buy nothing christmas '03
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Stories of Buy Nothing Christmas

These stories were submitted to us, which means you can add yours too. [Hint: rants against this effort will be accepted, but hate mail gets deleted.]

Where did I say you should shop so much?
» Photo from Columbia, PA.

Just thought this quote would inspire and encourage. "Thrift is the really romantic thing; economy is more romantic than extravagance...thrift is poetic because it is creative; waste is unpoetic because it is waste...if a man could undertake to make use of all the things in his dustbin, he would be a broader genius than Shakespeare." G. K. Chesterton, What's Wrong With the World Chapter IV The Romance of Thrift - Noelle Allison

My family started this years ago. We are a large family and had trouble instituting and sticking to the $10.00 or one gift rule. So we made new rules. Everyone got everyone else a gift, except you're not allowed to buy it. We have even more fun now on xmas morning than ever. We keep all the regular trappings of baking, carol singing, tree trimming, great food, and visiting family. We think all year and are always on the look out for something you didn't buy and can give as a gift. For us re-gifting is de-rigeur! Also promos, giveaways and other freebies all make an appearance. Gifts are found, made, or passed along. It allows children, teens, adults, and grandparents to try and be creative and give meaningful gifts. The exchange of gifts becomes much more significant as all the gifts are literally priceless. On xmas day it seems the best gifts are given by those with the least ability to buy, children and low income, and therefore the most accustomed to being creative and seeing the value in objects that can't be bought. - Ian Buchanan

I haven't bought anything for Xmas for many many years, including cards, and keep urging friends to do likewise. I absolutely hate the meaningless hype at this time of the year and the waste of resources that goes with it, food included. Instead of taking part in all the consumerism, perhaps people should dedicate some of their spare time over Xmas (and hopefuly throughout the year) to help local communities and animals (who incidentally get more abused at this time of the year than at any other) or do something constructive for the environment. A sigh of relief to find there are some intelligent, thinking people out there, so do indulge in buying nothing! All the best - Hella, UK

My grandmother used to make boxes for small gifts out of old cards. I loved these. She would also take styrofoam balls and cut small pieces of fabric and apply them to the balls to make ornaments. She also made peanut butter balls and cheese balls. My family used to always wrap gifts for anytime of the year in the comics pages from the newspaper. - DeShea

I would like to share with you a little song I made up: On the last day of Christmas Jesus came to me, and whispered in my ears, "That's not what I meant." I like to sing it to my husband while driving through town. - Vivian Phillips, Bermuda.

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