Can you believe that Christmas is almost here again? Hasn’t the year gone fast? Now is the time to think about planning for this special event without getting overwhelmed. We are looking forward to having a lovely day, without breaking the bank. Here are some of the ways you can plan to keep your Christmas simple this year.
Set a Budget
The first thing to do is set a budget. Work out what you are going to spend on gifts for each person, as well as food that you will need over the festive season. To help with the budget, create a list at the beginning of the year of all the people and their ages that you are looking to purchase Christmas gifts for. Throughout the year, especially during sales, if you find something, grab it then. I also do my grocery shopping at Coles, always using my Flybuys card. Over the year, I accumulate Flybuys points which I save and use to buy food or presents for the festive season. I have also purchased gift cards throughout the year for different stores, which can be used again for food or gifts at this time of the year. The main thing, is to know your budget and don’t go over it!
Homemade Gifts and Giving
There is nothing wrong with homemade gifts. The thought, time and effort that goes into making these gifts is incredible. If it helps with your budget, then make and give your homemade gifts with pride. These homemade gifts are great for those interested in making their own products.
Over the years, we have seen photos of kids surround with pile of gifts, often larger than themselves. To us, this is not needed, it is just going overboard. If it is your thing, than great. But it is not us. We believe that giving gifts should be far more rewarding than receiving them.
We have never been big on Santa Claus, stockings or anything like that. We give gifts that we think are appropriate for the age of the receiver, something that would will use – a meaningful gift. For our kids, we tend to buy using four principles: 1) something they want, 2) something to read, 3) something they need and 4) something to wear.
Baking
Having homemade baked goods on hand is great. We have lots of lovely, freshly baked treats, that the whole family gets involved in making. Usually I plan one or two big baking days, but how you do it is up to you. These milo balls and Tim tam balls are made in advance, mainly by the kids and frozen for when they are needed. Other things salads and cold meat are purchased and prepared the night before, so they are fresh and ready to go on the day. You will find lots of yummy recipes here, though I do recommend the no-bake caramel slice which we enjoy all year round.
Decorations and Traditions – {Keeping Jesus First}
Many people love to decorate their whole house in lights and Christmas decorations. We have never been ones for this, a few simple decorations are all we use. A small tree, a few table decorations and a nativity set to remind us of this special time of the year.
As with our decorations, our traditions are simple too. As Christians, Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas. This is a great time to spend time with your family and friends, building your family and staying focused what we are actually celebrating. We spend nights with our kids, praying and reading through the nativity story in the Scriptures, counting down the days to the birth of Jesus.
On the day itself, we attend a Church service, in which we sing carols, Christmas hymns and hear the Christmas story. We have never made a big fuss about presents, only giving our boys a few each and making sure that we spend time as a family praising God before opening presents.
Enjoying Christmas
Always at the end of the year, a couple of weeks before Christmas, I do a big clean out. Things that are no longer needed are donated or given away and the house is given a really big clean. As we homeschool, I clean out all of the years homeschooling supplies that we don’t need anymore, making room for the next years supplies, which I prepare after new year. Once, this is done, I relax and spend time with family and friends. Spending our time reading the Bible, keeping cool and just enjoying each others company.
However you celebrate, happy holidays to you and your family from all of us here at Simple Living. Creative Learning. I hope your Christmas is full of happiness.
Pavlova Dessert Board