Deck the halls with debt?

This year The Boyf and I have decided we are not giving any presents (well, except to each other). We are also going to tell our families and friends not to buy us anything.

When it comes down to it, christmas really is not about the gifts (shocking, i know). Sure, over the years its become so much about the gifts, cards and eating lavishly that some people seriously have no idea that its about anything else but over the top money spending.

Dont get me wrong -I love presents...I love giving and getting them....... but this year I think we should all boycott the big present giving and crazy, mindless money spending. I think people should rather give homemade gifts, make cards and spend quality time ( instead of money) - Well, thats my opinion anyway :)
_
Suggestion: If you want to spend money this silly season - how about donating money (or gifts) to organisations and people who really need the money and the gifts.
_
Are you doing crazy christmas shopping this year?

12 comments

  1. Good on you!

    I am a present nut, so although I know it's so not the point of Christmas, I enjoy it anyway. And our church is giving gifts to underprivileged kids, so I'm off to the toy shop today. Yay! Love an excuse to go in there.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very good idea Brazen - however I just cannot imagine Christmas without tearing off wrapping paper!! I am going to try and make some gifts, it might get messy but getting into debt is not a pretty option!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tamara - thats great.

    DT - im with you - Debt is really not a pretty option for me this year either.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yip, we are doing the same thing this year. I am going to try my hand at a home made gift for my nephews.
    I agree, i think we have put to much emphasis on the presents.

    ReplyDelete
  5. We're doing the same thing. I'll send my brother in Cape Town a prezzie and one for my girlfriend... and our two closest friends. The rest are getting love and hugs and quality time... and i'll bake loads of my famous chocolate brownies!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am SO with you on that. I just wish I could get away with it!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yip, over the years our family has scaled down the gift front in a huge way. For example, we all put some money together and get each my niece and nephew one huge gift that we know they REALLY want.

    We also just buy small things for each other and I'm sure over time it'll really wither away. We try to make things and that's loads of fun. I can definitely say it gets your creative mind ticking. I love gifts but I think I always tend to think big and sometimes I don't realise how much people love small gestures. For example, with the digital age, people don't always print pictures so if I have great pics of my friends I print the pictures as a gift.

    Ultimately the greatness of Christmas is getting together to spend a lovely day together. Hope you have a great Christmas.

    (Just about my favourite things are decorating my house and singing carols - sad I know!)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the idea of donating instead buying a gift. I was actually thinking of telling my family to do that myself. The only prob is when we all get together, we all want to exchange something and see how everyone loves what they got. So I don't know if no pressies will work for us.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The wife and I are doing one better. We are skipping the whole Christmas thing and going to Mexico. It has gotten so bad around here that tend to call it Commerical-mas.....

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think that is a freaking good idea. The only problem is when other people give you stuff and then the guilt makes you buy them stuff.. It is a vicious cycle of presets. I would honestly prefer a present free xmas, and like you say, give to charity

    ReplyDelete
  11. I unfortunately (or it feels unfortunate) will not be getting gifts this year. Like many here in the U.S., I'm suffering badly from our economy; our unemployment is at an all time high right now (me being a part of that percentage), so I will either make stuff or just buy gifts bit by bit once I get on my feet. At this rate, I will probably still giving this year's gifts this same time next year!! :/

    ReplyDelete
  12. I totally agree with you... we will be very low-key this Christmas and just get presents for the kids. I'm going to donate some money to kiva.org and my mum usually donates money to Oxfam.

    ReplyDelete

Leave me a comment....