The classic 4 rule didn't resonate with me either. I love this alternative set of rules! Great gift ideas - that aren't too expensive to boot! I very much appreciate your intentionality in your content. Keep up the good work.
@@EricaLucasLoves I think its having a positive effect on your kids. I know my mom decluttering growing up is a big part of my simple living life I have now.
I love that you’re involving your kids in donating. Letting them make decisions on what to let go of is such a great way to teach them that they can bless others, even as children.
In Sweden many ppl have the 3 gifts instead of 4, for their kids. In general swedish kids don´t get and don´t have as many toys/christmas presents as american kids. Then it´s: "Something Soft" - a teddy, bed linnen, a special bathtowel aso. Often this is a practical gift like clothes. "Something Hard" - Culd be LEGO, or a book, a game, a toy etc. The third thing is either "Something Needed" or "Something wished for" And many familys also say that Grandparents (as a couple) are only "aloud" to give 1 gift to each kid.
We changed to a 5 gift rule years ago. When Sophie came home, too many gifts was completely overwhelming to her. Having categories never worked for me though. So the gifts are things my kids want or need. We do 3 from Santa, 1 from mom & dad, & 1 from sister so they can buy each other a gift. It has greatly simplified Christmas for us.
I love this idea❤ our kids are just getting old enough to want to gift things to others and enjoy it. We may have to try our own version of this next year. Thanks for the wonderful idea❤❤
I took my son to dollar tree one year and had him pick out gifts for immediate family members. He loved it. We always went a little overboard with Christmas. He knew Santa brings a few things and parents help with extras and electronics because the elves make more basic toy items. 🎅🏻
Our gifts fall into four categories, but unique to us, too: St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6) is the day the kids receive their stockings filled with many useful things, usually a little nicer than I'd buy otherwise (hats, lotions, gloves, stationery (they have a sister in the monastery they write to monthly), pens, etc.), small treats to eat, a spiritual book to read as Christmas approaches, and then a fun item or two (some of this year's "fun items" included Slinky - paintbrushes - exacto knife(18 yr. old) - paint). The last three are Christmas gifts: art supplies (we're a family of artists), a Daddy gift (because he always says he tells me to do the shopping, then always runs out at the last minute to do his shopping!), and something they want (which sometimes is more art supplies!). This system has worked out great for our unique set of circumstances.
I didn't have much in the ways of extras growing up so even donating one toy would have been a big sacrifice to me. It would mean giving up a dearly loved doll or book. I suggest that kids who don't have much to share donate their time. Elderly friends who don't have family would love a child to help decorate their homes and arrive with a gift basket of baked treats and/or essentials.
We've only ever gotten one gift for each of our kids for Christmas (except for one year that we got them all pajamas, too, because their pajamas were all threadbare). We made that one gift really special and suited to exactly what they would love.
We’ve done for many years a 3 wise man themed gift concept. 1- Gold- a gift of great worth to them and usually more expensive- like a lego set, etc. 2- Frankincense- a priestly gift to teach about our faith- for littles it could be a Noah’s ark toy, for older it’s a book about our faith. 3- Myrrh- a gift to die to self and serve others- often we donate items through compassion or another gift catalog for overseas support in sharing the Gospel of Jesus. In the past we’ve also done a separate gift from your sibs and from parents but for this next year we’ve decided because they get so many gifts from family anyway we will cut out the gift from parents since the good gift is from us anyway and have the sibs gift be something they make or do for each other- also our oldest who can earn extra money on the side for extra chores started last year using $5 to buy a gift for someone else (friend, grandparent, etc.) which he loved and his friend felt special that he had worked for the money to do it.
We do 3 gift rule. Though my son is an adult, I think it could still resonate for others, especially if kids are getting older. 1) something to wear 2) something they will just love. Gaming stuff, new technology, etc. 3) event or experience. Concert tickets, tickets for theatre, zoo, museum. I made this list up myself when my son hit tweens.
I like that version better!! A fun idea for something to share could be a treat too! A fun cereal they normally wouldn't get, or a bag of candy! Doesn't clutter up a space for too long ;-)
As grandmom, I bought each of my nine grandkids a board game. They all love board games and all of them know how to play “Exploding Kittens”, a card game. Other games were Jr Monopoly, Jr Clue, and Scattergories.
I told my family about your kids wishing for one thing from Santa. One of the twins bursted out and said «they wished their mother would stop being a minimalist» We all laughed - but I must say. We have the same here. They actually find it hard to figure out something they want.
Desiree's Lappeteknikk - www.lappeteknikk.no I laughed so hard!!! I’ve been careful to not force minimalism on them. I hope it has a positive effect on them
I love love your videos,i'm 55, how have i missed that poem! Thankyou for sharing. Please more organizing videos ,cannot wait to see the finished basement. Have an awesome day.
We do the 4 gift rule, although I like this other version you found better. This year our kids (4&6 both girl) are getting a kid friendly camera, aprons (they love to help momma in the kitchen), duplos and mad matter, and then they each ate getting a barbie cause dolls are HUGE in our hoyse right now. Santa will also be brining them something they really wanted. Thats it. I'm sure they will get other toys from family and friends so we try and keep our Christmas simple. Especially cause our out of state family normally sends their gifts to our house
The coolest gift me and my boyfriend ever been giving to anyone for christmas is so fantastic : ) I, as an adult and when I was a kid would have been sooooo exited if someone gave me the same thing. We gave all my boyfriends siblings kids, six in total (boys 20y, 17y, 14y 4y and Girls 15y and 6y) a big present to open togeter. In the box was a scroll with s giftcard. We have an Observatory outside our Town and we booked a private whole night session there. Alla the kids culd bring one friend . All my boyfriends siblings, the kids parents and my bfs parents joined to. The members of the society that is taking care of the observatory showed us a film, taught us about space, planets, spacedust, speed, light, time in space aso and then we looked at the stars in telescopes. We brought picnic food and it was a magical evening. Since this was a chared gift the total amount we spend on the kids was lower then other years. The giftcard cost us bout 60 dollar and then we bought food for about 20 dollar. We usualy spend 20 dollar per kid.
Thanks Erica for the suggestions. I will keep this in mind throughout the year when buying things for my daughter. We don’t buy gifts at Christmas in our home so this will help me as I’m observing her to see what she’s into next. I try to use this time to buy future items she could play with but this year decided against that. I am trying to be in the here and now. In doing that I’ve saved money 👍🏾
My two are 3yrs old (twins) the 4 gift rule doesn’t resonate with us here either. It’s the first year Santa is calling at our house and he’s only bringing one small gift each child. The girls go to daycare a day a week and we don’t want them saying Santa brought all these amazing things for them and then hear Santa didn’t for other kids if they come from a less well off family. So Husband and i and family are bringing the rest. Husband and I DIYing a fairy garden and then the rest is up to family if they wish to give anything.
My toddler did not figure out how to use pens or fingerpaint til now... 17 month... So a colouring book for babies seems a bit odd to me. But he can already use Duplo. We simply make a list for relatives and it is mostly big stuff the aunts, uncles etc. have to buy together. For example a walking bike that grows with him this Christmas and a stroller for first birthday. We really try to keep it minimal since the little one was born, there is no need to really make it a number. Last toy he got in August (a wooden puzzle), the last book several month ago. So we use Christmas as opportunity to get toys for his next development steps. He will get a magnet board he can write and draw on later, duplos, a second puzzle and a book about animals (there is a donkey on it and he LOVES donkeys). Hope this will be everything, because he is the first child in family, but until now there was only one or two unwanted gifts in general. ButI really understand how difficult it is when you actually have „everything“. I wonder how it will be with the second child we expect in February.
When my daughter seen me cleaning out the house she gave me 10 stuffed animals to donate. She does know her room is getting done but we are going at her room differently then the rest of the house.
My in-laws usually buy me clothes. They are not my style and usually do not fit well. In the past I have donated them or passed them on to other family members. Which means they wasted money on a gift that I do not actually get to use. In the future I think I will make garage rags out of them.
Maybe check out a lego channel called Jangbricks. He just did a video about coppa....I’m sure you are in the clear and don’t have anything to worry about. His video isn’t long
![Christmas DECLUTTER - [Extreme Declutter Series Part 9] - Minimalism](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YgfcpWUs9XQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![Christmas DECLUTTER - [Extreme Declutter Series Part 9] - Minimalism](/img/tr.png)
The classic 4 rule didn't resonate with me either. I love this alternative set of rules! Great gift ideas - that aren't too expensive to boot! I very much appreciate your intentionality in your content. Keep up the good work.
Melissa Hardstone yes!! Side bonus of inexpensive gifts!
Having each kid only ask for one thing shows your decluttering is having a positive effect on the kids.😁❤️
Minimal Zebra I want to think that but couldn’t be sure. :)
@@EricaLucasLoves I think its having a positive effect on your kids. I know my mom decluttering growing up is a big part of my simple living life I have now.
I love that you’re involving your kids in donating. Letting them make decisions on what to let go of is such a great way to teach them that they can bless others, even as children.
Our Blessed Life it ended up as a deep conversation with Brandon. He was very bothered that some kids don’t have toys or even a home.
In Sweden many ppl have the 3 gifts instead of 4, for their kids. In general swedish kids don´t get and don´t have as many toys/christmas presents as american kids.
Then it´s:
"Something Soft" - a teddy, bed linnen, a special bathtowel aso. Often this is a practical gift like clothes.
"Something Hard" - Culd be LEGO, or a book, a game, a toy etc.
The third thing is either "Something Needed" or "Something wished for"
And many familys also say that Grandparents (as a couple) are only "aloud" to give 1 gift to each kid.
We changed to a 5 gift rule years ago. When Sophie came home, too many gifts was completely overwhelming to her. Having categories never worked for me though. So the gifts are things my kids want or need. We do 3 from Santa, 1 from mom & dad, & 1 from sister so they can buy each other a gift. It has greatly simplified Christmas for us.
I love this idea❤ our kids are just getting old enough to want to gift things to others and enjoy it. We may have to try our own version of this next year. Thanks for the wonderful idea❤❤
Our Blessed Life this is so great Colleen!!!
I took my son to dollar tree one year and had him pick out gifts for immediate family members. He loved it. We always went a little overboard with Christmas. He knew Santa brings a few things and parents help with extras and electronics because the elves make more basic toy items. 🎅🏻
Our gifts fall into four categories, but unique to us, too: St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6) is the day the kids receive their stockings filled with many useful things, usually a little nicer than I'd buy otherwise (hats, lotions, gloves, stationery (they have a sister in the monastery they write to monthly), pens, etc.), small treats to eat, a spiritual book to read as Christmas approaches, and then a fun item or two (some of this year's "fun items" included Slinky - paintbrushes - exacto knife(18 yr. old) - paint). The last three are Christmas gifts: art supplies (we're a family of artists), a Daddy gift (because he always says he tells me to do the shopping, then always runs out at the last minute to do his shopping!), and something they want (which sometimes is more art supplies!). This system has worked out great for our unique set of circumstances.
I didn't have much in the ways of extras growing up so even donating one toy would have been a big sacrifice to me. It would mean giving up a dearly loved doll or book. I suggest that kids who don't have much to share donate their time. Elderly friends who don't have family would love a child to help decorate their homes and arrive with a gift basket of baked treats and/or essentials.
Seattle Home donate their time! What a lovely suggestion.
We used a 3 gift rule for the boys, a want, something to wear and something to read..it worked great!
Jodi's Creative Corner awesome Jodi!!!!
We've only ever gotten one gift for each of our kids for Christmas (except for one year that we got them all pajamas, too, because their pajamas were all threadbare). We made that one gift really special and suited to exactly what they would love.
We’ve done for many years a 3 wise man themed gift concept. 1- Gold- a gift of great worth to them and usually more expensive- like a lego set, etc. 2- Frankincense- a priestly gift to teach about our faith- for littles it could be a Noah’s ark toy, for older it’s a book about our faith. 3- Myrrh- a gift to die to self and serve others- often we donate items through compassion or another gift catalog for overseas support in sharing the Gospel of Jesus. In the past we’ve also done a separate gift from your sibs and from parents but for this next year we’ve decided because they get so many gifts from family anyway we will cut out the gift from parents since the good gift is from us anyway and have the sibs gift be something they make or do for each other- also our oldest who can earn extra money on the side for extra chores started last year using $5 to buy a gift for someone else (friend, grandparent, etc.) which he loved and his friend felt special that he had worked for the money to do it.
We do 3 gift rule. Though my son is an adult, I think it could still resonate for others, especially if kids are getting older.
1) something to wear
2) something they will just love. Gaming stuff, new technology, etc.
3) event or experience. Concert tickets, tickets for theatre, zoo, museum.
I made this list up myself when my son hit tweens.
We limit the amount of gifts as well. We started something similar when my oldest was born and it has become a wonderful tradition.
Pennies And Salt it’s great!
I like that version better!! A fun idea for something to share could be a treat too! A fun cereal they normally wouldn't get, or a bag of candy! Doesn't clutter up a space for too long ;-)
Momma Thrift Vlog ooooh something that doesn’t become clutter! Great thought.
As grandmom, I bought each of my nine grandkids a board game. They all love board games and all of them know how to play “Exploding Kittens”, a card game. Other games were Jr Monopoly, Jr Clue, and Scattergories.
I told my family about your kids wishing for one thing from Santa. One of the twins bursted out and said «they wished their mother would stop being a minimalist» We all laughed - but I must say. We have the same here. They actually find it hard to figure out something they want.
Desiree's Lappeteknikk - www.lappeteknikk.no I laughed so hard!!! I’ve been careful to not force minimalism on them. I hope it has a positive effect on them
I love love your videos,i'm 55, how have i missed that poem! Thankyou for sharing. Please more organizing videos ,cannot wait to see the finished basement. Have an awesome day.
We do the 4 gift rule, although I like this other version you found better. This year our kids (4&6 both girl) are getting a kid friendly camera, aprons (they love to help momma in the kitchen), duplos and mad matter, and then they each ate getting a barbie cause dolls are HUGE in our hoyse right now. Santa will also be brining them something they really wanted. Thats it. I'm sure they will get other toys from family and friends so we try and keep our Christmas simple. Especially cause our out of state family normally sends their gifts to our house
Modern Days. Old Ways, exactly! My kids get gifts from 4 sets of grandparents plus aunts and uncles. Plenty!
The coolest gift me and my boyfriend ever been giving to anyone for christmas is so fantastic : ) I, as an adult and when I was a kid would have been sooooo exited if someone gave me the same thing.
We gave all my boyfriends siblings kids, six in total (boys 20y, 17y, 14y 4y and Girls 15y and 6y) a big present to open togeter. In the box was a scroll with s giftcard.
We have an Observatory outside our Town and we booked a private whole night session there. Alla the kids culd bring one friend . All my boyfriends siblings, the kids parents and my bfs parents joined to. The members of the society that is taking care of the observatory showed us a film, taught us about space, planets, spacedust, speed, light, time in space aso and then we looked at the stars in telescopes.
We brought picnic food and it was a magical evening.
Since this was a chared gift the total amount we spend on the kids was lower then other years. The giftcard cost us bout 60 dollar and then we bought food for about 20 dollar. We usualy spend 20 dollar per kid.
Wonderings ANNA that’s genius! Experience gifts are such great gifts.
Wonderings ANNA That’s a REALLY great gift idea.
What a priceless gift that memory will be with them forever!!!
I haven’t seen a blank comic book. I have made my own though for my students
Love the blank comic book. I've never seen that before. For logic/thinking games, we love games by Think Fun. I watch for them at thrift stores.
JohnandKitty Miller yes! Think Fun makes great games. Blue Orange and Gamewright are other favorites for us.
That rule didnt resonate with me either but I never though of changing it to suit. Great idea!!!
I know right. I have the same problem. Never thought to change it up
Thanks Erica for the suggestions. I will keep this in mind throughout the year when buying things for my daughter. We don’t buy gifts at Christmas in our home so this will help me as I’m observing her to see what she’s into next.
I try to use this time to buy future items she could play with but this year decided against that. I am trying to be in the here and now. In doing that I’ve saved money 👍🏾
Great ideas! We usually buy the kids one nice gift each.
My two are 3yrs old (twins) the 4 gift rule doesn’t resonate with us here either. It’s the first year Santa is calling at our house and he’s only bringing one small gift each child. The girls go to daycare a day a week and we don’t want them saying Santa brought all these amazing things for them and then hear Santa didn’t for other kids if they come from a less well off family. So Husband and i and family are bringing the rest. Husband and I DIYing a fairy garden and then the rest is up to family if they wish to give anything.
You can never go wrong with Play Doh!
I have a great play dough recipe. 😁
New sub here from the 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 xx
My toddler did not figure out how to use pens or fingerpaint til now... 17 month... So a colouring book for babies seems a bit odd to me. But he can already use Duplo. We simply make a list for relatives and it is mostly big stuff the aunts, uncles etc. have to buy together. For example a walking bike that grows with him this Christmas and a stroller for first birthday. We really try to keep it minimal since the little one was born, there is no need to really make it a number. Last toy he got in August (a wooden puzzle), the last book several month ago. So we use Christmas as opportunity to get toys for his next development steps. He will get a magnet board he can write and draw on later, duplos, a second puzzle and a book about animals (there is a donkey on it and he LOVES donkeys). Hope this will be everything, because he is the first child in family, but until now there was only one or two unwanted gifts in general.
ButI really understand how difficult it is when you actually have „everything“. I wonder how it will be with the second child we expect in February.
Oh I can see you are doing the side part with your hair. Looks great :)
When my daughter seen me cleaning out the house she gave me 10 stuffed animals to donate. She does know her room is getting done but we are going at her room differently then the rest of the house.
Tanya that’s so wonderful! She learned from your example.
Love your ideas❤️🇨🇦
LOVE your new glasses!
Melissa Honeybee thank you!!!
Just found your channel.and subscribed, love your minimalism journey and binge watching all your videos , did you do a minimal grocery video ? X
I like the rules your going to use. I've never heard of the 4 gift rule lol
Our family is huge into LEGO
My in-laws usually buy me clothes. They are not my style and usually do not fit well. In the past I have donated them or passed them on to other family members. Which means they wasted money on a gift that I do not actually get to use. In the future I think I will make garage rags out of them.
Are they new eyeglasses? Very attractive!
Nancy Melis new tothe channel! Thanks for noticing. They were my back up glasses and my other glasses just don’t stay together anymore.
i love your content but will you be uploading a longer video?
Leesh Henry yes! Next week is a longer one. Did you have something in mind?
@@EricaLucasLoves oh no, i just love watching your videos and i get pulled in and want to watch more.
Maybe check out a lego channel called Jangbricks. He just did a video about coppa....I’m sure you are in the clear and don’t have anything to worry about. His video isn’t long
I didn’t know so many ppl get so many gifts😅...I either only get one or none
Are you going to show the rest of your basement declutter soon?
sue ferrier next week!! I’m editing it this weekend!!! I’m so excited.