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Do you wish for a Christmas without shopping?

December 11, 2012 @ 1:43 pm (Updated: 6:37 am - 12/12/12 )

Several people I've spoken to lately have expressed, explicitly or implicitly, a great deal of stress regarding the expense of the Christmas season. I've heard the same from people I've stood in line by while at the store. The economy has not been good, people are feeling it, yet there is a pressure to spend anyway.

It makes me wonder, might those folks feeling stressed about it improve Christmas by taking a holiday from shopping? If not a complete holiday, at least a holiday from shopping for adults and maybe limiting the number of gifts for kids. Would Christmas still be Christmas? Could they still have as much or more fun?

My bet is that they would--and that other adults in their family feeling the same pinch but not expressing it would be grateful for the holiday from holiday spending.

So if the season has you stressed and cash flow is the reason, talk about it with your family and cut way back on expenses. Limit gifts to whatever $10 can buy. Make it a joke contest. Whatever you do, try to reprioritize so that Christmas does not become a season to dread (and pay for) throughout the year.

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Comments (10)


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  • roomtemp wrote...
    "Do you wish for a Christmas without shopping?"
    December 11, 2012 11:25 pm
    Heck no, I don't wish for it. I live it baby!

    I developed a severe psychological condition I've termed M.A.S. years ago. [Mall Avoidance Syndrome] If you break out in a cold sweat and shiver at the thought of fighting your way through a crowd of angry women, armed with knives for fingernails and daggers for stares, to the latest greatest sale items... You too may be be a sufferer of M.A.S. -There is no purple pill and the requisite amount of bourbon to overcome it is dangerous.

    I pass out IOU's for a favor redeemable at a time of their choosing. (car repairs, computer repairs, fix-its, help with house, yard, whatever, etc.) They almost always get redeemed during the course of the year.

    That way the person doesn't have to feel guilty about asking me for something, it's already given. They save some money. And I get to spend some time with them. Works out pretty well, and fits better with my concept of a servile spirit than fighting my way through a crowd trying to buy something made in China on a credit card.

    Sorry retailers... See ya again in a month or so. :-P

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  • Lynx wrote...
    Christmas is about family and friends
    December 12, 2012 6:47 am
    We agreed as a family to only purchase gifts for the kids. People look at me like I'm insane when I tell them, but it takes the pressure off (adults are harder to buy for anyway!). Everyone in the family agreed and I'm excited we can spend Christmas together and focus on what really matters.
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  • ten4goodbuddy wrote...
    I agree
    December 12, 2012 10:10 am
    We have done this for the last 5 years or so as an entire family, and it sure does make a difference. We started out by going down to just a single gift exchange between two adults, we would draw names on Thanksgiving, and then presents for the kids. About 5 years ago we decided to take it to just the kids. So much more fun, you can do more with less, and everyone seems to have a much more relaxed and enjoyable time. Of course, I also suffer from MAS, so I don't do the shopping anyways!
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  • hpitantso wrote...
    Push this idea
    December 12, 2012 8:32 am
    I hoping not wishing. Just join the cause and willing to spread the message the malls are war zones this time of the year.
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  • sghouse wrote...
    Not "without shopping"
    December 12, 2012 10:18 am
    ..but maybe with much less shopping. It would be nice to convince the family that every Christmas doesn't need to be bigger/better than the last one. Like that will happen....
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  • Tubes wrote...
    Christmas
    December 14, 2012 9:51 am
    This world is filled with whimps! Just lay down the law on what Christmas will be and be done with it. It is your house, quit acting like mommy won't let you do things your way. Man up, no wonder the Democrats are winning!
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  • Snout wrote...
    A three letter word, "No."
    December 14, 2012 12:08 pm
    Christmas shopping is a necessary evil. Don't misconstrue my intent as I don't fit into the Grinch getup. Giving gifts is one of the joys of the season. We can share the gift of Christ in a small way by giving to our friends and loved ones (and don't forget charities if it's in the budget). But lining up in the stores with some awful Christmas Muzak playing is downright insufferable. My solution is to have all of this done before the hoards of Visigothian raiders hit the stores. The sales aren't worth the hassle. This way one can turn on some decent music, make some hot chocolate and wrap the gifts without stress. God Bless us all, everyone. :)
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  • hpitantso wrote...
    Attack on Children
    December 14, 2012 11:00 pm
    Time,love and true caring,will never be found a a mall. Make Christmas real again. Toys and games of violence sold as the "next best thing" Life way too short and kids way to innocent if we'll allow them to be. Sometime it's how you grow up as to how you became what your capable of.
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