Anyone else have a hard time w/Christmas consumerism?

[LynzM]

The whole "frugal living" thing is relatively new to me, becoming progressively more savings-reusing-recycling-oriented over the last couple of years.

This year, we made candles and cookies, and only bought a few secondhand books, and a couple of new things for our daughter.

Somehow, I didn't feel very Christmassy this year. I'm hoping that it's not directly tied to not going out and spending money and buying for people, but am afraid that it just might be. I'm also feeling awfully cynical and mean about the amount of stuff that people give to each other (and I'll admit that part of it is jealousy.) But part of it is also, who needs so much stuff? What kid needs so many toys that they are overwhelmed opening them all, and don't have space to store them? What is WRONG with our society?! /sigh

Thanks for listening...

[NMDemDist2]

1. I just mostly ignore it

I made cookies, found hubby a vintage book from his youth, got a couple things from local artists and called it Christmas.

we did splurge on decadent food though, spiral ham and a prime rib. funny though, after a couple days of the rich menu we were glad to go back to our normal diet

:hi:

[eleny]

2. Maybe it will take some time for common sense to feel right....

.... when it comes to Christmas. Traditions take time to develop.

I have an idea. Do you like to read crafting blogs? I started doing that a little over a year ago. After finding one that I liked I found some more at that blog site. Now I have a list of them in my bookmarks. There are so many families out there who are making homemade Christmases with their children. I only visit the blogs every once in a while when I have some time or want to get ideas. They're a treasure trove of ideas for thrifty and lovely things to do and a treasure because of that.

Just in case this idea appeals to you, here's one blog of a crafting professional. http://www.allsorts.typepad.com/
On the left side of the home page she has a list of blogs that she reads. Lots to see and enjoy in a wholesome vein for all ages.

[Katherine Brengle]

3. I've been having trouble the past couple of years with this is as well, and planning and making

really nice handmade gifts definitely lifts me out of that weird transitional funk.

I think it probably does just take time to get your brain to switch from hyper-consumerism to frugality.

[JitterbugPerfume]

4. I have a BIG problem with Christmas

for the last 5 years , I have visited my family in Florida , and went to Christmas childrens Mass with my Grands , but I didn't get to go this year,and my g'daughter was "Mary" in the christmas program _sigh_
She made me something for xmas(it hasn't arrived yet ) but it will be a treasure ,whatever it is because my precious child made it for me.

My daughter in law made me a beautiful ceramic tree. THOSE things are my treasures because they were made with love and caring

I hate the consumerism that goes with the season

It is obscene

[cutlassmama]

5. I mostly ignore it. I sent two christmas cards and that was it.

I got my SO a pair of shoes and both my grown sons shoes and socks. That was it for the gifts.

[Warpy]

6. One year when I was growing up, the refrigerator died

I think I was six years old. That year I got candy and token gifts plus the refrigerator box and a box of crayons. I was the envy of the neighborhood as I decorated that refrigerator box into a playhouse.

I think everybody learned a big lesson that year.

[UncleSepp]

7. I decided to celebrate Clearancemas

I didn't have the money or the time for a gift for everyone by Christmas, and most people in my family don't really celebrate Christmas anyway. All year long, I am on the lookout for funny little presents for people, but I just hadn't collected enough of them in time. After Christmas, though? Whoa boy. I went on the clearance sale hunt for things for the house, since my house is kind of done in Christmas colors anyway (lots of red, cream, brown, and silver). Did I ever find things. I think this is going to be the new family holiday ;-) After all, even the Three Wise Men didn't show up on the day of with gifts in hand!