Becoming Domestic

My kids are still wearing open toe sandals and summer clothes yet the local village Co-op store has half an aisle dedicated to Christmas paraphenalia: cards, selection boxes and of course must-have stockings for dogs & cats!

Why isn’t it obvious to everyone that the alleged ‘need’ to buy loads of gifts, decorations, cards and rich food at Christmas is really a huge conspiracy by the retail industry to have us hand over more of our hard earned money to them?

Don’t get me wrong I really love the festive season. I love the family get togethers, the pretty evergreen, the singing and the sense of anticipation but it does sadden me when I think of Oxford St. in London packed out with miserable people spending time and money in shops for friends and relatives who really don’t want or need most of the clutter they are going to be given. I also hate the frivolous waste of resources in packaging.

A while back I found this website which has some great ideas for making home made things for Christmas gifts:

http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/alternatives/index.html

Also these from the ever dependable FlyLady:

• Women
• Men
• Children (Pre-schoolers, school-aged children, and teenagers)
• Grandparents
• Those Other Special People Who Touch Your Lives

Throughout the year Darren and I both keep a list of things we’d really like to own but can’t justify buying (eg. some books, pretty new underwear, gardening tools) and then nearer to Christmas we swap lists and agree how much we are able to spend on each other.

Last year I mentioned to D that I wanted any gifts he bought me to be second hand or home made. He managed to get me the loveliest of things from eBay: a smashing pair of black leather boots for work, a suede skirt and some second hand books about Elizabeth I.

This year we’ll be getting the kids to make cards out of last years Christmas cards I’ll probably cut out loads of festive pictures for them to stick onto card and we’ll be making nice buscuits or chutneys for our nearest and dearest to enjoy. I have been buying the odd thing from charity shops throughout the year for people if I see something a person would love and have a little stash of things in a box on top of my wardrobe but I’ve spent no more than £5 in total.

For decoration there is nothing better than decking the halls with boughs of holly (and the ivy).
Anyway Christmas is ages away! It’s still summer (sort of) so you’ll hear no more about this from me for the next few months.

Posted on September 27th, 2006 under Frugal living • RSS 2.0 feed • Leave a response, or trackback