Simple Living
My aunty told me on the phone that they were not sending Christmas cards this year nor buying gifts. Hooray for her - not especially green, frugal or thrifty but just a nice lady.I’ve decided to do the same and request that people actively exclude us from their shopping/sending lists. It stresses me out having nowhere to put the cards and feeling sorry for the resources used to produce them (printing, card and fuel to distribute).
I searched on Google for ‘thrifty Christmas’ and found myself on the Simple Living website which I hadn’t visited for a couple of years. It has loads of great ideas, tips and words of wisdom - one of which is above (their poster) and another below (a collection of simple suggestions that will help restore our eroding sense of community)
* Turn off your TV
* Leave your house
* Know your neighbors
* Look up when you are walking
* Greet people
* Sit on your stoop
* Plant flowers
* Use your library
* Play together
* Buy from local merchants
* Share what you have
* Help a lost dog
* Take children to the park
* Garden together
* Support neighborhood schools
* Fix it even if you didn’t break it
* Have pot lucks
* Honor elders
* Pick up litter
* Read stories aloud
* Dance in the street
* Talk to the mail carrier
* Listen to the birds
* Put up a swing
* Help carry something heavy
* Barter for your goods
* Start a tradition
* Ask a question
* Hire young people for odd jobs
* Organize a block party
* Bake extra and share
* Ask for help when you need it
* Open your shades
* Sing together
* Share your skills
* Take back the night
* Turn up the music
* Turn down the music
* Listen before you react to anger
* Mediate a conflict
* Seek to understand
* Learn from new and uncomfortable angles
* Know that no one is silent though many are not heard. Work to change this.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
We haven’t sent festering cards in years - people know that we don’t, don’t send them to us, and are not offended.
Also, we don’t buy gifts for people - I’d much rather buy somebody something they wanted, and give it to them as a surprise when they’re not expecting it. Hate hate hate the “duty” of christmas gifts. Hate hate hate the whole commercialism of the thing.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:56 am
I’m like mac jordan, I hate the pressure of buying gifts at a certain time of year and would much rather just give something because I saw/made something that made me think of them. Receiving such gifts makes me much happier than a whole bundle of stuff at Christmas that was bought without thought and that I really don’t want, too.
Lovely list
October 16th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I hate it all too but secretly do really enjoy giving people nice things. My pact will be the same as last year to only give gifts from charity shops or my own homemade wares (chutneys, biscuits, cakes, curds). I like the challenge of saying to family members ‘We are only allowed to spend £2′ on one another.
For the first time in a decade we have very gently stated that we would like to not have any Christmas visitors to stay. This will hugely reduce spending and stress as each year we have fed and watered our parents and siblings. I think we’re both looking forward to a very simple winter festival of just celebrating another year gone, time off work and children spending cosy times in with their nearest and dearest.
October 19th, 2008 at 11:51 am
I don’t tend to send cards unless it’s to people I very rarely see and then they’re more a letter catching up (e.g. to family in America etc) I certainly don’t have a problem with not receiving cards.
I tend to make presents and again this is for people who I know appreciate handmade things, e.g. a woven purse for my mother. Luckily my friends are all pretty similar in their attitude towards this and one has asked that people knit scarves for her to take down to the women’s refuge her friend runs (if anyone wants details for sending her a scarf, please get in touch). My friend bakes the most wonderful cakes, so gifts from her are always appreciated :0) She’s having a handmade Christmas this year too.
In 13 years of dh and I being together we’ve only twice had someone over, once was my mother (the first year or two of our relationship) and the second one of dh’s oldest friends who had recently broke up from his partner and didn’t want to go to his parents and didn’t want to spend the time alone (although it was never stated, but we knew that was the case).
I think it can be such a stressful time and so much pressure is put on people and I just don’t see the point of that.
December 5th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Just found you. Thanks for this reminder. I too loved the Simple Living website and have not been there for awhile.
We’re doing a handmade Christmas this year, minus a few exceptions. No, I cannot make a digital kid camera for my daughter, but if it makes her leave mine alone, well okay, it’s worth it.
Haven’t decided on the cards yet, but being it’s December 5th, we may not be doing it.