I grew up in a very practical household which is another way of saying few gifts were exchanged. As a result, I think of excessive gift giving as enormously wasteful. I watch kids open present after present, thinking, "Oh my God. Do they even like all this stuff?" But even more so, I'm thinking, "How much more in debt did these adults dig themselves into to afford this nonsense?" Again, these thoughts are coming from someone who has 'that' kind of DNA, meaning a mother who has enough saved in her retirement to last her three lifetimes. I talk to my mom about money and I walk away feeling like the biggest spendthrift.
A friend of mine says that in her family they don't exchange presents. Instead, they agree on spending money on activities and events–quality time with each other. Fantastic! Right up my alley.
I won't be home this Christmas nor was I home last Christmas, but I really enjoy volunteering during the holidays. What better way to get into the spirit of gift giving than doing something for others?