Do you ever feel let down at Christmas because your family doesn't embrace the season like you do?

Question

I have always loved the Christmas season.

Decorating the house and tree, going to see Christmas plays, seeing Christmas light displays and finding a special gift for loved ones has always been fun for me. Over the past few years, I've become disenchanted with my family because they don't embrace the season and traditions like I do, but I try to be understanding.

I already know that everyone is different and has a right to feel the way they do but I can't help but be disappointed. My family likes to say that Christmas is for kids but I think it is for everyone and it's not about the gifts, either. It would be great if folks could enjoy the season, the sense of family and the sense of tradition. It gets harder every year when family members treat Christmas like a day that has to be endured. Commercialism has created some of this because there are folks who feel they can't afford to do things or go places. I'm trying to come up with ways to still satisfy my urge to enjoy the Christmas season and stave off some of the expenses involved. I'd like to show my family that it is possible to enjoy the holidays without all the expense.

Is there anyone out there who has had similar experiences?

What do you do in your family to create a sense of Christmas spirit without breaking the bank?

I live in Charlotte, NC now and wonder if anyone has any ideas of things to do or see around the holidays.

Thanks!

Answer 1

there are many ways to lessen the impact x-mas has on your purse!! starting with preperation for x-mas:

decorating the tree:

instead of buying an expensive tree which will drop needles everywhere and only lasts this christmas, why not buy an artificial tree? it will work out cheaper after a couple of years, and if you bargain hunt on ebay you're sure to find one for next to nothing.

when decorating the tree, don't buy all new decorations, dig out the old ones and spice them up by having a family day making decorations- you can make them from salt doe and paints, paper, papier mache or ribbons and things!! google "homemade christmas decorations" for inspiration, also make sure you pack them well, things like salt doe or fragile baubles should be packed in tins with tissue paper, and try to keep things in labelled boxes to make it easier next year.

next: gifts. make a list of EVERYONE you need to buy for, and a couple of ideas of what you could get them. set a budget for each person, making sure the total of all the budgets is affordable- and stick to them.

For friends don't go ott just buy them a little bracelet or something, after all everyone will be struggling this x-mas with the credit crunch. Always shop in cut price shops and on ebay as you can find some real bargains there!!! also you may want to sell your old things on ebay to get some more cash, and make room for this year's pressies!!

next: cards. you may think this isn't expensive, but when you add the postage, price of cards, and heavy parcels, this can get expensive. Try to find very light gifts if they must be posted, and buy cheap x-mas cards, even consider home making them, i always prefer recieving home made cards!! again, do this as a family to get feeling festive!!

cheap presents could be: buy some bath salts, and find lots of jars. Decorate these jars with ribbon, gift tags, gems, glass paint- whatever you like, and fill each one with some bath salts. you only needs little jars and this is a really cute gift!

also selection boxes never go a miss, baking some cakes as a gift is cheap and a family activity, make some bracelets, anything. making gifts is fun to do as a family.

for x-mas lunch don't go ott and buy too much food, face it, after we've been munching choccies all morning we're nearlly full by lunch time. and at the end of the meal you've got more food left than before you started!!

buy food cheap, and compare prices on the internet, shop at the cheaper shops and don't buy expensive things like weird foods, instead stick to traditional x-massy foods, and again cook as a family!

also- make your own crackers. these cost a lot, so instead buy a box of chocs, some crepe paper, and:

make a tube from the card, inside put a little x-mas quote, joke, or something, and a few chocs. then put crepe paper over this, and secure at each end with some ribbon. you can paint these if you like, fun to do as a family =]

over christmas instead of spending a fortune at the cinema, get a christmas movie off ebay, or maybe you already have one, watch this on christmas eve with a few christmas snacks.

on x-mas day, just spend time as a family. make a cd of x-mas songs- these always have me feeling festive!! play cheesy games like charades, each food, and maybe go for a walk.

over x-mas, if it snows you'll never be bored, if it doesn't instead just spend days together as a family going for walks, to see shows, and just spending time together doing whatever you enjoy most.

enjoy your christmas =]

xxxx

Answer 2

My WHOLE family LOVES chirstmas including me!

We make homeade gifts and ornaments. And we decorate with things we have made!

HOPE THIS HELPS!

Answer 3

Starting fun family traditions keeps a fun, and low cost way to celebrate the holidays. My family and I always spend one one driving around town looking at all the christmas lights, and listening to our favorite Christmas songs. We also spend a day together MAKING our own christmas cards, and gifts for others. Time spent with family is more precious than any gift.