Don't get me wrong. I love the holidays.
I am however thankful, for the most part, that stores weren't stocking Christmas stuff back in August as they've done in years past. But when one walks into Target on Halloween expecting to get that last batch of candy (to replace the all of the candy one may or may not have eaten), and finds Christmas trees set up where the costumes had been the day before, well... that's enough to cause a certain person's brain to frazzle.
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On the plus side, starting the holiday season on October 31 means, essentially, that I have 3 extra weeks of practicing my deep breathing and stress relieving techniques. (or 3 extra weeks of consuming grandma's "special" egg nog.)
Basically, an October 31st induction pretty much means we're just going to skip right past Thanksgiving this year. Our very own carb-stacking holiday, to celebrate our gratitude for deep discounts and to prepare us for early morning sprints down the sale aisle, is apparently no longer needed.
Now, along with black Friday sales in the middle of the week (in July), we also have black Friday (& cyber Monday) deals throughout the month of November. Sure, some of the deals don't start until November 22nd (the Thursday formerly known as Thanksgiving)—but for the most part November is now a folly of black Friday circulars, interrupted briefly by a 15 minute gorging of turkey & stuffing, and a football game (or 2).
Most of us are at the point where we just don't want (or don't have room for) more "stuff." For that reason, this year, my gifting parameters will be simple:
If you can't eat it or read it, it has to be useful or recyclable.
And, in all honesty, it's going to be hard to reign in my excitement over super cool gadgets once costing $199, now slashed to $89. It almost doesn't matter what it is, because LOOK HOW MUCH YOU'RE SAVING! I mean seriously. I'm pretty sure I could figure out a use for the wireless camera née flood lights with the extra rechargeable battery pack (that I have to replace every few weeks based on the sucky battery reviews). It's sort of like when Ryobi sells a drill/battery bundle for the same price as a battery—you figure, you can never have too many drills, right? (I mean, four's not too many is it?)
(The answer, btw, is no. Four is not too many.)
Still, I have to tear myself away from all of these deals. My priority this holiday season is to not go into any sort of debt. No purchasing of gifts on credit cards (even if it's 0% interest for 6 months). No major purchases just because something is on super sale. And no major stressors—financial or otherwise.
Last year we kept it simple and it was a wonderfully relaxed holiday. We exchanged books on Christmas Eve for our Jolabokaflud tradition, then opened stockings filled with homemade goodies (and the occasional gift card) on Christmas day. We sat near the fire, each of us reading our magazines or books. Every once in awhile the quiet would be broken by someone saying, "listen to this," and they'd read from whatever new acquisition was unearthed from their stocking.
But let's be honest here, most of us are at the point where we just don't want (or don't have room for) more "stuff." For that reason, this year, my gifting parameters will be simple: If you can't eat it or read it, it has to be useful or recyclable.
And, as a part of the de-stressing process, I give all of my gift recipients permission to regift anything I've given to them with no hurt or hard feelings—the gift is theirs to do with as they please. Part of that is also giving myself permission to regift, recycle, or donate items that people have given me without feeling guilty.
So, how am I going to not spend money this holiday season? Well, I've cashed in some of my Amazon gift card rewards, using apps like ibotta*, Fetch (referral code: Y4TNR)*, Receipt Hog, Receipt Pal, and Checkout 51—giving me a $50 budget for supplies. I'm shopping at home (aka re-gifting). I'm baking. And I'm making stuff from scratch.
I haven't quite figured out everything I'll be giving, but I am going to try my hand at making chocolate Babka, and embossed sugar cookies. This year, most of the gifts will be from my kitchen unless I get a wild hair at the last minute (which is more likely than not).
*these referral links may offer new users extra points if using my referral code.
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