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You Can Stop Shopping Now

by theminimalistmom |

Just one more thing for the stockings.

But this would really make his/her eyes bug out.

Have to make sure the gifts are all equal and fair.

You can stop shopping now.

Really, you can.

I had to say this to myself in the last few days of December. My goal was to get all gift shopping completed before December 1st and I succeeded. Succeeded but I had to steal myself to not run out for just one more thing when Henry’s preschool teacher told me about his new love of pirates and moon sand.

Yes, minimalism has helped met get out of debt and given me more space and time, but just like most people, I enjoy giving gifts. And nothing will stop me from enjoying these next few years as our four year-old embraces the delight, tension and surprise of, as they say here, Father Christmas.

But I don’t have to get them everything on their list.

I don’t have to get the baby an equal number of gifts.

I don’t have to even things out because the one and only thing our oldest son has asked for was $15.

And I can decide to stop shopping. You can decide to stop shopping. Now. Put your wallet away. If the unequal number/amount of gifts really is a big problem at your house try returning a few things instead of buying more.

That’s another thing you can do: if you’ve bought too much take it back. You may need to wait until January but if you haven’t handed the gift over yet you could still take it back. Think about this option if you are feeling a financial pinch or already have a sick feeling about the January credit card statement. Or if you got a bit carried away and now have too many gifts.

Stop shopping and start enjoying.

Have you finished gift shopping? Any big wins this year for a simple and more meaningful holiday season?

  • Pingback: Weekend Reading: December 21, 2013

  • LOVE lots of these ideas! 🙂 My 2nd daughter/child was born nearly 3 months ago so I have to be honest I haven’t stuck to this suggestion or been anywhere near as minimalist as I would like, however I figure getting thru the days is more important at the moment as I don’t seem to take to the early months very well (older daughter was premature and then this baby has had undiagnosed feeding problems). That said, I don’t know how we’ve done it – whether it’s due to lots of love (good) or being spoilt (bad – I hope not) but my 2.5 year old when asked what she wanted for Christmas doesn’t know the answer! She’s scared of Father Christmas which I gather that’s totally normal but she literally gives the weirdest of answers… I am so relieved that she doesn’t reel off a list, like friends kids! 🙂

  • Just e-mailed you a Merry Christmas Rachel!

    I didn’t shop after the end of Nov…it was a nice feeling.
    However today I had to grab a couple of items I’d forgotten (food) and saw some Star Wars novelties reduced. The thought crossed my mind – ‘they could be popped in the stocking’. Then I had the counter thought that they really do not need anything else in their stocking!

  • Pingback: Weekend Reading: December 21, 2013 | Life Your Way

  • Ugh, thank you! This PSA should be required reading. Every single day I’m bombarded with emails that I have ONE MORE EXTRA DAY of online shopping, in store shopping, NOPE. I’m finished, and so should everyone else 🙂

  • Thank you for this reminder! My husband and I vowed to simplify Christmas this year and we’ve succeeded in sticking with our extremely modest budget. We’re excited to give the gifts that we’ve purchased or made and I know the recipients will love them, but there’s still that nagging in the back of my head that says it’s not enough. When I step back and look at it, we’re all having a much happier holiday season than usual and that’s a really great reassurance that we’re doing the right thing for our family.

  • I have bought gifts for all adults in my family – I had a pretty photo taken by a proffesional and framed it for each couple or grandma. And then I discovered that I have nothing for the kids. My own two, my sister’s two and my sister-in-law’s girl.
    But instead of just trying to invent something or asking all the mums, I waited. And you know what? About a week later an idea popped into my head. Earlier this year I had bought a large package of extremely cheap, 14-inch, proffesional-grade baloons. They cost a fraction of what usually baloons cost and they hold the air for months (out of 10 pumped yet only 3 did not survive a full month and some are still used), but the package was so big I doubted my kids could use them up. So all three nieces are getting baloons. They will be delighted.
    This one decision – to not act immediately on the knowledge that I have no presents for kids meant so much. I didn’t have to buy anything. I have something special for them. And, I’m putting my spare resources to good use 😀

  • Recently had a conversation with our 10-year-old. He found it hard to write a letter to Santa this year as he has “everything”. This is a child who grew up with and has the fracture of the amount of stuff the ordinary commercialized boy of his age has. Eventually he listed a few are toys and games that he likes, but does not absolutely want or need, or a surprise present, something that he will love and use, but that he cannot even think of. 🙂
    Our smaller boy only asked for one game, which is not very expensive, but that is the only thing he says he wants, nothing else. 🙂

  • I love this post. I had a few more things to grab, but as I sit here with two sick kids and the house a disaster I would rather spend the time baking and enjoying the snow than trying to score a deal online. I’m even going to stop knitting the stocking for my youngest and he can use mine instead.

    I’m done!

  • I still have things to wrap, but Christmas buying and knitting is finished. I also need veg for Christmas dinner, but that is it really 🙂

  • First I love your bog. I usually read it while I am on the treadmill which makes it difficult to comment so I unfortunately have never done so.

    I have three girls, ages 8, almost 6, and 3. Ever since I had more than one child, Santa gives “family” gifts. One year he gave them a toy castle. Another year a kitchen set. Another year a farm set. Another year he gave them a pirate ship. This year they are getting puzzles, how to draw fairies and disney character books, 3 dollhouse size fairies, new pjs, and wool long underwear. Nothing has anyone’s name on it except for the pjs and long johns. I found that with “family” gifts nobody can say you cannot play with that just because it is mine. Therefore since everyone can play and use everything, I do not have to make sure everything is even. When they received the kitchen, the littlest one was not even born yet, but my oldest still said Santa gave it to the family. They each have a few things that belong specifically to them such as the stuff animal that they sleep with and their own baby doll but everything else is shared.

    Even my oldest who gets the “new” clothing, I tell her it does not belong to her, it is the family clothing, she just gets to use it for awhile since she fits in to it.

  • Oh, I love your writing! Thank you very much. You are so right about worrying about equality between kids when it’s just silly. My baby is three months old and doesn’t care one bit!

    I hereby declare myself done shopping (except for oranges). The only real gift left on my list is playdough for my toddler, but that will be homemade and I have the ingredients.

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