Comments on: Christmas in July and Voluntary Simplicity

By: Jaimelee

Jaimelee — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:03:36 +0000

I love the idea of Voluntary Simplicity and think it should be a common practice. Some people think that by being voluntarily simplistic you have to do without, but that is just because our socierty teaches us that we have to do with all of the time even if we don’t need it. My family and I spend the day after Thanksgiving decorating for christmas and making a nice feast to share as well as ending the day with hot cocoa. I imagine it is much more fun that watching people fight over electrnics. You were very brave to even venture out for a deal like that.

By: Niki

Niki — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:47:11 +0000

GReat post. I too hate all the commercialism that surrounds Christmas. We are doing small things for each other with a small limit. Many of these items are vintage things I found at estate sales and thrift stores. By doing this it forces me to learn more about that person, be more aware and most of all be green and creative. I love it and so do the recipients. No more late night runs to Wal-Mart. Love the site, it is the first time here.

By: Mare

Mare — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:43:42 +0000

I have a friend who asks people to bring donations for a local animal shelter to her daughter’s birthday parties instead of gifts. She let her daughter choose her ’cause’ and took her to visit the shelter before her first party. Afterward, she took her daughter to deliver the gifts to the shelter. The reward was huge–her daughter beamed with pride and experienced the true gift of giving. Later, she received a photo and letter thanking her from the center. They’ve continued this for several years now.

By: Tsoniki

Tsoniki — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:46:04 +0000

I love having simple birthdays. My kids usually get one small gift, or at least just one gift (a bike isn’t too small LOL). We don’t go overboard and I like it that way.

I need to start working on my Christmas list so I can start looking around!

By: carrie

carrie — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:52 +0000

I love your idea of buying second hand gifts. I love to do that, you never know what kind of bargain you may unearth at an estate sale, or garage sale or even the thrift store. Last year I made placemats for Christmas gifts. They were a hit!

By: Jessica Schirm

Jessica Schirm — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:46:30 +0000

I love to shop. But with money being tight and with my desire not to add to the pollution and excessive-ness that comes with buying new I have found a dear friend in consignment shops. For Christmas this year I hoped to buy my son (who will be 2) a play kitchen. As much as I would have loved it, I knew we couldn’t afforded a nice new wooden kitchen so I’ve been committed to finding a used one (wood or plastic) for him. Yesterday I found the PERFECT kitchen at a local kids consignment shop for $125 less than it retails for online or in the store. It was in great condition, I didn’t give my money to some big box store, and we didn’t contribute to all the waste (packaging, marketing, production) that comes with buying the same thing new! It came with all the accessories and my son will NEVER know the difference. I buy nearly all my clothes and all my sons clothes from consignment shops and when I am finished with things that we have outgrown or tired of I sell them back for some other family to enjoy!

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:05:04 +0000

We had a thrift store Christmas one year when we were newly married. Mostly out of economic issues. But I actually had one stuck up friend laugh at me and tell me she didn’t think she could ever do that. It got me thinking then and it does now. Which is why I’m trying to shop wisely this year. I call it my year of being thrifty. I look at thrift stores, yard sales, dollar stores or I just don’t buy it if it’s not truly necessary. My kids really enjoy it because they’ve always loved thrift stores…it’s taking my husband a while to change his train of thinking.

By: Brooke

Brooke — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:17:39 +0000

This is an interesting idea. We don’t celebrate x-mas, but my in laws do (catholic) as well as my sister and both buy my daughter gifts. My in laws do often buy her used things. Maybe this year I will suggest to people that my daughter needs some hand me downs; like Legos.

By: Cindi

Cindi — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:14:14 +0000

Probably 85% of everything in my house; furniture, kitchen stuff, wall hangings, and our clothes are used. We have NEVER bought a new car. I have been “recycling” for years. My kids wear name brand clothes that look brand new that I bought for fifty-cents to a dollar at thrift stores. Most of their toys are used.
We clean our toy boxes out once a year and donate to the woman’s shelter. My kids could care less about new stuff. They have loads of fun going to the thrift store and bringing home bags of stuff that costs less than one item at a retail store.
I think a recycled Christmas is a great idea. I think I will start early also! We are moving back to Denver at the end of the month and I will be in thrift store heaven!

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:08:22 +0000

I love this idea. I usually try to make all my gifts, but it can get overwhelming and make December a lot of work for me. Thrifted gifts could let me relax a bit.