How To Have A Relaxing Christmas

I am not sure if Christmas really did start in July, but it seems that every year it starts earlier and earlier. No matter what religion you are, it seems the world of retail sales revolves around Christmas. The hustle, the bustle, the baking, the noise, the toys, the parties, the friends, the food, the shopping, the giving, the receiving...and on and on it goes.

Maybe it is time to go back in time. It seems even though we are hearing that we are out of the worst of the economic down turn (that is up for discussion but not here), there are several people who are not going to be able to spend Christmas as they might want to spend it. This can create a huge amount of pressure as it comes time to give the mandatory gifts of the season.

Maybe you lost your job and your relatives didn't. They are going to get your kids really nice gifts and your credit cards are maxed out. The same could apply to anyone on your gift list and any situation.

Maybe Christmas should have started in July when there was some time to plant a garden, and then grow sunflowers to give the gift of sunflower seeds still on the flower. It is a most unusual gift and can be put outside for the birds to enjoy in winter. Ok, maybe next year. Have you thought of what you could produce in your garden in summer that would make nice gifts in December?

Who makes pickles anymore anyway? Do you even know how to do that? Is it healthy and worth the price? It sounds like something that might be fun to do on the weekend.

My grandmother used to grow lots and lots of melons. Spending summers with her as a kid meant making lots and lots of melon balls. She mixed up some sort of stuff then poured it over them and into the freezer they went. It was great when winter was here and you could have thawed out melons. They were pretty good. That is another gift from the garden idea.

My dad gave gifts that everyone loved and it was from the garden, too. He grew the best garlic around. He learned how to make garlic wreaths and braids and it was so much fun to get one of those for a Christmas present.

Well maybe it is too late for garden gifts. However keep that in mind. I like getting gifts of dried herbs, too. My parents have a bay leaf bush and getting a bag full of those is always great. Bay leaves are great in cooking, and I line my window sills with them since they are natural ant repellents. The years I don't do that I always have more ant problems.

College students can usually come up with great gift ideas, since they are usually poor. I remember my college days and life after college days thinking of inexpensive gifts.

Yarn is still cheap, and it is not all that hard to learn to crochet. Okay, maybe this sounds dumb, but people do like to get home made "hot plates holders" and you can use heavy cotton yard to make them. Even the beginner can learn to make these.

One year I took a course on how to decorate t-shirts at a local craft store. It was so much fun, and I learned that I did not have to be a super artist to do it. My holiday budget went really far that year and everyone got a hand decorated T-shirt. You could even apply the decorating skills to towels or pillow cases.

I have looked at the ingredients in certain spice blends, and then bought the spices in bulk and created my own spice blends. Put the mix in a nice jar that I got at a "dollar" store, and then added some ideas and recipes for the mixture.

One year a lot of friends and I went on a driftwood hunt. Now I guess you have to make sure you go to a beach or river where it is legal to take it. We found pieces that would make great plant holders. With a little cutting holes if they were not already there, a trip to the hardware store for some chicken wire, some moss, and inexpensive plants, or seeds, and some chain to hang the planter on we had very expensive original gifts that saved us a lot of money.

 If you are not sure what to do about starting your Christmas preparations and you are living on a budget here are some things to think about.

Instead of buying gifts, can you give a gift of your time to help a family member?  Perhaps you have a relative who needs some errands run for them, or help around their house.  You can make up a coupon book offering your help with various tasks.

Are you going to make some gifts?  Get to the craft stores now to buy your supplies, or start your online search.

Are you going to be sending gifts overseas?  They better be ready to send soon to insure that they arrive on time.  Check with the post office for up to date mailing regulations.

When you shop online you can always check to see if the company you buy from will ship the item for you.  That way you only pay the shipping charges once.

Everyone loves a home made gift.  I really enjoy tasting cookie sample gifts I get from co-workers and I appreciate the time they spent.  Plus it is fun to share them.

You don't have to go overboard on the expenses when you make your gifts.

Create a CD photo album of old family photos, and give that.  If you can not do that, why not show your family how to create an account on a photo sharing website?  Perhaps get your family and friends to all join a social site such as Facebook?

That could be your gift.  Are you a techie?  Are you great at Facebook.  Give a certificate for a free lesson.

Believe me these Christmas gifts might seem corny, but I have always been appreciated when I give gifts like this.

Some under rated but appreciated gifts include gasoline cards that are prepaid.  We all do extra driving over the holidays, and it is so nice to have a free tank of gas. 

Stock up on sale priced food and turkeys in November.  Your butcher in most markets will cut them in half.  Share them in food basket gifts.   Give the gift of your time to prepare a meal for older relatives with that.

Do you have similar ideas?  Let me know.  I will add more as I think of them and some resources for more items as I remember them.

When you are not up to facing the crowds and all that goes with it to go Christmas shopping, then shop online.  I have been shopping online for years now, and I really do like it.  I shop from trusted stores who I know can deliver the products to me fast, or at least on time for me to enjoy my free time doing other things besides fighting the crowds.

When you know what someone wants, online shopping is the way to go.  I shop Amazon quite a bit and have never been disappointed by using them.

I know Taylor Swift is very popular now since she has been featured and won several music awards.

Now there is even a game for her for Video Games.  This is sure to be something anyone who loves music would enjoy having.  Guitar Hero is another classic Video Game that sometimes you just can not find for Christmas.

I just ordered a Cannon Water Proof camera and it arrived in ONE DAY!  I was really surprised to get it so fast.  I did try a free Prime Membership to get free 2 day shipping and they even beat that.

So now I am going to check into doing grocery shopping with Amazon and see if I can save even more time.

Band Hero featuring Taylor Swift - Stand Alone Software

I hope your Christmas can be simple and stress free whether you  make your own gifts or have to go out and buy some.