So many of us are concerned about the holidays.  There are traditions to build, presents to wrap and ‘green-eyed-monsters’ to contend with.  Not to mention, a bank to break, grey hairs to be made and way to high expectations to meet (usually our own).  I propose making Christmas a little less stressful and a lot more jolly!  
 

Below is an excerpt from a favorite frugal book of mine The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn:

“Throughout history, with exception of the most wealthy families, people generally only gave gifts to young children and to the poor.  Literature provides us with a few images from early Christmases in this country.  The Laura Wilder Little House series depicts gifts for children of a tin cup and candy, or a hair comb…”  Amy goes on to explain that authors Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli (Unplug the Christmas Machine) found that the industrial revolution made goods cost less, coupled with increased advertising which implied you care more if you spend more, were the beginnings of the madness that we see today.  “Today’s holiday revolves around the gift giving.  In most households, present opening is the climax of the day.  Families may go on to visit extended family members, share a meal, or watch a ball game.  After the paper and ribbon explosion subsides, we are left with the Is-that-all-there-is? feeling.  But from the years 400 until 1900, or the first 1,500 years of Christmas celebrations, gift giving played a minor role.  The opening of presents was the beginning, not the end.”  Amy further explains that the expectation to do so much… “Robs you of some of the joy you should be experiencing.  The solution is simple.  Give yourself license to do less.  Lower your self-expectation to a minimum level.”

I propose that we all scale down, and instead of feeling bad, that we strive to create memorable traditions with our children that will be so much more meaningful than any present that we could give.  Little guys won’t know the difference and you’ll feel much better for it.  Below are a few of my favorites…

Christmas Traditions:

• Take your children to a You-Cut Christmas Tree Farm and cut down your own Christmas tree for the season.  Bundle up good, as some farms even offer a hayride with cider and donuts to commemorate your trip.  Take lots of pictures, throw a snowball or two.
• Let the children decorate the tree.  I know, what am I thinking right?  Actually, once you get past that need for a perfect tree, you will see how nice it is to let the kids do the work, and they will love showing you where they put their favorite ornaments.
• Plan a meal that the kids can help with year after year.  Maybe its Turkey Pot Pies made after the holidays, or cookies made to distribute to friends and family.  Whatever it is, make it a tradition to share with your kids year after year.
• Take you kids shopping for the other members of your immediate family.  Or, better yet, have them make a meaningful gift to give.  Two of my previous clients saved only their favorite preschool projects, and allowed the child to give the others as gifts for the holidays.
• Buy or make an “Elf on a Shelf” to visit your children each year.  The little elf sits and watches over your child(ren) during the day and reports back to Santa each evening.
• Participate in giving to the less fortunate.  Donate to your church or schools adopt a family project.
• As a family, sit down and have the children make gift-tags out of old family photos.  In the age where everything is digital it might be a fun way to use old photo’s we just cannot bear to toss. 
• Give the children their own Christmas ornament each year.  This is something my mother-in-law started.  My kids love getting their Hallmark ornament each year and unwrapping those from years past to decorate our tree.
• Hang a stocking each year with your child’s name.  This familiar tradition is so much fun for my kids!  Just seeing their old stocking is a reminder of holidays past.
• Take pictures of your children enjoying family time with extended family members, reading with, eating, playing cards, playing pool etc.  These photos will be cherished long after the holiday season.
• Send a Santa letter to your kids.
• Leave out Milk, Cookies and Carrots on Christmas Eve.  Cookies for Santa (or your oldest child that just learned the secret), and the Carrots for the Reindeer.

Thinking ahead, if it is too late this year, try scaling back a little each year.  The importance of the holiday is the love and celebration of family, not the receiving of gifts.