Our No Gift Christmas

This may be a post from the Grinch...

This year, we are opting out of gift giving and exchanging. The main factor pushing for this decision is money. We wiped out much of our savings this year, with me paying off a personal loan, my husband paying off of his car and then with us getting a van (still no regrets in getting a car we can't pay cash for, it's amazing). We need to build it up again and this time we're saving for a house. Our place doesn't have a proper kitchen and it's starting to irk us that we don't have a proper place to make a meal. Husband and I love to cook and host get-togethers, but not having kitchen has not allowed us to do any hosting. Some days, we appreciate the low rent when we're too tired to want to cook. But the desire of wanting a place to call our own  is growing greater and greater.  I think even more so for my husband than me. I think his goal has always been getting a house when he finally have a decent job.

Another benefits of not doing gifts is the time I'll save from not shopping. Ever since I had my baby, I have more respect for time. I understand now that it's my most limited resource. Maybe because work has kept me away from her for most of the day, so any moment that I do have with her is more precious. Shopping to me feels like a waste of time since all my friends already have everything they need. I think they're a little relieve to not have to deal with gift shopping neither. This doesn't mean I'll never give any more gifts. I will, I actually enjoy giving gifts. My gifts now will be even more thoughtful because I give because I wanted to, not because a holiday mandates that I do. And isn't it more rewarding to see the surprise on someone's face when you unexpectedly gave them something?

And finally, we already have everything we needed and because we have more stuff than we have room for.  Ever since discovering minimalism and reading Marie Kondo's book, my mindset has shifted. I don't see a pleura of things as joy, but a responsibility. If you bring it home,  you have to house it and it take care of it. So if I bring something home, I must really love it or need it. I'm trying to simplify my life, not complicated.

So this year, we just want to enjoy people's company instead of things. We'll have pot lucks. I have family coming in from out of the country for a visit. We'll enjoy a short trip to Vegas with my husband's side of the family for a little get away.