TOP 10 TIPS TO REDUCE CHRISTMAS GIFT STRESS

Announce that this year there are no gifts

  

1. Buy everyone the same thing.  Think a beach towel, movie tickets, itune voucher
2. Buy a charity gift.  Eg chickens/goat/fresh water.  We did this as a class for one child’s Prep teacher, and it was beautifully received.  These gifts start from $5.
3. Participate in a Kris Kringle *
4. Announce that this year there are no gifts.
5. Set a rule that anything given has to be homemade or recycled (you are welcome to use the Positive Young Minds Free Fun Christmas Booklet.  
6. Buy from local craft markets.  
7. Buy consumables.  Homemade sauces, jams, theatre tickets etc.
8. Stick to a budget.
9. Don’t buy something electronic, or if you do, don’t make it the biggest gift.  Why? You don’t want to be the parent when the gift doesn’t work, and have to line up in JB-HiFi to replace it on Boxing Day, only to be told that they are out of stock.
10. If you are buying something with batteries, provide rechargeable batteries as part of the gift, and if possible try to test it before hand.

 
PLUS A BONUS TIP
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KEEP THE RECEIPT

You don’t want to be the parent when the gift doesn’t work, and have to line up in JB-HiFi to replace it on Boxing Day, only to be told that they are out of stock.

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​What is a Kris Kringle?

*A Kris Kringle is when each person buys a gift for just one person in a group, hence reducing excess and cost.  There are many variations.  

1. Names can be drawn and allocated (Secret Santa) or
2.  it can be pot luck – everyone brings a gift. 

 
If it is pot luck , here are three variations of how to distribute the gifts.

1. Put the gifts in a row.  If there are 10 gifts write the numbers 1 to 10 on pieces of paper and put them in a hat/bowl.  Everyone draws a number.  People then take turns to choose a gift depending on the number they received in the draw. So if you drew number one, you go first.
2. The person whose turn it is has a choice of choosing a wrapped gift or taking an already opened gift from someone (pays to go last in this variation!).  ps I would only recommend this option if people are going to have fun with it, and not be upset when someone takes ‘their’ gift.  Christmas Day is not really the day to lecture people about resilience.
3. Put a number on the gift and match it up with the number drawn from the hat.

Christmas Day is not really the day to lecture people about resilience.

​What is your number one tip to reduce Christmas gift stress?  Have you tried the 'no gifts this Christmas' one?

​If you would like to continue this conversation you are welcome join the discussion at the Facebook group Creating Christmas Calm. 

Do you have children aged 5-25?  Would you like to share your parenting journey with other parents?  You can subscribe and be kept informed about what is coming up in the Positive Young Minds community here. You can also pop over and join us on Facebook. ​

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