The second week of [Advent Conspiracy] is all about spending less.
I'm a gift giver. Anytime I see anything that reminds me of someone that I love, I want to buy/make/bake it for them. I have an extremely hard time saving gifts until the occasion they were meant for - most often I will give it to the person just because, and be left to find another gift for their birthday or Christmas. (Or I just give it to them two months early because I can't wait!).
The first year or two that The Porch took part in [AC], I mostly avoided it because I thought it meant not giving gifts at all. Obviously I wanted nothing to do with a movement that wouldn't allow me to give gifts to the people I love!
As I've become more involved with [AC], I've come to understand that the idea isn't to stop all gift-giving - rather, the idea is to stop mindless gift giving. Instead of buying countless gifts that will be quickly broken or forgotten, focus in on a few gifts that are actually meaningful.
My love for gift giving can become a real problem this time of year when all I really want to do is buy everything for everyone. In the past I have definitely racked up a bit of debt on the ol' credit card to do so. This year I'm trying to think through how I can give everything (i.e. all of me) to everyone, without buying everything. (For example, how many extra blankets do I have lying around that I can donate to Our Place? For gifts I'm buying, how many can I purchase at The Book Parlor or Boo Radley's (local retailers) instead of Target?).
In my opinion, my family has always been pretty great about giving thoughtful gifts. Growing up, my Dad would always get us each a couple of cds he thought would fit our individual musical tastes, while Mom would purchase new books for all of us. These last few Christmases we've been minimizing the actual number of gifts, and working on upping the thoughtfulness factor, or buying what is truly needed. Over the years we've given fair trade, organic scarves, purchased animals through World Vision or Heifer International in honor of loved ones, made photo books of family trips, and given homemade scarves or hats.
This year my goal was to purchase all my Christmas gifts used, at Global Neighborhood Thrift, yard sales, etc. Unfortunately, I sort of ran out of time to purchase all of my gifts that way, but did it for some! As for the rest, I'm trying to purchase items that are either needed or will be especially loved, with a few silliness factors thrown in also.
This Advent, I've challenged myself to avoid debt while being extra thoughtful in my gift giving. (And making - many of my gifts this year will be baked). Somehow I don't think Jesus' vision for Christmas had anything to do with credit cards or ribbons - based on his example, I'd say it has more to do with giving all of your self to others.
What's your plan for Christmas giving this year?
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