What to Do If You Can't Afford Christmas Gifts

Despite the fact that gift-giving has evolved into the main focus of Christmas in the United States, the reality is that some families simply cannot afford to participate in this custom. While Christmas themed sales ads and television commercials seem to take over the country during the last two months of the year, many families are struggling just to buy groceries, or to heat their homes adequately. So what can a family do when they simply cannot afford to buy gifts at Christmas? If you find yourself in the predicament of not being able to afford Christmas gifts this year, consider the following suggestions.

First, evaluate the age groups in your family. Do you have very young children who still believe that Santa Claus is real, and you don't want to spoil the fun of that magical belief just yet? If you have young kids in your home and realize that you cannot afford to purchase any gifts at all this Christmas, consider reaching out to a local church for help. Most churches will try very hard to supply your child with at least one gift for Christmas. Additionally, you can talk to a supervisor or human resource representative at work about your dilemma. In many workplaces, a fund exists to help people when they are most in need. If you absolutely cannot afford to purchase any gifts for children, even at dollar stores or thrift stores, but feel strongly that they don't feel forgotten by Santa, consider mentioning your situation to a few close friends. You may find that they have gently used toys, books, and clothes that they can offer to you, so that you can give them as Christmas gifts to your children.

Try not to feel badly when asking for help. My family is by no means wealthy. But my children and I, on several occasions, have "played Santa" by wrapping up toys, books, and clothes that were in like-new condition, and leaving them on the doorsteps of families we knew who could not afford Christmas gifts. We never told them that we were the ones to leave the gifts, and it was an extraordinarily meaningful experience for us. Honestly, sneaking through the snow at Midnight on Christmas Eve, while the world was absolutely silent, to bring gifts to others, was nothing short of magical for us. The memory literally brings tears to my eyes, and will always serve as a highlight of my life. So, don't be afraid to ask for help. The act of helping you when you cannot afford Christmas presents can be an immeasurable gift to the giver, as well.

Keep in mind that Jesus wasn't really born on December 25th. Considering the fact that Christmas is meant to be the celebration of the birth of Jesus, remember that the date of December 25th is simply the date chosen by 3rd and 4th century church leaders and emperors to take the attention away from other Winter festivals which honored pagan deities. But the truth date of Jesus' birth has been argued to have actually occurred in a handful of different months, involving 3 different seasons. What I'm getting at here, is that you can celebrate Jesus' birth any time you want; it doesn't make your observance any less meaningful to you. If Christmas won't feel like Christmas in your household unless gifts are exchanged, but you find yourself unable to afford Christmas gifts in December, then simply postpone your celebration! Many service families wait until their loved ones are home to celebrate holidays like Christmas. In fact, my own family is doing something similar this year. Our dilemma isn't that we can't afford Christmas gifts, but our oldest child, who is attending college out of state, is unable to come home for Christmas because she can't get the time off at work. Since our two youngest children still believe in Santa Claus, we've explained to them that we're going to celebrate a very small Christmas on December 25th. They understand that Santa will fill their stockings, and they will receive a few more small gifts from us. Then, in February, when their big sister gets to come home from school for her birthday, we are going to celebrate Thanksgiving, along with our "real" family Christmas, and her birthday all in the same week. The kids are very excited that our Christmas tree will be up for 2 months! So, if you must postpone your Christmas gift-giving, just do it.

Remember also, that you are not obligated to celebrate Christmas by anyone else's standards. Christmas isn't about presents, and that's all there is to it. Despite the fact that materialism is unfortunately a common mindset in our country, the commonly ignored reality is that the true meaning of Christmas runs far deeper than any tangible gift could ever compete with. If you've had it with the idea that Christmas equals trying to scrape up enough money to purchase gifts, especially when you truly cannot afford Christmas gifts, then decide for yourself what celebrating Christmas will entail for your family. Maybe it means having a special meal together, or even helping to serve a holiday meal at a local homeless shelter. Or maybe, it means boycotting the traditional American Christmas traditions altogether in an attempt to recapture what the meaning of Christmas really is for you personally.

For most people who realize that they can't afford Christmas gifts, the situation can create feelings of stress, disappointment, sadness, and even fear. Hopefully the suggestions in this article can help you to arrive at a solution that you feel is acceptable if you find that you, indeed, can't afford Christmas gifts this year.