As a Minimalist Family, we get asked all the time how we handle the holidays. Do minimalists have Christmas trees? Do minimalists decorate? Do minimalists exchange gifts? By now, most people who are aspiring minimalists have an understanding that these answers will vary from family to family, but to give an idea of how THIS ‘real life minimalist family’ handles Christmas, I’ll be sharing what’s under our Christmas tree this year.
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Decorations
First, let me say, I adore Christmas and practically everything about it. The twinkling lights, the smell of pine, the tradition of adorning a tree with family ornaments passed down for generations! And yes, I even love wrapping gifts. I look forward to seeing instagram light up with inspiring Christmas décor ideas – because the whole season and the splendor of it all is just pleasing to look at! BUT – we do not personally do much in the decoration department.
In our house, we decorate a tree — and that’s it! (This year, we did also put a string of lights on the girls’ climber). No figurines, no pine sprigs, no tinsel, no artificially scented candles, no glittery pine cones. Nothing. It’s not that we’re grumps, it just that with small children, our lives can do without the additional holiday clutter. If you’re on the fence about decorating next year, I’d urge you to try and go without! Instead, take a drive through the neighborhood and enjoy what others have done. Less clutter, less cleanup, and less mess for the environment = less stress for everyone!
At our beachside motel – we do a LITTLE extra. We have a tree in the office and a small Christmas village on the ground under it, as well as a few surprises that get moved around by our kiddos.
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Gift Giving – Partners
For Christmas, Dan and I don’t exchange gifts with one another. Throughout the year, we make very intentional purchases as we need them, and we occasionally surprise one another with something special – USUALLY in the form of food. Example: Dan might come home with a gluten-free cookie or a flower he picked from outside, to show he was thinking of me while out and about. Or I might bring home a pizza for him, even though I can’t eat it, (because of gluten). These ‘surprises’ may not be tangible for long, but the many small gestures throughout the year strengthen our bond and make ‘gift giving’ feel unnecessary at Christmas time.
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Gift Giving – Children
For our children ages 1.5 and 4, we DO give gifts. We try to shop at local small businesses FIRST, then we scout online if we can’t find something locally. (Most the gifts below were bought locally, but I’ve included Amazon.com links) Here’s what’s under our tree this year:
1. Melissa & Doug Safari Play Rug
2. Rainbow Fairy Books
3. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Crystal Growing Garden
4. Razor Kick Scooter
5. Jump2it Trampoline
6. Pokemon Battle Figures (because our daughter is Pokemon crazy!)
7. Markers
8. Play Dough
9. 10x Magnifying Glass
So that’s it. That’s Christmas in the Messy Minimalist household. What does your Christmas look like? I’d love to hear!
2 comments
My daughter age 10 is getting a coloring book, two sets of clothing, shoes (she already opened), and one surprise that may have to wait till after Christmas a big box set of LOL Dolls from Walmart.
Hubby is getting under clothing (as he does every year) I expect nothing from either one. My mom normally gets us each some clothes and a few nicnacks. Each year we also get an ornament from my mom.
We are trying to be more minimal to make room for foster children.
I will be gifting my husband and 2 young adult kids theater ticket to see Les Mis and we will make a night out of it with dinner out to a favorite restaurant. My newly married daughter and son in law who are living out of state are getting a TV stand they picked out for their apartment. My mother in law will get a copy of her senior yearbook-something she has mentioned she would like to have several times, and my father in law gets a snack basket filled with his favorite foods. Adult siblings and cousins don’t do gifts. We have one young neice and one nephew we buy a toy for. He is getting Fur Real TREX (kid loves dinosaurs) and she is getting a hand knit cuddle+kind doll. We tried to be very intentional and thoughtful with our gifts this year. We actually spent a little more but we are OK knowing that these items will be meaningful and appreciated.