Is it just my imagination? (Commercialism gone wild)

babetteq · #21 12/14/04, 06:26 PM

We can actually choose not to be part of the commercialization of christmas. In our family, for gifts, we draw names so everyone gets one person something. My rule in my house is that presents are either a) practical, or b) homemade and inexpensive. Our money and energy is put into the food around this time....but i looooove cooking and baking ....oh yes... and eating.... Aside from that, we remind ourselves that we have everything we need and more. I own 5 pairs of pants, 3 dresses, umpteen socks.... 3 winter coats! I have every kitchen thing I need, blenders, whisks, pots, pans, wooden spoons, coockie cutters, cake tins, pie tins, I have everything I need for my crafts, yarn, glue, neeldes, thread, sewing machine, you name it (do i want other things? sure) but there is nothing I'm needing, therefore, gifts adn buying things is silly. I'll get the stuff that I want eventually, or I'll decide it's not worth the money. Anyone who is put off that I won't give metric tonnes of gifts needs to get over themselves and they can stress their own christmas out.

my 2 cents worth
babs

New Mexican · #22 12/15/04, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katlupe

When my son was growing up and I was married to his father (who was Jewish), we really went all out for Christmas. Spent lots of money! Lived that fancy lifestyle. But my life changed, and my present husband and I, have never bought Christmas presents for each other or even for our children (who are all grown and on their own).

His family, (especially his mother) have a hard time with our lifestyle, let alone our opinion on Christmas (and they are very religious!). Every year that I have been with him, we have had to fight with everyone (in his family - not his kids though) on this subject.

But we want to spend Christmas on our homestead and take care of our animals. And they want us to go to someone's house in a city - where we don't want to go. They always buy us presents - even though we tell them not to, and we won't buy them presents thinking it'll get through to them. I think, they think, we just can't afford it, because we live in the country, and they think you must be poor if you live like this! How wrong!!! We are rich in ways they don't know!!!!!

KatLupe........this is perfect! Being from the NYC area (Jersey City to be exact, but live out west now) I understand how it feels to be "pulled" into the commercialism of it all. We do give a few gifts (to dh's kids who are adults) but bottom line....we feel the same way. We have many pets (5 dogs, 2 cats, 15 chickens, 3 sheep) which get our undivided attention. These are OUR wants! People shake their heads at us too........but many envy it all. We are happy just the way things are.

"Giving" should be all year long. and we DO give then too! There's a bible verse that says, "Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure,pressed down shaken together and running over". god GAVE Christ up for our sins. So the giving part I have no problem with. It's the abundance of it all that probably is way too much during this time of year is what I have a problem with. Going in debt is what I have a problem with. Giving something "just because they gave" and not because you wanted to do is what I do not like.

thanks for this!