Reply #14: Best Christmas Here As Well [View All]

[fishingriver]

We did a similar thing. Instead of shopping for gifts we exchanged cards only at family get together. My daughter gathered hundreds of family pictures we had saved, scanned them and made everyone a DVD. She organized them by date and put them to music. Instead of the traditional opening of gifts we all gathered together and watched the DVD of family pictures. Before we were half way through the 30 minute DVD our family felt a togetherness we hadn't experienced in years. Everyone said it was the best Christmas yet.
In my immediate family we bought one gift for each other that was something we already needed (not wanted) and knew we would have to buy anyway. I got a wood splitting maul. My wife got new undergarments. It worked out great and nobody spent more than 20 dollars. We pooled about $60.00 together and bought household items for a family who just went from the street to an apartment. Everyone was so happy with the outcome of the way we celebrated that this is going to become our new tradition.