Four for Christmas

It is easy to get caught up in the materialism of Christmas, especially if you have kids. My kids have already made full page Christmas lists. How much should I buy?

About six years ago, when our oldest child was 2 we heard a strategy for parents to approach Christmas with. I forget now exactly where we heard it, but I think it may have been Focus on the Family. It is a simple approach that has worked well for us. Only buy your kids four gifts. Buy them something:

1. they want
2. they need
3. that is practical
4. to help them grow spiritually.

Even though we are always buying four gifts, we can adjust the gifts for our budget at the time. When things have been tight some of the gifts have been very small. When the finances are better, the gifts can be nicer. Regardless, there are only four gifts. Some examples:

Something they want
Want? My kids don't want anything do yours? *wink* This is the fun gift, the wow gift, the one they have been waiting for. In good times there have been big toys or a CD player. In tight times a simple toy light saber. I remember the year our oldest got the light saber. Instead of ripping through a mountain of gifts and throwing them all to the side, he opened his four, and played with that light saber for hours. He and his younger siblings still play with it. He really appreciated it. Sometimes more is just too much.

Something they need
You know what a need is. It is something you would buy anyway because, well. . . they need it! Under our tree there have been snow boots, socks, clothing and the like. Also, very budget adjustable.

Something practical
This is a gift that is useful. (My favorite kind of gift!) It can also be fun. Many times I will give an educational game as the practical gift. In a very lean year, this gift was chap stick.

Something spiritual
Obviously for this gift you would follow your own family's beliefs. For us, this gift has included Bibles, worship CD's, devotionals, Veggie Tales and Learning Bank. (This link is to a similar bank, apparently they don't make the one we have anymore.)

There are a lot of reasons I like this approach. I have a plan. As I talked about yesterday, having a plan for Christmas helps me keep in the budget and avoid stress. It is manageable. (especially now that we have four kids) The kids also know the plan. They expect to see four gifts for them under the tree. There isn't disappointment or comparison of piles on Christmas morning.

Most importantly, this plan helps to limit the commercialism and greediness for stuff that comes with the holidays. The fun and excitement are still there without the overload that comes from excess. The kids value and treasure the four gifts that they get. They don't get lost in a pile of stuff.

This plan may not be for everyone. I am not saying that it is. This is just what works for us.