Zero Dollar Christmas

This year, like a lot of people, we have a tight budget. Honestly, we have a tight budget regardless of the holidays, so when you add in holiday gift-giving, things get stressed.

For a number of years now, neither of us has been excited by the prospect of "the holidays." It's all too easy to get wrapped up in the extra to-do lists and watch as both our time and our bank balance dwindle. This year, with the realization that even our very small Christmas budget was an amazing gift, we decided to donate that money to people who've not been as fortunate.

With each donation of time and money 

our excitement for the holiday season 

grew enormously.

As a result, our rather small Christmas budget got (happily) zeroed out. With each donation of time and money our excitement for the holiday season grew enormously.

Rather than buy gifts, this year we are going to "shop at home." We are going to make presents from the supplies we already own. Granted, this may be a little easier for us, as we are two artists who have loads of "scrap" material laying around. But the idea is to use what you have and to  make it special.

I, personally, am challenging myself to do and try things I've not done before—including teaching myself how to knit and crochet (thank you YouTube for your unending array of tutorial videos).

So here's the challenge: Without adding to your stress level (very important), try not to spend money on gifts. 

If zero dollars is too daunting or stressful, just try to minimize the amount you spend.

If you need inspiration, Pinterest is a great place to start. I created a $0 Christmas board and just kept adding ideas.

Create some parameters. A lot of people find it easier if they create some rules, such as:

"One gift they want, one gift they need, one gift they wear, and one gift they read."

My rules are a bit less poetic:

1. Keep it contained (in a box, stocking, or basket)
2. Keep it simple
3. Make it fun 
4. Make it useful, reusable, or recyclable
5. Always give them something to eat
6. Wrap everything 

My zero dollar Christmas looks something like this:

• A simple handmade Christmas stocking (made from fabric scraps, felt, or old sweaters)

• Paper folded ornaments (folded origami stars or Moravian stars)—I like to use newspaper, brown paper bags, pages from old books (that are beyond repair), etc.

• Felt / fabric tags that can double as ornaments

• Baked gifts (quick breads, cookies, biscotti, or scones)—wrapped in paper.

• Knitted wash cloths (made with yarn from my stash)

• Heart-shaped book marks (made from heavy card stock or stiff felt, whatever I have on hand)

• Pocket hand warmers (made with rice and scrap fabric)

Most of the members of my family have reached adult age, but you can find wonderful (free) paper toy printables as well as patterns for play mats and stuffed animals online.