boring, wouldn't it? A long time ago, I had a job that required a uniform, and I have to say it did make life easier .  I had three copies of my work outfit, and there was never a question about what to wear.  I never worried whether my clothes were stylish or "right," because everyone else wore the same thing. The same argument has been used in public and private schools in favor of student uniforms.  Rather than constant worries about fashion and comparisons and dress codes, a uniform makes everything simple.  It's one less thing to think about in the complex life of a student. Many people argue that clothes make a statement about who you are.  "I express myself through my clothes" is a comment I've often heard, usually from women.  The idea of a uniform scares them, because how will they make themselves noticeable or unique ? I think we might be imagining some sort of Handmaid's Tale society, where we
Read more

One Question That's Keeping Your Home Cluttered

By
Image
Have you ever tried decluttering with a child?  You walk into their room, or the family room, or wherever the toys are piled highest, and it's so overwhelming you just feel like dumping the lot. It may be a natural feeling, but you know it would be cruel, and that's not what you want.  You just want some clarity.  You want some peace.  You want some space to walk around without stabbing your foot on a toy! So you pick up something you know your child hasn't actually played with in quite a while.  It's a thing that gets tossed around when she's looking for the thing she really wants.  It's pretty ratty-looking too (unless it's made of plastic, in which case it will look practically brand-new when it's been in the landfill for a century).  Then you ask her the question . It's the question that's going to keep your entire house cluttered. Reasons we keep our stuff We're really good at accumulating, but not so good at getting rid of things.  Tha
Read more