My laundry room overfloweth. Right now, if you came to my house, you’d see it in a state of disarray. There are too many shoes on the floor. Clothes hang on a long rack, some not worn in months, others not worn for years. My kids have toys they don’t play with and I own kitchenware that hasn’t emerged from the back of the cabinet in who knows how long.
Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but after 16-plus years in the same home, we’re well overdue a good clean-out. The thought of buying Christmas gifts to add to what we already have gives me the chills — and not in a good way.
I know I’m not alone. Many of us are blessed to have enough. And some of us simply have too much. While we may reason that the best way to handle our overabundance would be to clean it out to make way for new things, maybe this is the year to change the way we do Christmas. Perhaps instead of spending money on more things, we should consider spending time instead.
Changing the Christmas morning experience
Before you toss rocks in my general direction, please know that I love everything about gift-giving. I love the pursuit of the perfect present. Wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, and the look in the eyes of the recipient when they realize what they’ve received — these are a few of my favorite things.
We’re probably not going to institute a “no gift” Christmas anytime soon at our house. However, we are trying to be more intentional about shifting the Christmas morning lens. Instead of letting the gifts take center stage, we try to make the morning about spending time together. Whether you choose to keep presents to a set number or make a bigger deal out of breakfast or flip the script entirely and choose to do an activity or service project instead, the more you can move your day’s focus, the better.
Seeking out experience gifts
I remember when our kids were younger, their toys seemed much larger. Coming home from family gatherings made me sweat wondering where we’d put everything in our small home. If you are giving gifts to children who you love this Christmas, instead of a plaything, consider giving a gift of experience.
Need some jumping off ideas? Consider the following:
A membership to a local children’s museum or zoo
A gift card to a kid’s entertainment destination like Rascal’s Fun Zone or Chuck E. Cheese
Art, dance, or music lessons
Tickets to a local school or community theater production
An entry to an upcoming 5k
Obviously these gifts are made even more wonderful if you choose to participate in the activity with the child. It counts as a gift for their parents, too if you handle all of the arrangements and spend the day with them, giving mom and dad a break.
Sharing simple treasures
Perhaps this is the year to pass along a family heirloom. While these items do fall into the category of a physical possession, no one would deny their value is much greater than this year’s “it” toy or another piece of trendy technology.
It is possible that your gift might not be fully appreciated when first given. Prepare yourself for confusion or even disappointment. However, in the long run, meaningful gifts like these stand the test of time.
Create classic memories
When I speak to groups of people on the topic of keeping finances in check during the holiday season, I cover a wide variety of tips — from how to shop safely online to getting the best bargains during the month of December in stores. But my favorite aspect of coaching people toward keeping the happy in their holidays is helping them recall cherished memories from Christmases past.
When you slow down to reflect on your favorite memories from this time of the year, odds are good you won’t remember things, but instead people. Especially if those loved ones are no longer living, your heart swells when recalling the special time you shared together at Christmas. You may recall a year where you received a bicycle or the year a special toy or pet showed up under your tree. However, the moments that matter most rarely revolve around what’s stored in a closet or a drawer.
Share a wonderful meal. Put together a puzzle. Draw a picture. Play a game. Go for a walk in the brisk winter air. Take a ride to look at Christmas lights. There’s plenty of gifts to be given that don’t need to be wrapped.
The giving and receiving of gifts is a time honored tradition that’s not going anywhere anytime soon. It really is a lovely ritual. However, all of us could do better at flexing our creative muscles to buy less junk and spend more intentional time together during the holidays and throughout the entire year. Take the first step toward creating a new tradition beginning today.
