A New Christmas Tradition that Can Safe You Money!

For most of us the Christmas season is mostly about gifts, getting together with friends and family, and big feasts. Millions of people will get into debt and be stressed out about the expectations that others have on them or that they put on each other.

Instead of concentrating your efforts on one or two single days consider the month of December as a month of festivals and celebrations. Remember that the days are interchangeable as you desire, I am simply giving you the ideas. Furthermore, remember that there are several Holidays during the winter month. I may call it Christmas, but it works just as easily for other holidays. Simple adjust the day your celebrations are as you need.

Your Celebration officially starts on December 1^st and finishes on December 31^st at Midnight.

December 1^st: Host or participate in a Friends and Neighbor Christmas / Holiday Decoration Exchange.

Every Year we spend hundreds for new to us Christmas/Holiday Decorations. By nature we love to have something new to add to our collections or to present. Instead of going out and spending more money on something that will be up only a couple of weeks, why not host or participate in a Friends & Neighborhood Christmas / Holiday Decoration Exchange. Simply invite those wishing to participate over for a Pot Luck Dinner (everyone brings one simple meal and none alcoholic drink) and ask each person to bring five decorations in good condition they no longer want. Each person that brought the required items gets to pick five decorations from the other decorations. This way you not only have a fun get together a simple Dinner and a few new Items that will fill your need for something new.

December 2^nd: Family decoration Night!

Get your family together (whoever is available), put on your favorite Holiday Music and spend the Evening decorating the House. Dinner can be a simple finger food one. How about small Sandwich triangles and some fruit? You can always pair it with a nice warm drink. Hot Chocolate and Tea is wonderful for winter foods.

December 3^rd: Holiday Day Greeting Card crafting and exchange evening

Every Circle of Friends has those that are extremely handy with crafts, those that love to bake and those that are excellent Story Tellers. Gather those of your friends together who fall into that category. Ask the Bakers to bake x dozens of Holiday Cookies to share. Ask your crafters to bring their supplies with them which are needed for Greeting Cards, decorations etc. Your Story Tellers are responsible to bring their favorite Christmas Stories to tell. Everyone should be willing to bring some crafting supplies that may be sitting around the house. Everyone can bring to the table what they now best. Your Story Tellers will entertain, while the rest of you can work together to create the Greeting Cards and Decorations. Ask the Bakers to write down their favorite easy and cheap recipes and make enough copies for everyone. At the end of the Evening divide all the cookies, recipes, ornaments, and greeting cards up evenly.

December 4^th: A quiet evening at home with just your Family

Instead of running around stressing out about what to get done, enjoy a nice relaxing evening at home with just your Family. Make a simple Stew with French Bread, or some other simple prepare ahead simple meal, pick 2 of your Families favorite Christmas Movies and sit together by Candle Light, cuddled up under blankets in your favorite PJ's and simply enjoy your Time together. The only Rule for the evening: no arguments or fights.

December 5^th: Homemade presents only

This holiday season you are not going to receive or give any bought gifts to anyone. Make a list of all the people you feel you need or would like to give a gift to this holiday season. Send each person a letter or email explaining about your new - no bought gift Rule for the Holidays. Ask them to join you or respect your wish. This way there won't be any bad surprises for anyone. (Be aware that some of your more "expensive" friends and family members may not like the idea). Then make a list of Items you think the People on your list may enjoy! You will need it tomorrow.

December 6^th: Crafting evening!

Set this evening away to start on creating some of your Gifts you wish to give. Try to make at least one or two Gifts done and wrapped up. Invite everyone in your Family to participate and just enjoy each others Company. Again utilize on each persons individual strength. This is a wonderful time to honor your elders as well. You would be surprise how much your Parents or in most cases your Grand Parents could teach you when it comes to handy crafts. (Gents think woodworking, jewelry making, candle making etc).

December 7^th: Family Game Night!

Make some hot cocoa, bake some cookies or other treat and dig out some old Board Games. Rent some Audio Books from your local Library and make it a Family Game Night.

December 8^th: Couples Evening!

If you are part of a couple, devote this evening just to the two of you. If you have kids ask someone to baby sit for you. (You can always trade babysitting if you can't afford it). Dress up special for him Ladies, get some massage oil and massage each other all night long. You get the hand. With all the gifts we give, we forget the gift of love making more often then not. Give the gift of loving attention to each other. That means both of you, no one sidedness allowed.

December 9^th: Baking Club!

Get the bakers in your circle and friends together and poll your resources. Make a list of all the ingredients you need for different cookie recipes. Then divide the list up evenly among everyone. Ask each person to bring their share, a few extra cookie sheets & bowls (take them back home after) and the recipes. Clear out a preparation Area and enjoy a good old fashioned baking get together. A nice token would be if each person coming over would donate $1.00 towards the electricity being used. But that is optional. Enjoy the time spend with those you care about. At the end of the day you should have enough cookies made so that everyone can take four dozens home. (Works great for Mom's with kids in school - think Christmas School Party)

December 10^th: Crafting ... time to make more gifts.

December 11^th: Potions, Lotions and Candles.

Body Sprays, Lotions, and hand crafted candles make wonderful gifts for Co-Workers, female friends and couples. Get yourself some books from the Library or look up links on how to make them cheaply on the internet. Then spend the evening creating your own line of Potions, Lotions and Candles.

December 12^th: Extended Family Dinner (Parents, In-laws, or Grand Parents)

Time to start getting the Dinners out of the way. Take this day to invite the Grand Parents or Parents over if they live in your Area. Or if they rather have you visit this is the time to go and visit. This way you avoid this whole it is my families turn this year. Since you are not celebrating it on the exact day, nobody feels left out.

December 13^th: Party Dress Exchange

Ladies this if for you, since we are the ones that are always worried about this sort of thing. Right around this time of the Year, the circle of Company Christmas Parties is starting. If you are obligated to show up, you are going to want to have something new to you on. Invite friends with about the same clothing sizes to join you in a Party Dress Exchange. Ask each to bring one or two outfits in sizes XYZ which they no longer want and are still in good condition. Same with shoes, purses etc. Then swap them between you.

December 14^th: More gift making

December 15^th: Kids / Family Night out!

By now there should be Christmas Decorations up all over the place. Take the Family out for a Christmas Decoration viewing. Top it off with a trip to the Movies (sneak in your own candy and pre-plan by ordering Tickets online since you can get cheaper deals at time).

December 16^th: 2^nd Extended Family Dinner

Who did you leave out last time? Make sure they are covered and have a nice relaxed Holiday Meal together.

December 17^th: Finish up the Gift making!

Make sure you didn't forget anyone. By now you should already have only a two or three people left on your list. Take of those tonight!

December 18^th: Do something nice for someone else!

Lend someone a hand. Cook a meal for an elderly person and delivery. Help out in a Soup Kitchen. You get the hand. Do one completely selfish act for someone else that you know will not be able to do something in return for you.

December 19^th: What would you like to eat for your Feast?

Gather your family together and decide on your Family Feast. You will be surprised how often we make big huge feast with most of us not even being all that impressed about them. Allow each person to choose one dish they would really like to eat for the Family Feast. Ask them to keep it simple. You can even give them a $ amount you can spend. Then make a list of ingredients you still need. The rest of the evening is spend playing a game, watching a movie or simply doing what you enjoy best.

December 20^th: Time to cook your Feast together!

Everybody has to help this time. If you are eating you are helping to cook. Assign each person a part and have them help. (Hint even small kids can help to stir a batter). Deck the halls and enjoy your official Holiday Feast. If you made more then 1 Gift for each Family Member (I usually make about 3 or 4) this is the perfect time to exchange one gift per person.

December 21^st: Winter Concert!

Have your own special Winter Concert / Dance. Invite a few of your best Friends over and allow your kids to do the same. Get together with some cookies, pies, fruit, hot cocoa (you get the point food and drink) and enjoy your own personal cheap Holiday Party. If you have musicians in your circle ask them to play or sing for you. Everyone should be able to participate in this. Put on your own personal performances. Put on some fun for everyone music, move aside the furniture and dance. No alcohol required just good old fashioned fun.

December 22^nd: Silent Night!

Gather those you love the most and have a quiet evening at home. Pull out some of the old photos; remember the good times you had. Honor those that have passed away and bring your family back together with the family memories. If you still have Grand Parents that live near by, this would be a wonderful opportunity to visit with them or ask them to stop by. If you are still one of the woman that love to knit, crotchet or embroider why not sit around and use this time to work on one of your project, while old tales are brought up. Memories are shared.

December 23^rd: Another Gift!

Go through your closets, old toys and other items. Is there anything you don't want or use anymore? Is it still in good condition? If you can answer yes to any of those questions, why not gather them together and bring them to a Charitable Donation Center. Remember that there are always some other people that have it even harder then you do. If you are reading this on your own personal computers right now, I am going to assume that you still have a home to live in. Give to someone else and remember the reason for the season. Regardless of which holiday version you celebrate, the end is always the same. It is the good will to all men message that is in the front of each of those beliefs. Honor that spirit by doing something completely selfless for someone else.

December 24^th: Your favorite Christmas Movie

Cook a nice comforting meal (chicken n dumplings, stew, etc) and cuddle up together. Take a vote on your favorite Christmas Movie of all times and find the one everybody enjoys. Eat while you enjoy your Holiday favorite. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere that is in your home. Before you go to bed give each person another Present and tell them how much you love them.

December 25^th: Devotions

No gifts, no big feast, no nothing. This will be the hardest thing for most to endure. Instead I want you to reflect not on what you didn't get, but on what you have received so far. If you haven't noticed it, this entire month has not been about spending money, but about spending time wisely. It was about getting closer to those that you claim are important to you. About reconnecting with the elders in your family and relearning some of the old traditional gifts we used to have. It was about being together and enjoying simple things in life. It was about becoming a family again. Sit down together over nice home cooked meals that won't go to waste tomorrow, that won't be eaten or give make you gain 200 lbs. Sit down and discuss what this month of being a family was like so far for you. Yes, some of you will be disappointed and even think it sucks. We are in general so used to big things, getting everything we want and even feeling entitled that it feels like insult not to have it. However, I hope you can see the blessing in it instead. Today is your day for devotions. Give each other the Gift of attention. Talk about things you normally don't have the time to talk about. Get to know each other. Turn on some music or a Story Tape and leave the TV off. Find out what each of you would really want from the other. If you want to, you can even give each person the assignment to write down three reasonably priced items they would have liked for Christmas. Remember that everything goes on Sale after the holidays. So you can always see about getting it for December 31^st. Tell each other what you love the most about the other person. This is a day of Love, not greed!

December 26^th: A day for Friends

You have spent a lot of time with your Family. Make today the day you spend with your friends. Go do something fun together. Set a spending limit on the day and then just do whatever you want within that limit. Reward yourself with good company and hopefully much laughter. You should be feeling much more relaxed then your friends at this point.

If you are planning on doing the after the Holiday Shopping then today is the day you want to go shopping or you can even wait another day.

December 27^th: Give yourself a day to yourself.

You have done a lot with everyone, not just kick back and have fun with a day to yourself. Read a good book, watch your favorite movie, or go for a walk. Today is just for you. Everyone (besides the smallest ones of course) can fend for them-selves today. Ask everyone to make their own Dinner and entertain them-selves. You deserve a break. This goes for both genders by the way. Don't interfere in each others day today. You can go one day without controlling what the other person does.

December 28^th: How may I help you today?

The holiday season is supposed to be about making each other happy. Today get up with the thought in mind that you will try to make each person in your immediate family happy. Remember nothing sexual, nothing dirty and no money involved. In the morning ask each person what you could do for them that would make him / her happy. This goes for everyone including the kids. Do it for them by the end of the day.

December 29^th: Redecorate.

You put it up together now get the Family together and take it down together. You have 2 more days left in the old year. Remember that in order for something new to come to pass, something old has to go away first. Redecorate your home with colorful balloons. Ask each person to put a small note inside the balloon with a wish for the New Year. Then blow it up and put them in a place that will keep them good until New Years Eve.

December 30^th: Prep for New Years Eve

Tomorrow is the last day of your festivities. Prepare some easy finger foods ahead of time. Bake some pies, cookie bars, make some salads, etc. If you invited friends over confirm and find out what they are planning on bringing. Remember to make this a day with your kids as well, so no alcohol.

December 31^st: Set everything up for your own personal party. Have a quiet afternoon with your kids and spouse first. If you had decided to give purchased late presents this is the time to do it. Give whatever home made gifts you didn't give yet. I want you to end the year feeling blessed and rich in every sense of the word. Together set everything up for your party and put the Balloons in the Center place. Instead of popping a cork on News Year Eve, pop a Balloon and see which wish came out. You never know it may just be the one that will come true.

I know that this Tradition will not appeal to everyone. It only works if each person agrees to it and will go along with the plan. You can always change out ideas to suit you. It isn't fancy, but that will safe you the money. Sometimes remembering that being together is the greatest gift of all, is worth more then you can imagine.