Making Christmas Meaningful On A Budget

Christmas shouldn’t be a matter of presents, but our modern culture, some people only know Christmas for gift giving. Throughout much of Asia, Christmas is celebrated enthusiastically. Christmas carols are played around China, where I went through a year in 2011-2012, but no one there knows what the holiday originally celebrated. For many people, there is no meaning in Christmas.

If you are in a position where Christmas needs to become more modest than in the past, there is a point you can do. If only so you can avoid the holiday credit card hangover, you can remake Christmas this year to be less expensive and more meaningful. By making Christmas more about giving than getting, you can make savings and make a happier holiday.

Consider this plan to help you enjoy the Christmas season in a whole new way:

1.  Plan as a family. As the holidays approach, gather the family and discuss your desire to obtain a more meaningful Christmas—one that won’t cost as much. Have everyone in the family helps to a discussion of how you can make something kind for a significantly less fortunate family? You may wish to review a one-time service project for a family you know, an evening serving meals at the homeless shelter during the Christmas season, or perhaps a twelve-days of Christmas anonymous surprise for a family in your neighborhood.

2.  Involve everyone in service. Do not forget to involve everyone in the family in doing the service. Youngest to oldest, everyone should participate. By including everyone in the plan, you can help each one of your children reframe the holiday season.

3.  Be enthusiastic. As you plan, organize and execute your holiday service, feel that way about gusto. Act as if you, personally, is enjoying every minute. Don’t ever give your children the impression that the service you’re doing is a chore or a take the trouble to you. Anticipate joy and you will experience joy. If your children see you happy about this, they will search for the spirit of it as well.

4.  Shop modestly. As you do here your Christmas shopping, cut back from past years. Focus on buying the things that your children will need, like new clothes. Work strategically to acquire only things that your family will truly appreciate.

5.  Don’t surprise them. If you are making cuts sharply on the Christmas shopping budget this year, don’t let your kids find out Christmas morning. Ensure that they understand that your service activity is related to cutting back on the extravagant Christmas spending.

6.  Share your faith. Whatever your faith, are ready to exchange with your children at Christmastime. Help them to find out your worldview. Provide them with the gift of your faith. They’ll never forget the lessons you find out how.

By framing your holiday with a service to people who are genuinely less fortunate, you’ve given meaning to the holiday and satisfaction to your children, regardless of the scope or scale of what’s under the tree. You can, with less money, give your kids a happier and more meaningful holiday.