Christmas is different. Everything is different since I began my journey to own less. A few years ago, I wrote about how a single decoration was displayed in my house, and yet there was no panic or stress. Quite the opposite.
I had a level of confidence that the task of decorating could be completed with very little effort. And that it was enjoyable now that the volume of decorations we owned was less.
Each year, I remove 4 boxes of decorations from the storage closet. I unpack and display their contents, and return the empty bins to the closet once more. All of this can be done in one evening.
Some years, we went to a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania and cut down a Fraser Fir. Other years, depending on our travel schedule, the ornaments stay in the box and we used a small table top tree instead. Also, I donate 10-15 ornaments each year. Because I know that donating them will bring joy to another family.
When my decorating is done, I feel a wave of peace and contentment just looking at the lights. Better yet, no one grumbled about carrying a bunch of boxes up and down the stairs. Decorating shouldn’t be a stressful production. It used to feel that way for me. But not anymore.
It Wasn’t Always This Way
For many years, my to-do list and shopping list were a mile long. I shopped for 10 hours on Black Friday, and I was just getting started. Decorating took days and required help from many people to get ready for our annual holiday party. We still have a party but it’s much simpler. We host over 100 people and still have time to attend other activities.
My gift list is also very different. Gone are the days of over-the-top shopping and obligatory gifts. We set a budget and honor it. We choose experience gifts and consumables over stuff. I trade time shopping for time at home working on photo calendars, homemade hot cocoa, and homemade vanilla extract.
Instead of fighting crowds or praying that everything will arrive on time, we drive around like Santa Claus delivering simple gift bags to friends and family. Wishing them Merry Christmas in person not just on Facebook.
I often speak to groups about Simply Enough at Christmas. As a Christian, December is the Season of Advent. No matter your faith, a different holiday season is better for all of us. One that allows us to slow down and focus on relationships and kindness.
Each year, we identify give traditions. These are our non-negotiables. It’s the only thing I care about accomplishing during the holiday season. I won’t worry about what’s left undone, but instead, I am content with less hurry and more joy.
My Top Five Traditions:
- Host our Holiday Party – I can’t imagine the season without it. My husband’s menu never disappoints as he shows his love through food. I do the rest. Over 15 years ago, we started asking for a Charity Donation in lieu of a hostess gift. We collect gift cards for a school and families in need.
- Buy 3 Gifts – Our church organizes Angel Tree Gifts for needy families. I purchase these gifts first as a reminder of how blessed we are.
- Make Simple HomeMade Gifts – Yes, I still shop but my Homemade Vanilla Extract and Hot Cocoa with Homemade Marshmallows are family favorites. And the Grandparents look forward to their photo calendar!
- Bake Sand Tarts – Sand Tarts are a Spyker Family Cookie Recipe. My cousin and I set a date for baking these together.
- See Christmas lights, concert or show – Take time to enjoy the gifts of others. Slow down and really be present in a shared experience with your family and friends.
Make One Change
I know what you’re thinking, this sounds great, but I’m in too deep. The lists are long, the schedule is jam-packed, the kids expect piles of presents and I don’t know where to start. It took me a long time to experience a different Christmas. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.
So what if this year, you just made one change. What if you had a slightly different Christmas?
Try One Of These
- Buy fewer gifts for each family member. Follow a theme like: Something You Want, Something You Need, Something to Wear, Something to Read.
- Remove people from your gift list – We did this. Everyone still likes us.
- Decorate in One Day and Stop. Donate the extra decorations
- Make Simple Homemade Gifts – Empty Mason Jars often re-appear on my porch in January in hopes of being refilled the next Christmas
- Say No to obligations
- Say Yes to the Christmas Spirit – Be a blessing to someone in need
Try one of these and see how it feels. Christmas won’t just be different, it’ll be better because you’ll have less stress and more time for those who matter most. I’d love to hear your stories!
Merry Different Christmas!
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Hi Amy. Thanks for the great article. A simpler Christmas is still a work in progress for me, but I’m definitely moving in the right direction. My helper is pulling up all the Christmas decorations and etcetera from the crawl space as we speak. This was a perfect read for going into the activities of decorating and beginning preps for the Christmas season. Wishing you a blessed season.
Marilyn – You are so welcome and thank you for your kind words about my work. I can’t wait to hear how your decorating turns out this year and other simplifying ideas. We are ALL a work in progress my friend! (Pro tip: I like to have a donation box sitting around as I decorate so I can collect items for donation and put them in the car immediately.) Good luck! Thanks again for reading and commenting!
This is some of the most down to earth & practical advice I’ve seen.
However, my husband & I are not on the same page when it comes to gift giving. We have finally come into agreement on a price limit for the grandkids gifts.
He “insists” on continuing to buy his grown kids gifts, every year, even though they do not need anything & are very financially irresponsible. They also continue to buy use “things” each year that we do not need/want.
I only buy for my 1 teenage granddaughter (small giftcard).
I do not buy for my 2 grown children or their spouses.
Any suggestions on how to deal with this?
Hi Jeanette – my recent article on Forbes might help you with this discussion. I think that the key here is getting on the same page about overall Christmas budget with your husband for the grown kids, yours and his. In my mind, it should be the same? And if he still wants to do a gift, perhaps switching to gifting a shared experience for you and the entire family. Also, if they are struggling financially or are not as skilled at managing money, then it would be a gift for them to not buy anything for you either. This is something to mention to your husband. If you stop buying then they can stop buying too. I’d be happy to chat with you about this further if that is helpful. Don’t hesitate to email me. amy@simplyenough.net
Here’s the article for your too. https://www.forbes.com/sites/amyslenker-smith/2024/10/28/how-to-talk-to-your-family-about-simplifying-gift-giving/