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?

• we want to show them how much we love them
• we want to show our kids that we would do anything for them
• we want to show them we can afford it (even if in reality we can’t, we just want to look good in our children’s eyes)
• we want to feel appreciated
• we want something in return (I appreciated your wishes, now it’s time for you to do the same)
• and so on and on…

Everything for the wrong reasons, wouldn’t you agree?

So instead of getting nervous and anxious, show your love and appreciation in inexpensive, but more valuable ways. We don’t need to break the bank or loose our sanity. Here are some ideas what you can do instead:

Devote some extra special time to be with your child. Go for a walk, go skating, play board games, read the book, compete in computer games… Create coupons and give them to child so he can use them whenever he feels.

Give gifts that connect your child with family and/or friends. Buy him tickets to the cinema, admissions to amusement parks or museums, organize him a party….

Listen and understand what your child really wants. If it’s a new toy, that he wants just because everyone else is having, maybe he needs more appreciation, higher self-esteem… so be careful about his Why? and choose the activities that support that.

Look for ways where you can give a little but your child gets a lot. This can include a charity work or donation, creating gifts for others, delivering secret notes… For example we bought a really big bone for our dog and girls just can’t wait to see the dog’s reaction to the gift. The excitement about giving and anticipation is more important than expensive toy that will soon end up forgotten in their rooms.

Promote spirit of Christmas instead focusing on the gifts. I know every child is excited to get his gift under the tree, but Christmas is so much more. It’s the atmosphere, the cards, the ornaments, baking and cooking… all these can be done with your kids and I’m sure they will remember these more than anything.

What are your ideas of spending the holiday season in inexpensive but meaningful ways? Please share below.

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There is not a more pleasing exercise of the mind than gratitude. It is accompanied with such an inward satisfaction that the duty is sufficiently rewarded by the performance. Joseph Addison

The appreciation, gratitude and love are the highest forms of vibration. As more of our thoughts and words become positive, we start attracting more and more positive people and circumstances.

When we express our gratitude, we focus on the positive and we just can’t focus on negative at the same time.

We often go through our lives wanting more and more of the things. We wish to have a new car, new TV, phone, new love, better job, better grades… and sometimes we forget what we already have and achieved.

It is even more difficult for the children to see and acknowledge their positive characteristics and possessions. They may not be aware how giant their achievements have been and what kind of persistence and courage it took to be what they are now. Help them recognize that they too have a lot to be thankful for.

Remember, only by acknowledging and accepting what we have, we can have more.

Focus today, no matter what is happening in your life, on the here and now. Be grateful for what you do have and be grateful you are growing toward where you want to be.

Grace isn’t a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It’s a way to live.
Jacqueline Winspear

Create a family tradition and every night before going to sleep spend some time together as a family thinking of things you are grateful for.

Make it a family habit and include gratitude in your everyday lives. Include different gratitude activities in your family time.

Think about the things you possess both material and non-material. Think about people you met. Think also about challenges that you need to overcome; they are usually blessings in disguise.

At difficult times we might think that we have nothing to be grateful for or we find it difficult to feel the gratitude. But in those days when we feel it least it is most important to remind ourselves of all the good things in our lives.

When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?
G.K. Chesterton

It is important that we understand that our current experiences are guideposts showing us that we are either on the right path of creating our desired outcomes or that we need to make some adjustments.

Develop the attitude of gratitude and give thanks to others. Tell them you appreciate what they do and who they are.

Whenever you receive something, even if it’s just a penny or a smile, say a little prayer of gratitude. Acknowledge and be thankful for whatever you receive. You can thank the Universe, God or your favorite higher power, or just enjoy the feeling of gratitude for a moment. If you feel grateful for what you receive, you’ll open the doors to receive even more.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. John Fitzgerald Kennedy

**this is an excerpt from the ebook Gratitude is the best Attitude, giving you insights on the gratitude living in your family as well as many games and activites to teach your children  about gratitude – you can get it HERE at this LINK for FREE

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How often do you say to yourself and/or your kids. »I can’t afford it.« »If only we had more money.« »I don’t have time.«

But do you really need a lot of money and time to feel good and enjoy life? No. If I asked you when were you most happy, what would you say? When you had lots of money or would you remembered fun times with your friends or quite evenings with a good book. You know that being happy and satisfied has nothing to do with the money. And the same goes to time. Are you using it as an excuse?

It’s all about the attitude. The only thing you really need is an idea of what you want and some effort to follow the idea.

Today I decided to give you some ideas to help you make these small steps toward better life:

• Set aside some private time (only-me time).
• Go for a walk with your friend or family member.
• Talk about good things in life with excitement.
• Create a daily routine for a family to sit together and talk (like family tea-time or after-dinner time).
• Write a gratitude journal every evening, together as a family.
• Create a family bulletin board – put up drawings from your child, photographs, awards, emails from happy clients, and so on to help you build your self-esteem.
• Write notes with something positive and leave them around for others to find them.
• Play with your children.
• Put flowers in and around your home – fresh cut or plants, all will make you feel good.
• Observe trees, flowers, animals… Really see and feel the beauty around you.
• Declutter some of your space – it can be a shelf or whole closet, when you clean and put away the things you don’t need anymore, you will feel lighter and fresher.
• Donate things you don’t need or want anymore.
• Talk to someone, that you don’t know but you are seeing him/her very often (like someone you meet on the bus, maybe cashier…)
• If you know someone who is elderly and in need of company, visit him/her.
• Call an old friend.
• Make it a habit to leave something good behind (if you’re done reading your magazine or newspaper, leave it behind for someone else to read; if you buy a soda from the vending machine, leave some spare change behind for the next person to use; ..)
• Decide to do something new, something you’ve never done before.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff – choose your battles wisely and ignore little annoyances.
• Indulge yourself – find ways to pamper yourself without going broke. An ice-cream, a hot bath or glass of champagne doesn’t cost much, but they can have huge impact on your well-being and feelings.

ENJOY!

Are you already counting days until Christmas? All gifts bought and wrapped? If not, don’t worry. There is still time, especially if you were planning taking it slow. But even if you haven’t, take it easy. 

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