Resist Over-Consumption for Christmas
In the richest countries of the world, we have pretty much all we need: food, water, shelter, etc. A lot of what we spend on ourselves and others over the Christmas period is, how shall we say this without being too pompous, er, unnecessary.
So, this Christmas, why not:
- Reduce the number of presents you buy, or the cost of them
- Put names of your extended family in a hat. Then get each person to pick out one name, and buy a present for JUST that person.
- Within your extended family, set a price limit for presents you buy each other (£5 only? £10 only?).
- Decide to buy presents ONLY for children (yours, and relatives) and give adults a miss. They’ll probably handle it!
- Check out Buynothingchristmas to see suggestions for presents that cost nothing; ones you can make, or experiences such as babysitting or massages, etc! It is a truly inspiring campaign. It could change your life (well, one month out of every twelve of it – and that’s a start!).
Related Christmas actions
Stop Taking Carrier Bags From Shops
Give A ‘Just’ Gift At Christmas
Recycle Your Greetings Cards
Buy Presents That Make A Difference
Christmas Boxes for Children
Make Your Own Greetings Cards
Have A Fair Trade, Ethical Celebration Dinner
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02 Nov 2005
I’m hoping to give pressies that are homemade or experience-based. I would make my own cards but I have loads from previous years that were bought in bulk from a charity! I’ve recently been making prayer cords and beads for praying the Lord’s prayer [http://abbeynous.schtuff.com/prayerbeads] following a ‘chance’ meeting at Greenbelt between my book [http://abbeynous.schtuff.com] and Church of the Apostles prayer beads, so I guess some people may get the gift of prayer [aids] this Christmas!
Leicester, GB , 22 Nov 2005
This is such a wonderful idea. I went to the Buy Nothing Christmas website and was totally inspired. I particularly liked the idea of creating a calendar personalised for each family with photographs and all the important dates (birthdays, wedding anniversaries etc) Being a student, I don’t have lots of money to spend, but time is something I have a little more of so I am going to spend that making cards and presents for my family. I am going to suggest to my friends that instead of buying presents for each other, we all contribute to sharing a meal together.
GB , 30 Nov 2005
like the suggestion about friends and sharing a meal together instead of presents
02 Jan 2006
One Christmas when i was very hard up, I made little sweetie boxes and covered them in foil wrapping paper (which helps to keep the contents fresher). Then I spent several days making lots of traditional sweets (e.g. peppermint fondues, coconut ice, rocky road, rum truffles) and put 12 in each box. You can get paper ‘cups’ to put each sweet in.
This Christmas, I asked to be given an ‘alternative’ gift, although only one person did this.
I gave several people fairly traded goods – I bought some cheap wicker baskets (£8 for 3) from Robert Dyas and filled each one with Fair Trade items which I bought at Oxfam and a local church, e.g. rice, pasta, chocolate, tea, coffee, biscuits.
Next year, my plan is to ask anyone that knows me to limit their spend on me to £5, or to buy an ‘alternative’ gift. I found from my experience this year that receiving one of these gave me much more pleasure than most of the other things I was given.
Lancaster, GB , 30 Sep 2006
This is very timely. We’ve had to spend a lot of money this year on our house as bits have gradually dropped off / broken – and we simply don’t have the money to be so ‘generous’ this year. So we’re giving small gifts to our friend’s children, and including a photo of us with the card to each family, with a note explaining and asking them to reciprocate with a photo as we have so few of our friends and even fewer up-to-date ones !
We’re sending the cards and presents v early this year so hopefully no one feels put out.
04 Oct 2006
I have difficulty with this one as when I told rels that we weren’t buying anything apart from for the kids this year, they nearly had a coronary. Obviously don’t expect anything back; don’t want anything, anyway; we have way too much stuff! Love the idea about the calendar; will definitely do that one! (Though they don’t deserve it; they’re soooo grumpy!!)
Leicester, GB , 20 Nov 2006
www.buynothingchristmas.org
Sussex, GB , 06 Dec 2009
Although I love the idea of christmas (getting together with family to celebrate, eat, drink and be merry), I can’t stand the conspicuous consumption that goes with it.
So, for the past few years I’ve been making presents for family and friends rather than buying random tat that they may not want or need.
This year to date I’ve made:
bath salts,bath soak,bath bombs,various chutneys, piccalilli,harissa paste and
vanilla sugar. I’ve still got to make a few sweet bits and pieces like shortbread and (maybe) turkish delight. I’ll package this all up into hampers (made from old cardboard boxes) and that will be christmas presents for parents / in laws etc.
I’ve written more about it on my blog if anyone would like the recipes:
http://www.cheekywipes.com/blog/category/home-made-gifts/
Little Green Fee, GB , 07 Dec 2009
We have as a (quite large) family decided to put names into a hat and draw one each to buy for. This has been done as we all got together last year and the number of presents under the tree was absolutely ridiculous.
Also I have made presents for my very close friends and bought fair trade chocolate for the others.