Need a good letter/article re: Christmas spending

CubbyMama

I'm campaigning for my family to change our current "system" of exchanging gifts among all 14 adults at Christmastime.  It's way too expensive, especially when my parents and sister are in MAJOR debt and charging all of it, and all of us have decent jobs and can buy what we really want for ourselves, so it's stressful to shop for everyone. 

Just as I don't want DD to grow up thinking the holidays are all about getting piles of presents, I also don't want her to learn that they're about swiping credit cards and buying useless merchandise for everyone you know, either.  My family feels like spending money on people is part of the "true meaning of Christmas," but I just feel like it's wasteful and unnecessary.

So, I'm looking for a good article/editorial/essay/etc. to that effect, that maybe I can use to get my point across without sounding like a Grinch!  We're not religious, so I'm not thinking of a "let's focus on Jesus" kind of thing, but just some sort of inspiring article about taking the focus off of spending and simplifying the holidays. 

Does anyone have a link to something along those lines?

goodhartedmommy

I don't have any good links. We've been trying to do this for years with my family. We just quit participating in gift exchanges. I've been pushing to get everyone in on doing the angel tree with us, but they won't (extended family like aunts and uncles). How about suggesting that the money goes to a charity+? Another great idea is to get the whole family together to serve dinner at a homeless shelter or something. I'm all about putting the focus on giving. Let me know if you find something.

HisBetterHalf

I agree with GHM and we just decided to opt out this year.  We are stressing to family that Christmas is about the kids and not the adults. We tell them that we'd rather just spend time with them in good company with good food and drinks.  I'm not sure if they're all going to buy in this year, but we specifically told them that we're not going to be a part of the giving or receiving this year.  We'll see how it goes.

~Kat~

Last year my family started doing gifts that are either handmade (by us) or fair trade. We mostly ended up making everything ourselves and it was soooo much fun. I got into doing crafts that I would have never done otherwise and my dad and brother are artists, so we got super awesome stuff from them. I think I spent maybe $50 tops last year and even less this year.

~Kat~

Oh, also I think next year we may either all volunteer at the same place as our gift to each other (Habitat for Humanity, homeless shelter?) or maybe give one lump sum to a charity. In that case we would only be buying gifts for DH's side of the family and for each other next year.