Call me old-fashioned, but I see us as a society, government and economy as having made living beyond our means a way of life. I don’t think we can spend our way out of the situation we are in, and end up any healthier in the long run.

Restraint, not stinginess is a good middle ground.

There are negative consequences to eschewing consumerism too.

I am divorced from the boys’ father, so half the Christmas Days they spend at his house, not mine. Because our traditions center more around the season than the day, where they are on Christmas day does not matter nearly so much.

I, too, have been thinking long and hard about what to do about gifts , and I’ve come to realize that this year is really a huge opportunity - to ignore what you think people “expect” from you and what you “expect” from yourself in the types (or expense) of presents you think you should be giving. This year, we will be focusing on thoughtfulness and practicality - what people will really use or consume.

So once again, I will give citrus fruit, baked and canned goods. Along with slowing down to focus on spending time with family/friends instead of spending money.

Thanks for the reminder!!!