The impact of the economic recession may force families everywhere to have an inexpensive Christmas if they are to be able to afford any type of celebration at all. It may be hard for children to understand this type of change, but at the same time, it may help them look at the world as it really is. It may also help them to understand that life won't always be as perfect and easy as their lives may previously have been.
Celebrating Christmas in an inexpensive way doesn't have to detract from the celebration. It can actually be a chance for families to look at the real meaning of Christmas and enjoy the togetherness they have. It may also be a way by which people can learn to be grateful for the things they do have, rather than bemoan the things they don't have.
Here are some suggestions that can help make for an inexpensive but fun, special and meaningful Christmas.
*Drawing names -
In larger families, it is not uncommon for people to draw names out of a hat. Rather than having to buy gifts for every member of the family, each person draws the name of one person. They are then responsible for purchasing a gift for that person.
What this means is that each member of the family only has to buy a real gift for one person. A budget is established so that everyone knows what the maximum and minimum amount of money that one should spend. Because everyone is restricted to spending the same amount of money, no one will be embarrassed because someone spent a lot of money on them, but they weren't able to afford to spend a fraction of that on someone else.
*Home made gifts -
Consider doing a Christmas in which everyone has to make something. You can make a cookie, pancake, waffle, soup or brownie mix and put that in a jar, along with the recipe and any other instructions. If you knit, you might knit some small gift for people. If you sew, maybe you'll sew pot holders or some other functional, but small gift.
Another special gift might be to take a special picture, or some pictures that are meaningful and put them in a picture frame, or create a photo collage. You can purchase a cheap frame at a yard or garage sale or at a second hand store. Then you can paint the frame, decorate it or do whatever you want to do to make it more unique.
*Create a gift basket -
Instead of giving gifts, have each person get another person's name. Instead of shopping for a specific gift for people, have each person assemble a gift basket full of food goodies or other special things. When gifts are opened, people can exchange their baskets amongst themselves if they decide to do that.
*Make Christmas stockings -
Instead of giving gifts, put together a Christmas stocking for each person. Fill it with little goodies that you think that person may like. Everyone can do this for one person, and a limit is put on how much people can spend. An arrangement like this will prevent any one person from getting something that may not be to their liking. It can also prevent anyone from feeling as though they were cheated.
We are living at a time when materialism seems to be the way of life. Everyone is more concerned about the amount of money they have or about what specific material possessions they own than they are about more important things. They falsely believe that whatever material possessions one has are the key to happiness.
For people who celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, it is supposed to be a holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is supposed to be a holiday that honors Christ and that shows reverence towards Christ. For people who celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday, it is about the gathering of close friends and family; it is a time to reconnect with people with whom you may not have been in touch for a while. It is a time to help those who may be in need, and to give of oneself, as a friend, as a brother, sister, daughter, son or whatever.