I really like to observe Advent as a time of waiting/preparation. The 12 days of Christmas START on the 25th and end January 6. That is when we celebrate. Bit of a swim upstream but we hold to it. Thanks to Japanese friends I wrap gifts in reusable cloth…no paper waste. The wrapping is often part of the gift such as a scarf. I also aim to provide experiences or consumable items rather than more “stuff.”
Thanks for the tips! I've spent this year decluttering my house and it's so nice to have less to manage. I have been thinking a lot about talking to extended family about not needing lots of gifts for Christmas...also, how to approach gift giving from myself to them. These are very helpful ideas! I really liked the "What needs to be replaced?" idea. That idea of asking them, could cross-over with the time gift..."What do you need help with, needs to be fixed, etc.?" Also, your hair looks nice!
I think that as an adult, a lot of times those practical everyday things are the best gifts!!! My in laws used to give us toilet paper as one of our gifts when my husband I and were first married. I didn’t really understand why then, but I sure do now! Thanks for your kind words about my hair :) ❤️
Being intentional, mindful of what you bring into your own life and the lives of others - what a wonderful thing! Investing your time, watching the fruits of your actions slowly take root and grow. This is what Christmas can be about - thank you!
Good afternoon new subscriber! Please don't take this the wrong way but it's soooo refreshing to hear that less is so much more. I think many many people would really like to do what you are suggesting but not prepared to make the first step !!!! I only buy for my two grandchildren and my partner.I refuse to get caught up in All that Xmas greed ,!!!!!. Thanks for making so much sense .
Some that I do: -Yes, I thift a lot. I go with a list of exactly what I need (ex: a pair of nightstands, a wall mirror). I also have written down measurements of the size range of the item that may fit. I always take a tape measure. -Taking photos and measurements of an object. Then when I return home and can verify if the item will fit. -For clothing, I thrift, go to outlets and shop online. Shopping online helps me to only buy what I need. I always make a list of what I am looking to buy and I only buy classic clothing. -I throw out the old clothing I am replacing before I buy anything new. This way I get by with less, and I can rethink what I am buying. It also prevents me from holding onto an item after I buy a replacement. -I only wear black, white, navy, and grey clothing. (I have a few rare items in other colors). I know I will always wear black turtlenecks so when I find one I like, I buy 2 or 3 and I do cycle them all at the same time or if I buy 3, I will put one aside for when I want to wear something that looks brand new when the others are looking worn. -I am very conscious of The Diderot Effect: once you buy a thing your need more things/it is easier to separate your money from you. -When thrifting, often I leave my wallet in the car so that if I really want something, it is a bit inconvenient for me and it does serve as a braking system.
I’m usually just drawn into really good clearance deals. 😂😂 Can I freeze it or store it for awhile? Do I know or think I’ll like eating it? What is my quantity on hand and will it fit easily? Reverse meal planning etc. Most often groceries. And sometimes the thrift store. The questions there are where’s it going for a home and what is its use? Sometimes I slip tho but the questions often keep me in check. I hear a lot about retail therapy or being a shopaholic, but I think I’m more like a “dealaholic.” 😅😅 And when I say deal I mean deep dish deals that are as close to free as it gets (I used to be a bit of an extreme couponer with a pretty big stockpile. Some neighbors would even “shop” at my “discount store.” Lol). Thrill of the hunt and thrill of the deal pretty much for me. Like a sporting game I love playing. Well at least I know myself so that’s a good place to start. Most days sticker shock alone keeps me in line when it comes to retail. It’s so often still too expensive Imo even with sales and their clearance is usually pretty sucky. I find high prices depressing so rarely do I even enter a more “swanky” retail place. A truly amazing deal lights me up tho. Lol.
You’re right, the good thing is that you can recognize your tendencies and keep them in line reasonably. I don’t think there is anything wrong with finding a good deal and purchasing if it is something that will be useful to you! ❤️
@@ArrowHillCottage Lol. Yes. Def a cheap thrill deal isn’t always a “deal” but sometimes you stumble upon a real jackpot and that is such a great feeling to me. But if you spend $5 on stuff you won’t use or enjoy or can’t ever get to, then it’s $5 wasted. I think one key also is tapping into our intuition. It can help us navigate the diff between what the Good Lord wants to bless us with and what we are just being too frivolous about. 😅😅 Our guts know tho. It knows when to snag it up and when to pass on it. Or even when to go looking Bcuz you have a good “hunch” about where to shop or when. I don’t always know why I go to any place at any time sometimes but I know my “hunches” know things I don’t yet know. Lol. I guess some folks might call this “being led.” I just call it God looking out for me. The thrift store esp tho. I don’t even know why I went sometimes, but when I find THE one thing, I know exactly why I wound up there. Lol. And we also need to weigh our capacity tho. If having 5 hummus tubs in the freezer stresses someone out, maybe just get two. But if not, go for it if you love hummus and you found a bunch of it 70% off. Or other things that freeze well etc. 😅😅 It’s prob good that I don’t go to casinos tho. Lol. You have to just practice your skills I guess. Leave the tons of hay you find but grab up the rare needles you find. For me it’s also easy come easy go. Maybe I’m just weird but I can get rid of most things as easily as I can bring them in from a good “hunt.” But I don’t think I could ever totally live without going on a good hunt now and then Bcuz it’s so much fun. Lol. But my personal limit now is one regular fridge and one small retro fridge/freezer. That’s my container boundary with storing perishables. At times also I’ll direct that toward charity or doing for others. For me it’s the fun game I get to go play. Lol. Many times I could care less about the “stuff.” Lol. Well sorry. That got long again. Lol.
that thing about christmas gifts,is so true, i see a lot of people giving so much stuff and their kids are not even that excited. it happened to me, that i was given a lot of things i didnt need, and is just not cool
Yes! There are people that get very angry when I even mention the thought of no gifts at Christmas…but those years have been enjoyed by all members of the family. Special memories over stuff, every time! ❤️
6:20 I would like to be able to buy bath towels that are actually absorbent. So far I've had to buy towels from the thrift store in order to get towels that actually soak up water.
Oh no! Are the new towels not any good? I’ve heard from some people I know that the Norwex brand of microfiber towels are super absorbent. I will need to do my research! ❤️
@@ArrowHillCottage It seems like regular bath towels these days are absorbent on only one side, and not very. I'm not a fan of microfiber, but I have heard good things about Norwex. I'm sure someone is still making towels as they should be made, but I'm betting they are more expensive. To me, it would be worth it!
I did 2, 1 from Santa, 1 from me.... they get stuff at their Dad's, and from my brother, and historically had gotten from Grandparents when they were alive. They don't truly need much, but that setup let me not overextend my finances.
Christmas no present, it's a religious feast it's not done. Eat a lot of foods is pagan, also not done. Christmas tree and a lot decoration also pagan. Lights, what candels and good family time, cost not a lot. Walks baking cookies bordgames ect.
Do you have an intentional shopping tip to share? I'd love to hear!
I really like to observe Advent as a time of waiting/preparation. The 12 days of Christmas START on the 25th and end January 6. That is when we celebrate. Bit of a swim upstream but we hold to it. Thanks to Japanese friends I wrap gifts in reusable cloth…no paper waste. The wrapping is often part of the gift such as a scarf. I also aim to provide experiences or consumable items rather than more “stuff.”
Yes! Experiences over ‘stuff’ for sure! ❤️ love the idea of wrapping gifts in something reusable!
I love the gifts every other year idea.
Thanks! It has really been working well for our family! ❤️
Thanks for the tips! I've spent this year decluttering my house and it's so nice to have less to manage. I have been thinking a lot about talking to extended family about not needing lots of gifts for Christmas...also, how to approach gift giving from myself to them. These are very helpful ideas! I really liked the "What needs to be replaced?" idea. That idea of asking them, could cross-over with the time gift..."What do you need help with, needs to be fixed, etc.?"
Also, your hair looks nice!
I think that as an adult, a lot of times those practical everyday things are the best gifts!!! My in laws used to give us toilet paper as one of our gifts when my husband I and were first married. I didn’t really understand why then, but I sure do now! Thanks for your kind words about my hair :) ❤️
Being intentional, mindful of what you bring into your own life and the lives of others - what a wonderful thing! Investing your time, watching the fruits of your actions slowly take root and grow. This is what Christmas can be about - thank you!
Thank you for watching! ❤️
Good afternoon new subscriber! Please don't take this the wrong way but it's soooo refreshing to hear that less is so much more. I think many many people would really like to do what you are suggesting but not prepared to make the first step !!!! I only buy for my two grandchildren and my partner.I refuse to get caught up in All that Xmas greed ,!!!!!. Thanks for making so much sense .
Very true! This is a super tempting time of year for many people when it comes to shopping. Intentionality really is key! ❤️
Some that I do:
-Yes, I thift a lot. I go with a list of exactly what I need (ex: a pair of nightstands, a wall mirror). I also have written down measurements of the size range of the item that may fit. I always take a tape measure.
-Taking photos and measurements of an object. Then when I return home and can verify if the item will fit.
-For clothing, I thrift, go to outlets and shop online. Shopping online helps me to only buy what I need. I always make a list of what I am looking to buy and I only buy classic clothing.
-I throw out the old clothing I am replacing before I buy anything new. This way I get by with less, and I can rethink what I am buying. It also prevents me from holding onto an item after I buy a replacement.
-I only wear black, white, navy, and grey clothing. (I have a few rare items in other colors). I know I will always wear black turtlenecks so when I find one I like, I buy 2 or 3 and I do cycle them all at the same time or if I buy 3, I will put one aside for when I want to wear something that looks brand new when the others are looking worn.
-I am very conscious of The Diderot Effect: once you buy a thing your need more things/it is easier to separate your money from you.
-When thrifting, often I leave my wallet in the car so that if I really want something, it is a bit inconvenient for me and it does serve as a braking system.
Oh wow! Really good ideas! ❤️
I’m usually just drawn into really good clearance deals. 😂😂 Can I freeze it or store it for awhile? Do I know or think I’ll like eating it? What is my quantity on hand and will it fit easily? Reverse meal planning etc. Most often groceries. And sometimes the thrift store. The questions there are where’s it going for a home and what is its use? Sometimes I slip tho but the questions often keep me in check.
I hear a lot about retail therapy or being a shopaholic, but I think I’m more like a “dealaholic.” 😅😅 And when I say deal I mean deep dish deals that are as close to free as it gets (I used to be a bit of an extreme couponer with a pretty big stockpile. Some neighbors would even “shop” at my “discount store.” Lol). Thrill of the hunt and thrill of the deal pretty much for me. Like a sporting game I love playing. Well at least I know myself so that’s a good place to start. Most days sticker shock alone keeps me in line when it comes to retail. It’s so often still too expensive Imo even with sales and their clearance is usually pretty sucky. I find high prices depressing so rarely do I even enter a more “swanky” retail place. A truly amazing deal lights me up tho. Lol.
You’re right, the good thing is that you can recognize your tendencies and keep them in line reasonably. I don’t think there is anything wrong with finding a good deal and purchasing if it is something that will be useful to you! ❤️
@@ArrowHillCottage Lol. Yes. Def a cheap thrill deal isn’t always a “deal” but sometimes you stumble upon a real jackpot and that is such a great feeling to me. But if you spend $5 on stuff you won’t use or enjoy or can’t ever get to, then it’s $5 wasted. I think one key also is tapping into our intuition. It can help us navigate the diff between what the Good Lord wants to bless us with and what we are just being too frivolous about. 😅😅 Our guts know tho. It knows when to snag it up and when to pass on it. Or even when to go looking Bcuz you have a good “hunch” about where to shop or when. I don’t always know why I go to any place at any time sometimes but I know my “hunches” know things I don’t yet know. Lol. I guess some folks might call this “being led.” I just call it God looking out for me. The thrift store esp tho. I don’t even know why I went sometimes, but when I find THE one thing, I know exactly why I wound up there. Lol.
And we also need to weigh our capacity tho. If having 5 hummus tubs in the freezer stresses someone out, maybe just get two. But if not, go for it if you love hummus and you found a bunch of it 70% off. Or other things that freeze well etc. 😅😅 It’s prob good that I don’t go to casinos tho. Lol. You have to just practice your skills I guess. Leave the tons of hay you find but grab up the rare needles you find. For me it’s also easy come easy go. Maybe I’m just weird but I can get rid of most things as easily as I can bring them in from a good “hunt.” But I don’t think I could ever totally live without going on a good hunt now and then Bcuz it’s so much fun. Lol. But my personal limit now is one regular fridge and one small retro fridge/freezer. That’s my container boundary with storing perishables. At times also
I’ll direct that toward charity or doing for others. For me it’s the fun game I get to go play. Lol. Many times I could care less about the “stuff.” Lol. Well sorry. That got long again. Lol.
that thing about christmas gifts,is so true, i see a lot of people giving so much stuff and their kids are not even that excited. it happened to me, that i was given a lot of things i didnt need, and is just not cool
Yes! There are people that get very angry when I even mention the thought of no gifts at Christmas…but those years have been enjoyed by all members of the family. Special memories over stuff, every time! ❤️
6:20 I would like to be able to buy bath towels that are actually absorbent. So far I've had to buy towels from the thrift store in order to get towels that actually soak up water.
Oh no! Are the new towels not any good? I’ve heard from some people I know that the Norwex brand of microfiber towels are super absorbent. I will need to do my research! ❤️
@@ArrowHillCottage
It seems like regular bath towels these days are absorbent on only one side, and not very. I'm not a fan of microfiber, but I have heard good things about Norwex.
I'm sure someone is still making towels as they should be made, but I'm betting they are more expensive. To me, it would be worth it!
I hope you can find a good fit!
I noticed that some new towels have to be washed several times to be absorbent.
I did 2, 1 from Santa, 1 from me.... they get stuff at their Dad's, and from my brother, and historically had gotten from Grandparents when they were alive. They don't truly need much, but that setup let me not overextend my finances.
Good idea! It makes sense that if they are getting gifts from many different sources that they don’t need as much from each! ❤️
Christmas no present, it's a religious feast it's not done. Eat a lot of foods is pagan, also not done. Christmas tree and a lot decoration also pagan. Lights, what candels and good family time, cost not a lot. Walks baking cookies bordgames ect.