My Favorite Christmas Tradition Will Save You Money

Back in the mid 1990's my family stopped buying Christmas gifts for everyone in an attempt to save money. In addition to my mom and dad, there was myself and my three sisters plus all of the nephews, nieces and grandchildren. What did we do?

We started our version of a Pollyanna Gift Exchange, except ours was not secret. We each wrote up a list of items we wanted for Christmas. Then with the exception of the children too young to buy their own gifts, we each put our name into a hat.

Whichever name you pulled, that was the person you bought gifts for, based off of the list provided by that person. We made it to be no less than three gifts we could purchase for that family member. Anyone could buy a gift for someone else if they wanted to.

WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

Now that my mom and dad have passed away and all the children are young adults, we do not buy any gifts. You are probably thinking, that doesn’t seem right. Don’t worry, it gets better. We all pool our money and go on a family Christmas vacation to someplace warm.

My oldest sister has time-share properties she can go to all over the world. Most of the time, these time-shares are fully equipped two bedroom suites or a small house. This makes it super affordable because we split the cost among ourselves, saving us money.

Based on where those properties are located, each year one of us picks a destination and that is where the family goes. It’s a great way for us to enjoy time together, since we all live in different states. Again, if you still want to buy a gift for someone, you can.

Seeing how I am the youngest of my siblings, I got to choose first. I chose that we spend Christmas at Disney Word in Florida. The 2nd year one of my sisters couldn’t decide where to go. Seeing how I know she liked stage shows, I convinced her to choose Las Vegas.

This is a great Christmas tradition because in this day and age with so many family members spread out all over the country, spending a relatively inexpensive family holiday together is a blessing. I hope this inspires you to try something similar.

Hi Everyone, I hope the Holiday Season has been wonderful for all!
My story is not of a tradition, but rather of a Christmas incident that cemented relationship between my then fiance, Bill, and my father.

Although my fiance and myself were both products of the western United States traditions, he was of the "oil patch" upbringing and I was from the "cowboy/rancher" tradition.

We met while in college, he being a senior, I a freshman. He had had a couple of visits with my parents, but not enough to be well aquainted. My mother was welcoming to everyone, but my dad was a little more reserved. I hoped for a close relationship between my dad, who was my hero, and my future husband.

We were to be married Dec. 28th, when I would be home from college and he could get off from work. He was a guest in our home for Christmas and preceding our marriage.

The house had not been decorated, awaiting our arrival. The day after both Bill and I had arrived, decorating began. My dad said, "Well, Bill, Mom has said it's time to get the tree up, we need to go find one. Are you ready?" Off they went, bundled up for the cold and deep snow, axe in hand, into the extensive riverbottom filled with trees that was part of the family ranch.

In a couple of hours I looked out and saw them returning across the yard, togther dragging the tree, talking and laughing as they trudged through the snow.

They got the tree trimmed and set up and we all began decorating, Bill and Dad telling their experince of finding just the right tree.

Bill was raised a town boy, and his family had never gone out and cut their own tree. It had been a brand new experience for him, and became the basis of a life long close relationship between him and my father, which I treasured throughout our long life together. My husband and my father had a wonderful relationship from that time forward.

It was also the foundation of our own family tradition of bringing in our tree. We enjoyed that annual treck with our five children for many years.

We had an extremely unusual tradition, well it was only between my brother and my Aunt. My Aunt would always wrap one present that was a gag gift and one year my brother got a woman's girdle. From that point forward that girdle got passed back and forth between those two for years. Yeah, our family is a bit nutty, but we have a lot of fun!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! 🎄🍾

Cheers to 2025!! 🥂🥂

Tim 🎼

Merry Christmas :)
We spend Christmas morning paired up with the kids in matching tshirts competing with ginger bread house making.
They are not always the best looking but it's always a messy job with lots of laughs!
Image below is of mine and my neices house this year.
Note to self don't forget to glue the walls with icing before you pick it up hahaha

Hello Everyone!
Merry Christmas

For me, the most memorable Christmas was 39 years ago.
That year we moved to a new house.
Everything was available in it - heating (radiator), running water, toilet - which until then had been in a poorer version (oil stove, restroom in the yard).
I was happy with the progress and began to feel that the road only leads up from here.
I knew and felt that every day is a miracle and if we have dreams and goals, we are rich people, because achieving them depends only on us.
The Christmas preparations revived in me the feeling that I had suppressed in myself until then, the feeling of the Christmas miracle.
When you are there with your family and you feel the positive energies flowing towards you.
When you feel the love and care.
A moment that we keep within ourselves.
I have not been a part of this before or since.

My favorite memory comes from age 10, so 40 years ago but left such an impression I couldn't try to forget a detail.

My dad did painting on Over the Road trucks, those big hulking beasts that bring food to the stores. Since he didn;t earn enough to have a shop we traveled to follow trucking patterns and good weather from California in the summers to Texas or Florida for the winters.

That year we were headed out of Cali late and got stuck in Bakersfield CA from an early snow storm. Unable to do the painting dad took a cook job at the Truck Stop across from the motel we were living in. Motels don't come cheap and neither does food for a family of 4 so my parents prepared us for the worst, no presents this year, Santa may not be able to find us.

What transpired next was a blessing that was man-made but heaven-sent. The people running the motel and their staff all took up the task of playing Santa for our family. The maids replaced our strand of lights Christmas tree with a miniature artificial tree put what gifts would fit under it and left a message a couple more presents that wouldn't;t fit under that tree were in the office.

Not only were two amazing robot toys up there for my brother and I, but an invite to Christmas Dinner there at the Scottsman Inn, and a couple hundred dollars for mom and dad to make sure we stayed righted until the bad weather broke.

While not a full on tradition because money hasn;t always been right to do so, still to this day if there is a family that doesn't have and we can help we return the favor.

I’m glad to see that for some families, the essence of Christmas, festive dinners with loved ones, exchanging gifts, smiles, happiness, and inner peace, remains a cherished memory and perhaps a constant tradition.

For me, however, the holiday season was marked by deep sadness, especially for my son. As a single mother, since my son was two months old, with his father refusing any contact, it was easier for me during the year to take on the role of both mother and father. But everything changed as the holidays approached.

One moment that will forever remain in my memory and heart happened one year after the Christmas celebration at his kindergarten. Naturally, both parents of the other children were present.

When we got home, my son said: “Mommy, when will you give me money so I can buy myself a daddy?”

At that moment, I felt my heart shatter into a thousand pieces. Struggling to hold back my tears, I explained to him that he already had a father. It took immense strength to get through that moment and give him an explanation appropriate for a child his age.

Since only two days were left until Christmas, I decided to prepare an extra gift for my son, pretending it was from his father.

I will never forget his eyes, which seemed to be laughing with happiness as he opened the so-called special gift. From that year on, our tradition, especially mine, was to prepare an extra special gift every Christmas.

I kept this tradition alive for many years until, one year, my son told me, “This year, just one gift is enough. It’s already special to me.” By then, he already knew the truth!

For me, it is not the tradition itself that has meaning but the small acts of love done from the heart for those we cherish. They become the true legacy of the family.

I wish you Happy and Blessed Holidays!

Hey All, Yet another great contest. Unfortunately, we've gotten out of traditions. Working retail at a store over the past years has made me dislike the holidays more and more each year. I still partake in some things , but it just isn't the same as the past.

One tradition we always used to do was open 1 present the night before on the 24th. We did that for as long as I can remember. It made it more intriguing when the morning of came around, and you felt like you didn't have to rush to be the first one up.

Another tradition was we would always have mimosas and scratch lotto tickets.

Anyway, short and sweet this challenge!

Cheers!

P.S. I don't see a post for last week's challenge winners announced, did I miss it?

Happy christmas to you all!

One of my favorite holiday traditions is gathering with family and friends for a storytelling evening by the fireplace. Every Christmas Eve, we dim the lights, light some candles, and take turns sharing stories – some are heartfelt memories from the past year, while others are whimsical tales we create on the spot.

The warmth of the fire, the sound of laughter, and the comfort of being surrounded by loved ones always fill the room with a magical holiday spirit. My favorite memory is from a few years ago when my younger sibling, who rarely speaks up in crowds, told the most imaginative story about a mischievous snowflake that couldn’t find its way to the ground. We laughed until we cried, and it became the highlight of the night.

It’s these moments of connection, creativity, and shared joy that make the season so special and remind me of the true meaning of the holidays.

Happy Christmas Wealthy Affiliate ❤️🎅🙏 My Christmas tradition is literally making sure the food preparation is done for the holiday Season. I always remember on Christmas when your peeling the vegetables and making sure everything is ready to cook the hardest part for me was the swede and carrot but I was always the one for the job, Mum made sure of that lol It's been a different kind of Christmas this year but for me it's about looking at the positive in the negative. I have been practicing gratitude lately and one main thing I'm greatful for me this year, is being introduced to WA. Like minded people that have a vision to be successful and change the world in their own way!