Have you ever thought of completely giving up

**homesteadmamma** · 12-10-2002, 06:30 PM

Christmas.

Unplug the Christmas Machine states: By scaling back your activities, you will have more time and peace of mind to enjoy the ones that remain.

More and more I'm leaning to cutting back this holiday and letting it go. It seems there are so many stressed and all for what. To give more, do more and become more and more unhappy.

Thoughts!

**heaven** · 12-10-2002, 06:32 PM

i am defantly giving up alot this year, i just don't have the energy or the money for it all.

**SewCrafty** · 12-10-2002, 07:33 PM

I agree too. I haven't done 1/10 of what I usually do.
I'm wondering if it is just because I don't care anymore?

**kaykwilts** · 11-04-2004, 08:42 AM

I love watching the old re-runs of The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie was Christmas was simpler, less stressful and gifts were handmade from the heart. There was the Christmas baking of the goodies but there was none of this rushing around trying to buy presents to impress people. You only gave presents to those close to you. You didn't fret because your husband didn't get you the most expensive gadget. A child was happy with just one gift. Christmas was about celebrating the Savior. My mother was born in 1925 and this was the way it was for her growing up.

**QuilterMom** · 12-01-2004, 07:31 PM

Absolutely not! I adore Christmas! BUT, we don't attend a lot of parties, overcommit ourselves, travel, etc. so we have a nice, relaxing holiday season together as a family.

**slowtypinwoman** · 12-01-2004, 07:36 PM

Give up Christmas?! BAH HUMBUG! I love Christmas. The comercialisim I can do without but I love the season. I am making is more a a symplistic holiday. With more homemade gifts. But I love giving and won't give that up.

**forestdale** · 12-01-2004, 10:09 PM

I see christmas day as a day all my family comes together for the day to enjoy a special meal and each others company. We don't do any other christmas things and haven't for a number of years.

**COUNTRYBUMPKIN** · 12-02-2004, 02:48 PM

It's not that I do not have the money, I just cannot justify spending what dh and I have on just stuff. How many gizmos and gadgets does one person or household need? We will each (dd's included) receive 2 gifts, period. The focus is going to be on the meaning of christmas and family. There will be a potluck buffet, a cracking fire in the fireplace, good music and good conversation. DH and I are members of the KISS movement........KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!

**paelthom** · 12-02-2004, 02:52 PM

This year we too have scaled back Christmas and we've made more gifts than we've purchased. Ours will be quiet and simple and I think it will be wonderful. Of course, dd still gets too much but I'm still making up for the Christmas's I didn't have growing up. Each year I do a little better though and scale the gifts back, to her dismay.

**bamamomto4** · 12-02-2004, 03:24 PM

I wouldn't even put up a tree if it were not for the kids. I just don't get into Christmas like I use to

**pqb52** · 12-02-2004, 03:51 PM

If it wasn't for the grandkids we wouldn't devote so much time and monry to the commercial part of Christmas, but the spiritual part is very important to Barb and I and I can never see that changing.:sasmile:

**DaisyLady** · 12-02-2004, 04:32 PM

We find that more and more we are focusing on the spiritual aspect of this holiday and less on "Christmas". DH loves to listen to his Christmas hymns and put up the tree but that is the extent of our commercialism. No lights on the house, 1 gift for each, usually homemade, and family for dinner.

**frugalmel** · 12-02-2004, 09:27 PM

We are still decorating and I LOVE the holiday music. I do want to teach my kids that Christmas is about Christ and giving of ourselves and not about the latest toy or the biggest sale at the mall. I want to give up commercialism if that's possible.

**Michele Annette** · 12-03-2004, 10:28 AM

DH and I, for the first time, didn't put up a tree last year. We just couldn't decide if we wanted one or not. We felt out of the Christmas spirit. Well, this year I really want a tree and I told DH so. I told him that I definitely wanted to be more into the Christmas "sprit" this year because last year when I thought I didn't care, I did and I missed it! We stay clear from all malls from October until after Janurary and we don't buy lots of gifts. Most of the things we give, including to eachother, are handmade. We love the simplicity, but I'm finding that I really love looking at the tree and it really makes Christmas real for me, even if we don't put any presents under it.