PDA

View Full Version : Over Coming Materialism at Christmas


marutidas
11-27-2006, 10:04 AM
With Christmas fast approaching, and thaose shopping days getting more and more hecktic. Here are some thoughts I have had over the weekend that I would like to share.

Let us take a moment to remember what this holiday is all about, and no I am not talking about the religious meaning, I am talking Peace, Love and Of Giving.

Ok now, keep that in mind while we go throught the following.

Do you really need to give outrageously expensive gifts, my thought is No.
How about instead of that electronic gizmo, that could (a) not work,(b) break very soon after being used and (c) be replce with something better and more expensive in the next year. or Jewelry It may be pretty, and very shiney, but it has no use other that to look pretty, and who here can honestly spend that much cash with without a credit card and which is only worn on special occasions. Which brings me to my next point...

$$$$ doesn't buy :love:

How about about instead you by things that are about what they love,
For example, If the are a musian depending on what instrument they play, like guitarist, new strings or a drummer new drum sticks. If the person you love has a green thumb, buying bulbs and seeds and garden mat, or if they do yoga, a new yoga mat would be great. These are things they are going to be using all of the time. Many of these gifts are bellow 50$. Many of these gift require that you know the other person, Listen, observe, ask subtle questions.
If I were to be shopping for Dash, For instence, He has mentioned he is a Cowboy and that he likes opera and musicals, Tickets to his favortie play or consert, thourgh ticket master if bought in advance is in the neighborhood of 40-50 dollars. I am sure that He would appreciate a new hat.
Or if I were shopping for Zerbie, She has already mentioned that she an affenity for all things plush and fluffy and her husband loves animals,
for Zerbie a Plush Penguin and her husband There is an adopt a penguin program on Defenders of Wild Life Home page. There literally hundred of ideas that would not only show how much you know and love the person, but it is something useful that they will use constanly. If you need to write a list over the year of possible ideas,, then please do so.

I don't expect this kind of thinking to be popular in the world at large, but you can make you holidays about giving instead of worrying how much money you have spent.

---Maruti Das

marutidas
11-27-2006, 11:18 AM
:D Another thought I had is that, if you cannot afford to buy, them make your gift, If you are a handy person or just plainn crafty then make your present, simplicity is the policy with this thought, don't go making something that would only be an eyesore later, encourage the kids to make their gifts for the grand parents, It is not so much the quality of the gift that is important, but the act its self that is important, and besides grandparent Love anything that their grand childdren make for them, an will show it off with great pride. Family pictures are always a good idea. Freezing a moment in time that you can treasure for ever.

---Maruti Das

mtatum4496
11-27-2006, 12:02 PM
:D Another thought I had is that, if you cannot afford to buy, them make your gift, If you are a handy person or just plainn crafty then make your present, simplicity is the policy with this thought, don't go making something that would only be an eyesore later, encourage the kids to make their gifts for the grand parents, It is not so much the quality of the gift that is important, but the act its self that is important, and besides grandparent Love anything that their grand childdren make for them, an will show it off with great pride. Family pictures are always a good idea. Freezing a moment in time that you can treasure for ever.

---Maruti Das

Excellent suggestion. I am reminded of an acquaintance who was going through a rough patch several years ago. She had almost no money for Christmas gifts, but she did have a way with words. That year, each person on her list received a poem she had written especially for that individual person, printed out on some nice paper she had, and placed in a dollar store frame that she fixed up with some stuff from her craft room. I for one still treasure the poem she gave to me a great deal.

Zerbie
11-27-2006, 01:56 PM
Squeal!!! Thank you!!!!!!!

:lol: Maruti Das, my dear pal - what you couldn't possibly have known is that hubby's B day is this coming weekend & until you said Adopt a Penguin I had no idea what to do in celebration!!!!!!!

I like that idea a lot! I will definitely look into adopting an animal, quite possibly a penguin for his B day. ;)

Now: You're spot-on with the thoughtful caring gift suggestions. It's what my family & I usually do. I have requested a new yoga mat, donations to my favorite causes, well and a new vegetable grater. :lol: I am getting golf supplies for my retired golf-playing parents.

And YOU just solved the dilemma of what to get for hubby! Thank you thank you - Big squeeze! :love: :love:

Great point you make about the expensive gifts - I had been unaware until last year of just how much many people were spending, over-extending themselves in an attempt to give impressive gifts. Then people wind up EXPECTING fancy gifts. You're so right MD, a simple gift that is perfect for your loved-one is the perfect gift.

Thank you for this thread.

:love:

Lydia
11-27-2006, 03:15 PM
I don't really celebrate Christmas any longer, but when I did the most common gifts I made were homemade: little books of poetry I wrote and assembled, baked goods, items I had made from fabric, wood, or other materials.

Zerbie
11-27-2006, 09:23 PM
Hey MD and everyone,

Shhh! Don't tell hubby now, but I just adopted a wolf for him from the World Wildlife Fund.

:D

Thanks so much for the terrific idea MD!!!

Daniel
11-27-2006, 11:52 PM
Ah...the Holiday's are upon us.

I spent this past Saturday with my parents and two sisters and a niece. We all went out to the flea market. Over lunch, we talked about what we wanted to do about gifts. Turns out we talked about donating to something like Darfur. Haven't worked out the details yet, but we have a plan.

http://www.savedarfur.org/content?splash=yes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darfur_conflict

With nine nieces and nephews and five siblings, the whole present thing was getting to be a bit much- and we (the siblings) are all in our 40's or older. We all have plenty of stuff.

Sure. I will still bake up a storm and we'll have presents for the kids, but mostly, we just want to be together.