Keeping Christ in Christmas

In the Hutchison family this year we have seen the number of our grandchildren expand from 3 to 4 and our retirement funds shrink by 40%. No wonder we are interested in ideas on saving money at Christmas time.

But there is also another reason I would very much like to hear your ideas on how to experience Christmas on a limited budget. To many Christian families, Christmas is the first step to financial destruction.

This first step is the deadly combination of giving hearts, tight budgets, lack of planning and credit cards. Putting Christmas gifts on credit cards without the funds to pay the bill is of the top "starting point" for family financial train wrecks.

By keeping our focus on Christ and not the "shop til you drop" commercialism of Christmas, we not only keep our priorities in line, but our budget in check as well. This is one more way that God can use money in our lives to keep us close to Him (Matthew 6:21).

Here are a few ideas, of which I am hoping you will add many more:

1. Celebrate Christmas on January 1st. It might surprise you how much can be saved by buying Christmas gifts at the "after Christmas sales".
2. Exchange names in your family or group and set limits on the gifts. Not only do you get the additional surprise of finding out who has your name, but far more attention can be paid to getting just the right gift.
3. Be a little more practical with Christmas gifts this year. (A few years ago, I wanted to give Joyce a vacuum for Christmas. OK, maybe not that practical.) How about a gas card, coffee card or even a gift certificate for a car wash, or car service?
4. Use your budget when you are purchasing gifts. Before you buy the first gift, sit down with your spouse and decide how much you want to spend in total, and on each person and then stick to it. It might be helpful to cash a check and then buy all of your gifts cash, using an envelope to keep track of how much money is still available. It is a proven fact that people that purchase with plastic will spend more than cash spenders.
   

I would love to hear some ideas on how you celebrate Christmas on a limited budget. But also I would enjoy hearing how you and your family keep the focus of Christmas on Christ in today's culture.