As I shared with you on Monday my darling baby girl made the high
school dance team. With that honor comes
the fact that dance is expensive. But
she has a passion for it so although the price tag has my stomach doing flip
flops, I have a hard time not being really excited for her. This is definitely not the year for me to
take on this type of expense. It costs
each girl between $1000 and $1200 per season, but some of that is covered by
fund raising. Whatever isn't covered
becomes our responsibility.
So this year with one in dance and the other off to college we
collectively have decided not to spend any money on Christmas. And we are completely okay with it. We would much rather have the experiences
than gifts under the tree. Whatever we
can make or acquire for free is what will be given. Other than that, no gifts will be purchased.
I am sure we will have a very nice Christmas nonetheless. A nice meal, a drive through town to look at
Christmas lights, our favorite music playing in the background as we put up our
tree and decorate the house. All the
things we enjoy the most will still be a part of our holiday.
For us Christmas has always been more about the season and the
traditions than the gifts. I have no
doubt we will have a wonderful holiday season.
If I know you, your girls will have a beautiful Christmas!! You are so full of creativity!
ReplyDeleteAwwwww. Thanks so much.
DeleteYou are right--experiences are far more valuable. Gifts only last so long, but memories are forever!
ReplyDeleteVery few Christmas memories involve gifts, you know?
DeleteI love your plan. We are not doing any "gifts" for our kids this Christmas either. Instead, we are buying everyone ski passes, so we can spend time together as a family & ski in 2020. It's really pricey here, but the family time is a priority for us. Like you, experiences are more important than gifts. They will still get a few small presents to open from my sister & parents, so there will be something for them.
ReplyDeleteYou will have so much fun with those ski passes. Good for you guys!
DeleteI look forward to some ideas. I have used several you have presented and they have been wonderful. Most of us really don't need anything - your way is very personal and really shows love.
ReplyDeleteYour trip to Disneyland is a lovely gift for you all this year - that is the gift that keeps giving the whole year. That will be here before you know it.
Can you believe it is almost time for our trip? Crazy how fast the time has gone. And you are so right. We don't need anything. We have so much already. :)
DeleteI’d love it if our family(extended) would stop exchanging gifts and just spend time together. My husband and I will buy a gift card for movies. We love them.
ReplyDeleteGift giving can be wonderful, but more often than that its stressful, ha, ha.
DeleteOH! You are going to have such a good Advent and Christmas I never plan on buying anybody anything for Christmas. In fact, when they were little, I refused to let my kids ask for presents, Christmas or birthday. ESPECIALLY BIRTHDAYS. A kid who woke up on his birthday and asked "When do I get my presents?" got the response of "What makes you think you are getting presents?" with the lecture of what gifts truly are.
ReplyDeleteThat said, we love Advent and Christmas at our house. Much like you, the celebration revolves around traditions, and most of those revolve around the kitchen/dining room table. Of course, I get my kids gifts, but they never appear under the tree until after they go to bed on Christmas Eve. Like your girls, my kids, especially with construction of our new place, seem to recognize they are fortunate, and are growing to appreciate that the holidays let them slow down and enjoy what they have, not what they don't in terms of presents. You know, when you don't let little ones have expectations in terms of gifts, they grow up to be very appreciative of the gifts do receive, no matter when them. Sounds like your girls are turning into very accomplished young women. Lucky you! Congratulations, Momma!
Thank you Meg. My kiddos always appreciate anything anyone give them. And they rarely ask for anything. Makes me rather proud.
DeleteI would love it if all holidays were cost-free! You listed all of my favorite things about Christmas: the meal, lights, music, tree, decorations. Celebrating with family and friends is the best :)
ReplyDeleteD.
You are so right. That is truly the best part. :)
DeleteThis makes good sense. And if anything, your girlies are as sensible as they are wonderful. Mom raised them well.
ReplyDeleteI remember one very tight Christmas when the family agreed to only give each other things from the thrift shop. That worked out surprisingly well -- in fact, the jewelry I was given that year was some of my nicest!
I have been meaning to mention something that may be of help to you, both for Christmas presents for your fellow workers, or for the girls' teachers. But it could also be a good addition to your graduation party: CARAMEL CORN. It's cheap, really delicious -- and this version is extremely easy to make. Here's my recipe:
http://holiday-goodies.blogspot.com/2012/04/flat-broke-food-popcorn-caramel-corn.html
Thank you Cindy. That caramel corn sounds wonderful! You are so thoughtful. :)
Delete