Anyone else doing a "simple" christmas?

[Fillyjonk]

You know, not much toys/presents, sustainable, possibly involving a goat ?

We are trying not to buy any landfill this year, to make as much as possible and to buy handmade or charity stuff where not.

I fully accept that this is probably only possible because my kids are young enough to be brainwashed (5, 3 and 8 months) but hey, I am enjoying it while I can.

Anyone else?

we always do. Quiet day, few pressies.

Yep. We try to cut down year on year. This year, dp and I plan to buy each other only token presents and then spend the money we save on a holiday in February (still flying but we've only flown twice in nearly 15 years, so not so bad).

We don't send Christmas cards and will use brown paper to wrap pressies, as it's easier to recycle (gift wrap generally can't be iirc). We only buy presents for children in the family and have made arrangements with friends that we used to buy for to go on an outing together instead of buying presents.

The girls will get presents but they will generally be things that they need and will use: drawing stuff, sewing things and such-like.

Goats will also be part of the proceedings at some point!

Our presents are fairly modest - but with five kids, they soon mount up.

We eat nice food, but don't go ott with snacks and millions of courses. I basically do the turkey and trimmings which seems to last about 3 days with just a few supplements.

Ours is food-centred, and mostly made at home food.

No goats, though.

Message withdrawn

We always use newspaper to wrap pressies - you get some comical headlines. That or recycled wrapping paper from pressies we've been given.

sorry Danae I understand that christmas is not just about presents, but it seems slightly harsh not to give a two year old something at christmas! Even just something small. Presents are a tradition that comes from the church after all - Jesus got given presents when he was born.

Yes we are too.

Just the 4 of us at home all day.

Minimum presents for the kids, and just a small thing for DH and myself.

Lots of food.

Small affair for us this year too, cant wait!

Very few presents, a stocking from santa with usable stuff rather than crap.

Roast beef instead of Turkey this year, with all the trimmings. Trifle for pud as none of us like christmas pudding.

Church in the morning for me and the girls.

I have £100 in morrisons saving stamps saved so will use that for the food and hope I dont have to add too much to it.

Yes we are, DD wil be 13mo at xmas and is getting just small prezzies from DH and I, I have got some from a chaity shop and will maybe spend anot £25-30 on her including some clothes.

Going to mums for Xmas lunch, no doubt DD wil get spoilt there so we don't need to. I too am enjoying it while it lasts

DH and I are not buying each other prezzies this year, we just cannot afford it, but we both want the gordon rammsey fast food cookbook so we might treat ourselves to that.

Am intriegued by the goat!!!

Aye, should be fairly quiet with us. Spending Christmas Day with my family and we don't really go a bundle on festivities now that my brother has died, so hoping for a nice day involving food, drink, modest token gifts and just enjoying being together. It's DS's first Christmas, he'll only be 4 months and I really really don't want people to go mad buying stuff we don't need so am going to ask that they put money in his savings if anything - there's plenty of time yet to acquire plastic crap and packaging.

Boxing Day with DP's family who do like to buy presents, but it's still just a nice family day.

Looking forward to it all

I have given this christmas a lot of thought already and i have come to the decision that i need to go back to basics regarding present buying etc for my children and especially the amount of money that will be spent. Here is what i have decided to do: Buy a few small gifts, eg toiletries for my lads (teenagers), a couple of DVDs each, colouring stuff for dd, bath bombs and little girly stuff for dd, and one main present for each of them, plus new pjs, slippers for xmas eve and a few clothes! Gift cards for nieces & nephews and a small thoughtfull gift for my parents! Even this alone is such a big difference to what i usually spend, i am now starting to feel a bit tight, but needs must i`m afraid!! A few sweet treats for the kids and a nice bottle of wine for me , and a lovely christmas dinner should just about cover it!! I have planned a few unexpensive christmas activities for my dd to do, so with that and settling down together to watch christmas telly, we should have a lovely christmas!!

This is such a great thread compared to all the other stressed out Xmas threads!! I am so looking forward to a quiet Xmas. DH and I don't give each other presents anyway, and this year my sister has suggested that we don't do presents for each other - hurray! DH and I will get a few things for our DCs. We get the grandparents presents since they give to the grandchildren, but we don't get anything from them. We don't do a huge roast either cos the DCs don't like it, last year we had a stew and trifle for pud! We will get together with family in the New Year but Xmas will just be very relaxing, church nativity on Xmas Eve, then hoping to spend most of Christmas Day in PJs watching telly and scoffing Quality Street. I have no plans to involve goats in the preceedings, although DH is Welsh, so there may be goats' cheese

Lol at goats' cheese!

This year I am copying my friend and doing a lucky dip for pressies for extended family and friends. One colour for men, one for women and one for kids. All nice presents about 5-10 quid each, but saves so much stress worrying about what each person would love. They just get what they pick, they will all be nice presents as I have got a lot in sales during the year. Any leftovers will be next years birthday pressies!