This year has been a hard one for me and our large family. A great many things have happened. Some things good and some bad.
We have lost a large portion of our family income that we are struggling to replace. Which has made made us rethink everything we have ever known about money. This is one of the reason that has also prompted me to start a life to living with less.
With Christmas season well underway. I am starting to look into what we can actually afford to purchase this year for our tribe with eight children. Planning out what fits into the gift budget and what fits into our new family vision of living with less.
With the children having other family member that will be purchasing gifts. I know they will not be missing out fully. Which is why we decide to limit our gift giving this year into five category’s for each child.
In pervious years, I have heard about the Four Gift Rule. I have seem many YouTube mum’s use this rule for their own families as a way to help keep to their ideals of minimalism. And for our family this year, with our budget and new journey towards the minimalism, I have to say I can see the benefits. But I want to add one more category for some of my tiny humans that are creatives.
What is The Five Gift Rule?
The Five Gift Rule is an idea to gift each child only five gifts. The rules help limit over spending during the Christmas season. Which is very handy when you are on a strict budget, just like we are. It also helps to limit the amount of new items coming into the home. Preventing the overwhelm and chaos that can usually be Christmas morning.
Each gift is from one of the five category’s listed below. While this method can be different on the cost of the gift, depending on the age, wants and needs of each child. It makes sure that each child only receives just five gifts. That means no more fight over who has more.
Something They Want
The category of something they want. Can be as open-minded as you allow it to be. Usually this category is the one where the child gets to choose what the one items the want the most is. It might be that toy they have been bugging you about all year or some new trending items that has just been release this season. It could be anything and you need to determine the budget.
Something They Need
This category is about filling the gaps of what they need right now. You can ask your children what it is they need the most. It could even be something school related. For our family this is the category we will be using to expand the kids outdoor sports equipment.
Something To Wear
The category of something to wear is to fill a void in the kids wardrobe. Something new and fun. Now I get that most people think that clothing can be such a horrible gift. I know some people who refuse to give clothing as gifts for Christmas. I don’t see the problem in giving clothing. A pretty tutu dress for the girls. Or a Christmas themed Pyjama set for the whole family for a fantastic Christmas photo this year.
Something To Read
Encouraging children to read is why this has been made a category. Books can be cost effective for your Christmas budget. Books can provide hours of entertainment for free, away from screens. It doesn’t have to just be a novel. My older boys have discovered the magic of comic books this year. I can not wait to expand their little collection this Christmas with a new comic book each.
Something To Create
This is the category I am adding this year. You may have tiny creative spirits in your home just like I do. This is the category is where we are encouraging that creativity by getting into the arts and crafts. We want to strategically purchase creative things. To hopefully, get the kids away from technology. I have a couple of little artist that I want to encourage in my home. I am prepared for things to get a little messy this year.
What are the benefits of of doing the 5 gift rule….
- It Simplifies your Christmas shopping and reduces stress
- You limit the amount of toys coming into your home. They have other extended family members like, grandparents, aunts and uncles that will buy gifts for them too. They won’t miss out
- It keeps your Christmas Spending under control and staying on budget
- You spend more time with enjoying Christmas as a family. And less time cleaning up the aftermath of the present unwrapping mayhem.
A couple of months ago our family Christmas looked bleak. With the income cuts and learning how to budget all over again, just to put food on the table. This year, Christmas was going to look greatly different from the years before that where filled with stocking bags full of presents.
I am usually the type of person to have all the gifts sorted by late October or early November. Right now we are now at the end of November and I am only just planning out what to buy.
My final message…
I know this method of Christmas Shopping is not everyones cup of tea. For me it has been the light in the darkness of stress and overwhelm. Family is what is important around Christmas time. The gifts are just a bonus.
If you have the means this year. Please, remember to donate a gift to a charity in your area. So you can make someone else’s Christmas a little brighter.
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