There is a little something about the excess of the season that is sometimes overwhelming. I’m getting flyers in my mailbox offering good deals on things that I just can’t see anyone ever needing or even wanting. Some are items I’d be hard pressed to pick up at a garage sale. I’m a minimalist, but even so, some of these items I’d have a hard time buying as a gift for people for $1. I don’t want to single out any particular item, because one, there are so very many, and two, it may be something you bought today.
Oddly enough, the part of Christmas I like best is the gift giving. I was raised secularly. I am not from a large or close family, so the holidays are not a reunion time for me. I am not into entertaining, or cooking, or decorating. I find a lot of Christmas decorations tacky. I just love the excuse to buy people gifts!
I’m perfectly aware that my preference is just that. I know people who are absolutely giddy with the joy of decorating, but think the gift giving is commercial and best avoided. I know others who find the cooking the most fun, producing cookie after cheese ball after cookie. Others I know focus sincerely on the spiritual aspects of the holiday, and gifts may be tolerated and understated, and certainly secondary.
As long as someone is enjoying the holiday, I support it. It bums me out when someone is getting overtired or expects herself to produce The Perfect Christmas or tries to cook a seven course meal for ten people without the ability or desire. If there is a part of Christmas getting someone down, I think they should let it go! Get Chinese takeout! Make the kids do all the decorations! I think things that should be optional and not forced include gift giving, and that a person should be free to not do it, or scale it down to a place that feels right. I’m glad that I get to buy gifts for fun, and I’m glad don’t have a bunch of forced expectations and a list of people I have to buy a gift for. I’m perfectly happy giving gifts to people I want to give to, and that includes folks I know are not gift givers.
A benefit of being thrifty, and being so very open about it, is that I don’t believe I am generating the forced reciprocity deal that sometimes happens when a gift is given and the gifted didn’t see it coming. If a co-worker finds a little something on their desk, since they know it probably cost me less than a couple bucks or maybe even just some time, I’m not worried about them having to run home and come up with something to give me in return. I know a lot of people who aren’t into the co-worker gift thing. But they seem able to see my jar of jam or good condition used book or little trinket as a nice gesture, without strings attached. It’s an odd but very pleasant side effect of frugal giving.
This year I’ve been even more frugal, and that has opened my eyes to being on the lookout all year long...I was Christmas shopping at garage sales in May, at thrift stores, in Europe in September. That was another benefit of My Challenge-by thinking of people all year long, I was able to get some very nice gifts, some exceptionally well suited gifts, for very low prices.
People also know I get a kick out of getting frugal gifts. Last year, a buddy was having a financial rough patch (bought second home and first home didn’t sell for a while). She mentioned all the purging she had done moving from a big house to a little house. Well it turned out she mentioned having too many pizza roller/cutters, and I told her that I would love to get a pizza cutter and that I had been having a hard time spotting one at a thrift store. I got a roller, used but awesome, wrapped for a Christmas present and I loved it. I got the perfect gift and she saved money and all was well with the world.
Wrapper's Delight
November 29th, 2006 at 04:38 am
November 29th, 2006 at 05:58 am 1164779906
My gifts this year are primarily gift cards for things like meals and experiences...I am trying to think of gifts that dont add clutter wherever possible!
November 29th, 2006 at 07:38 am 1164785936
November 29th, 2006 at 02:11 pm 1164809474
November 29th, 2006 at 09:43 pm 1164836628
I too concentrate on gifts all year, not just at Christmas. I can't say I "shop" early, as there really isn't much shopping done around here. But, I'm always listening to my family & friends, getting gift ideas, then keeping my eyes open to see if I can help fulfill the wish. Absolutely the best part of the holiday (or their birthdays, valentines day, whatever!)