Posts Tagged With 'Christmas'

Kids don’t Need Expensive Gifts to Feel Valued

Kids don't Need Expensive Gifts to Feel Valued

No matter how much I love Christmas spirit, decorating, baking and Christmas songs, I HATE shopping. I just hate all this nervousness, craziness and over-spending. I see distressed parents trying to buy as much as possible from their kids’ wish list or even more. Or something different as long as it looks BIG. And at the end they are all in a bad mood when it’s time for paying it, not to mention days or month later, when the credit card bill is due.

It doesn’t have to be that way!

I still remember my younger days when we got something we really needed – new wardrobe, new shoes, maybe set of skis, skates… But today our kids have almost everything they need. We are usually not saving to get them what they want for that special occasions, we buy them stuff at the very same moment they express the need (or we see it). Just because we can. Of course there is always something new they want, and often times if we feel they don’t really need it, it ends in the letter to Santa.

But ask yourself – why in the world would we want to get them this item if we think they don’t need it?

December Without Shopping?

Posted by Alenka  in Christmas Fun, Money No Comments »
December Without Shopping?

OK, I admit, I am not a huge fan of shopping any other day, let alone in December. People buying things they don’t really need; giving just for the sake of doing it; over-eating, over-drinking and over-partying… All the fuss and craziness, crowds and hysteria in shopping malls…

Don’t get me wrong. I love giving. I love meeting people. I love parties. Just not on command, because “it’s that time of the year”.

Here are some shocking facts about waste produced over Christmas:

Decorate Christmas Tree with Gratitude

A christmas tree.

Image via Wikipedia

Make different Christmas tree this year. Instead of traditional ornaments, made from glass, paper or any other material, hang on the tree posts or pictures of the you are grateful for. Of course you can still decorate your tree with classical ornaments, but add gratitude items as well.

You can put few items on the tree every day or you can follow the tradition of 12 days of Christmas and put 1 thing on the first day, 2 things on the second day and so on…

After the holidays and the celebrations are over and before you put away your tree, collect the gratitude posts and save them for the future. 

It is a great way to remind you of all the abundance around you and it will help you to start new year with a positive attitude.

 

 

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Write a different Letter to Santa this Year

Write a different Letter to Santa this Year

You know how all letters begin: » Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year and I want….«.

Make it somehow differrent this year. Help the child explain why he thinks he’s been good. Let him describe this passing year in a really positive way.

What did he achieve? What did he learned? What did he accomplished? What did he do to others? Who did he help?

Together find positive events, when he was really happy or excited. When was he most proud of himself? What activities did he enjoy the most with his friends? When did the family have the best time?

You can even encourage some words about gratitude. What moments, people and things is he grateful for, that was in his life this year?

And finally, of course, let him ask for his wish. But again, make it more profound and help your kid describe everything he wants for himself in the coming year. What would he like to be? What would he like to accomplish? Where would he like to go?

This way the letter to Santa will not only express his demands for a certain material thing (toy, electonics, …), but it will give him an insight about all the great things he already have in life and he will certainly see his future in broader perspective.

Before the letter is sent, copy it and put somewhere you all can see it. It will be a great reminder throughout the whole 2011 to be and have what he wished for.

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Make December Fun and Peaceful

Christmas gifts.
Image via Wikipedia

Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness. 
To an opponent, tolerance. 
To a friend, your heart. 
To a customer, service.  
To all, charity. 
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.

Oren Arnold

 

The last month of the year just started. It’s filled with expectations for something new, better, bigger. But too often we got caught in the shopping frenzy, being bombarded by all the sales and special offers and promotions. And being stressed out by the pressure from our kids, family and friends to buy that perfect gift, to fulfill their biggest wish. Not to mention the preparation and cooking for the Christmas and New Year Eve.

Why don’t you make it peaceful and calmer this year?