Comments on: Guest Post: Simplify Christmas Without the Guilt

By: Marci

Marci — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:36:10 +0000

If your looking for a way to make Christmas cards affordable just do them e-mail style! We do it every year at no cost and its very easy:)

By: JC

JC — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:54:22 +0000

I just posted on this on my blog. Thanks for sharing!

http://gerberdaisie.wordpress.com/2008/12/17/how-we-do-christmas/

By: Megan Tietz

Megan Tietz — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:23:03 +0000

Okay, so it’s not about the Christmas cards. In Rachel’s post on her blog about Making Christmas Traditions, she highlights that it is about focusing on what is important to your family and making it a priority. It’s about letting go of things that cause stress and clinging to what makes the season meaningful. If Christmas cards are your thing – then go for it and have a ball. But, if you are like me, and the whole things is a costly stressor, then let it go.

Rachel, thanks for sharing this. I continue to be inspired and encouraged by just showing up this year. If there was ever a year I needed the mentoring in this area, it’s this year!

By: Emily Wylie

Emily Wylie — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:22:38 +0000

I’ve actually done a series on our Christmas and it includes a post on simple Christmas decorations, check it out here: http://everydaywylie.blogspot.com/2008/12/1-goose-is-getting-fat-simple.html I’m so glad you’re running a series on this!

By: carla sorensen

carla sorensen — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:47:42 +0000

I have really tried to simplify things this year. I don’t have many decorations up in the house. I don’t think there is a thing wrong with decorating, but for me it seems more like clutter. I do have a tree, a manger scene, and some candles and stockings. We also have a birthday on the 17th, 25th and 27th, an anniversary on the 29th and this year a baby shower on the 26th. So much to think about and plan for, it has to be simple!

By: jenny m

jenny m — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:46:34 +0000

I love sending Christmas cards- its so easy to lose touch with friends/family who live far away especially with the swing up in gas prices! We were just blessed with a new daughter through adoption and love showing her picture off!! We have a small 4 ft artificial tree- just plug it in=). I dont want to go bigger- more ornaments to take off when you put it down again. DH and I dont exchange gifts and the kids gifts were purchased from rummage sales- you dont feel bad if they dont like it and you paid a dollar for it! My daughter is getting a litte people set and a littel people van and a little tikes shopping cart that I paid 6 dollars for. If only DH’s birthday wasnt in December;)

By: Teresa

Teresa — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:51:17 +0000

This year I trimmed down my Xmas card list to just those friends and family out of state and some older relatives that I know really enjoy receiving a card. We also have a 1 1/2 year old in the house, so we pulled out an older, smaller artificial tree that I had in college and I decorated it with the silverplate bells my mom has been giving me for the last 35 years. I added the ornament collection she has started with my husband and now child…I now have a huge box of leftover ornaments that will go to the thrift store! The tree looks great as it is! There is a wreath on the door, one above the fireplace and stockings hung, and a few decorative items scattered through the house.

We also decided not to exchange gifts this year. Our son will get a book and a set of wooden blocks from us. We have requested clothes from those relative who would like to send gifts (only grandson on both sides). For the first time in years, Xmas feels what it is really about – rather than the commercial hype.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:50:56 +0000

Love the post!! I have been saying for a couple years that I would like to get back to simple Christmas and for several years I have sent e-greetings for Christmas and included a picture of my children, for those who have email. Otherwise, those I see, I just give a photo of the kids.

By: Sherri

Sherri — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:50:11 +0000

I agree with TrentTribe about the “inexpensive” gift exchanges- it all adds up! My kids are doing an exchange in the youth group at church- a “small gift” up to $10 each. Ouch! And the way it was organized no one got a chance to opt out. I’ll chalk that up to the inexperience/idealism of the leader, and hope we as parents can offer guidance next time around.

We generally buy our kids 2 gifts each year, and one for each other. We get enough stuff from other family members, and we don’t feel a great need for “stuff” anyway. I did manage to convince my family to draw names instead of buying for everyone- but I felt like I was dragging them along. You’d think with 2 of the families having financial issues that they would have jumped at the opportunity. Guess that’s why they are in debt and we aren’t.

By: Babychaser

Babychaser — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:33:38 +0000

I’m not sure how I feel about it yet, but we are doing an “opting out” sort of thing. Sure, we are still going to do presents on Christmas day (though my husband and I are not buying anything for the kids (2 and 9 months) this year. They have plenty from grandparents. We are still worshiping Him in church services.

It’s not that we are boycotting… but we aren’t doing cards, aren’t doing gifts (other than for each other and one or two that aren’t costing us anything. I didn’t decorate… my tiny over crowded and cluttered home would just be more cluttered and it would not encourage us to love Christmas more.

We may make cookies next week, but more so my mom can do it with my toddler… then we can send some to the guys my husband works with. We’re just doing a very laid back Christmas season. Perhaps as the kids get older (and notice things), I’ll be more deliberate, but hopefully still simple!

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:46:58 +0000

While I agree with no spending a fortune on Christmas, the kids LOVE making cookies and homemade fudge, and gingerbread houses. The same with lighting up the front of the house. We have sent out a photo Christmas card since the first year we were married to all of our friends, relatives and people we do business with. I send out 70 cards for about 25 dollars. Well worth taking the time to let them know appreciate their business throughout the year. I have actually had people ask me what the pic was going to be the next year, as they look forward to it, and post it in their store all year long. I love looking back through the cards from all 13 years and watching the kids grow.

My boys, all combined, had 9 teachers this year. We made homemade fudge for them. It took about five minutes and cost three dollars. It was a huge success!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:40:30 +0000

Well, we have moved around a bit. If one lives in the same town their whole life and only has local friends…by all means, forego the cards. But for those of us who relocate every so often, we would loose track of others and could even end up in the next block, unknowingly, if we do not send out a yearly letter. Mine is fairly short, just on one page and with graphics at that. And if someone wants to know more…then they can write me. Or email. But I have determined to weed out more of my list this next year. I always give old people the benefit of the doubt…cause they may just not be able to get out to take care of things. But would still enjoy hearing from us. But I was almost killed this year and made a short mention of it in my letter…saying to ask for more info if wanted and I would send it. So, if folks do not at least let me know it was a concern to them, they are off my list next year. Yep, and some of those will be relatives, count on it!! Communication is a 2 way street as are relationships. Life is so short, I feel I need to concentrate more on those who want and need me. I should not bother the others!!

By: Rachele

Rachele — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:18:14 +0000

* Will friends still like me?
If I am any judge of character, yes.

* Will they think that I am unorganized?
If they are any judge of character, yes.

* What if they send me a card, but I don’t send one to them?
Then my friends will be reminded how much more thoughtful, organized and generally wonderful they are than me. Isn’t it great to help others feel better about themselves?

By: Brittany

Brittany — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:03:18 +0000

I was raised in a home where Christmas was ME, ME, ME & MORE, MORE, MORE! Sure, we read the account in Luke, we gave to others, we “adopted” families from the angel tree… I have fond memories of those years as a child & remember them as a time when my family actually got along for almost an entire day
When I married, my husband “celebrated” differently. His family does not put up a tree, exchange gifts, send cards… they see it as a day to celebrate CHRISTS birthday & when their birthdays come along, they will be showered in gifts & celebrated & when a friends birthday comes along, THEY will be showered in gifts & celebrated! His family sees it as a time to minister to the needy in Christs name, tell others about the ‘reason for the season’, volunteer at shelters, & give to the church. They enjoy a feast for dinner & invite friends with no family, make a Jesus birthday cake, read the account in Luke… The first couple years we were married, it was VERY hard for me to swallow the fact that in submitting to my husband, I would have to let go of my traditions at Christmas. No more hustle & bustle, frantically wrapping gifts, charging tons of gift to a credit card, spending hours signing my name to a christmas card I probably didnt even read, licking & stamping envelopes… and believe me – I may have said that a tad sarcastically, but I did enjoy it.
BUT, now that its been several years for me not celebrating through my past traditions, Gods greatly blessed me with an entirely new perspective! I’m the outsider looking in. Sometime, people should just go and sit at the mall or if you dont have time for that, just pay attention when your standing in the check out line- open your eyes, listen carefully, and take mental notes. Rest assured, YOU WILL BE AMAZED and unfortunately, disappointed.
Now, do I believe everyone is wrong for giving gifts & celebrating – certainly not. But, its apparent that our nations focus is not on Christ & we should be ashamed that we have used HIS name in a holiday that has become self serving & greedy.
And – heres a little tip too… for those wanting to “minimize” – one of my friends allows her children to pick out 3 gifts which represent the gold, frankincense, & mere. One gift has to be a “need”, one can be a “want”, and one has to be something spiritual – like a new Bible, devotional book, christian CD… I think thats very clever & keeps the kids from making lists a mile long of everything they could possibly want & then being disappointed when they dont get it all Thank you for your lovely blog! Always encouraged!

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:38:11 +0000

Great post!
I haven’t done Christmas Cards in years. It was too much work, plus I never have enough stamps on hand either. Then it requires another trip to somewhere during Christmas-IF I remember. I don’t feel guilty in the least. Most people I want to talk to or contact, I do the internet, or in person.

We don’t go too crazy anymore either. Finally frugal and simple are in!!! LOL
I have a few gifts for each of the kids, but nothing elaborate.
I have enough “stuff”, so this year, I only asked for what I truly need-like a pair of really nice slippers, and my dad came over and installed a new faucet and sink that were both badly needed. The install and sink were my gift. (I picked up the faucet months before when it was cheap cheap cheap!) I am tinkled pink over it, and consider it one of the best gifts I have ever received. I held the wrench/tool/plumber’s putty etc. while he installed, and we had a great time together.

NOT breaking the budget or stressing myself out shopping is my gift to myself.
I think the commercialization of Christmas is just disgusting; I know most people have forgotten that Jesus is the Reason for this Season!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!

By: malissa

malissa — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:27:12 +0000

I just stumbled across your blog today and I must say…I have been encouraged! My husband and I decided two years ago that what the world was calling Christmas (xmas,happy holidays…) was so not what it should be. We also wanted our sevn children to appreciate the true miracle of Christmas and not just excitemant over many gifts. So with much prayer and discussion, we rearranged our priorities for Christmas. We do not send cards, put up a tree, buy extended family gifts, wait in long lines to spend more money…. We do however, put our focus back on Christ birth. This year the children are putting on a Christmas play just for the family. I really want them to understand the biblical account of Christ’s birthday. Thank you for this blog. Malissa

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:14:31 +0000

My husband is a pastor, and we have lived in four different states in our 16 years of marriage. Therefore, we have many long-distance friends. I don’t usually send Christmas cards to the people we see everyday, but I do like to send a newsletter to family and friends that live across the corners of the globe who don’t have the opportunity to know what’s going on in our lives. For avid email readers, I save the newsletter as a PDF and send it that way, which saves on stamps. But I do print a few and mail them. Makes me feel connected with far away friends and it also causes me to sit and reflect on how good God has been to our family this year.

By: Kacy

Kacy — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:36:16 +0000

Christmas cards are a fun tradition for our family. I love how it keeps us in touch with distant family & friends and I truly like receiving cards from others. It puts such a warmth in the season to reach into the mailbox and get so much personal mail, amongst the bills, of course So for this year, we won’t be skipping the cards.

One thing we will skip, though, is buying expensive gifts. Not that we’ve bought a lot in the past, but we’ve trimmed our budgets for friends & family and snagged as many free or almost free items as we can to use as gifts (thanks for all your help in this area, Crystal!). I’ve found that it encourages us to be more creative with our gifts, which is lovely side benefit.

By: Angela

Angela — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:16:35 +0000

Hey,
We are keeping it simple this year too. Last year we decided that we would not exchange gifts with our family until new years. That way our children would not get so caught up in their presents and forget about Christ. We also opted to not put up a tree this year , we want the focus to be totally on Christ not on a tree in our living room. Because of the stand we are taking , one of our friends bought us a small potted tree ,I kind of like this consept, we may continue to do this. I know that your focus can be on Christ with all the frills but it can be even more fun to not have as much and just focus on the important things. Like what Christmas really is about, we don’t want to confuse our children into thinking that Christmas is about lawn decorations, or santa clause , or reindeer, or snowmen, or ourselves and what we want, but on Christ, and loving ,and giving, for us , and others,. thank you

By: jessica

jessica — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:17:22 +0000

Since I work full time and am a mom of a 2 year old, I don’t have time to even think about a lot of stuff! My husband isn’t into the Christmas Machine that the month of December has become. I do send cards because I make the cards myself and enjoy it. I also like to send a photo of my daughter in it, and most of my cards go to people who don’t use email. We put up a tree and decorate it, but that’s all. That’s enough!