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Christmas 2008 has become the year that many children and adults will have to learn that a joyful Christmas can be had without the over abundance of expensive gifts. This is a true reality for many every year but the recession has added to the number of families that are struggling through the holiday season. In a society where families throw out a perfectly good television because it's not a plasma and 7-year olds are walking around with iPods, there has to be a point when the madness of materialistic objects ends.

Christmas joy can be had with simple pleasures that many take for granted today. Being in the company of wonderful friends and family, sharing another year together that can be taken from us in the blink of an eye. This joy can be given as gifts that will last a lot longer than that new Plasma T.V. Simple pictures of family, friends and our children make beautiful gifts and they can be created without going to the portrait studio.

Your personal photos can be taken to most major retailers and enlarged into any size you want. Digital photos can even be emailed to some stores such as Walgreens. You upload the photo and place your order online for the size you want and the pictures will be waiting for you when you arrive.

Frames can be found inexpensively in local dollar stores and thrift stores. If you or your children are crafty, simple creative touches can be added to used frames making them a more personal gift. For the animal lover, have a photo of their pet enlarged and framed.

Gifts from the kitchen are becoming a lost tradition. These wonderful baked goods can be made in large quantities and separated into gifts boxes and containers. For those who aren't gifted in the kitchen, mixes can be put together in layers and put in jars. Find your favorite cookie recipe and layer all of the dry ingredients into the jar. Write the recipe out on a recycled Christmas card and the recipient can make their own homemade cookies whenever they are ready. This can also be done with hot chocolate mix but always remember to add the directions.

Gift boxes can also be homemade with inexpensive crafting materials that you may already have at home. Brown lunch bags can be decorated with last-year's Christmas cards. By removing the front of the card or cutting around the pictures, these can be attached to boxes and bags to give them a holiday appearance.

If mall store prices are out of the question this year, don't forget that there is a treasure trove of bargains to be found

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