Turns out, our family already has plenty.  We don’t need much more for the holidays.  So why spend a lot of money and buy more “stuff?”  I think we should spend less money, use what we have, be less “materially oriented,” and make the holidays about what they’re really about – praising God for our lives and helping others in need.

Our coffee-maker that cost $12 in 1996 is still working just fine.  It makes us wonderful coffee every morning.  Sure, it’s not the latest style, not the fancy color or sleek high-tech machine.  It works really well though, and has for many years.  We just do not need a new one.

The furniture is a little worn and saggy, but so are we!  It’s still comfortable in all the right places.  My wife of 25+ years says I’m “like an old couch, so comfortable and solid.”  We don’t need a new couch, and she doesn’t need a new husband!

There are shelves and shelves of “intentional” books in our house.  I call them that because we got them intending to read them, but haven’t found the time.  Or started reading them, but other things superseded.   Perhaps what we need most for the holidays is time to read, instead of more books.

We have various soaps, colognes and hand lotions from birthdays and holidays past.  We have clothes that have spent most of their days in the back of closets and drawers of shirts and pants waiting for attention.  Yesterday I pulled out some old shirts, found a favorite one I’d forgotten long ago, ironed it and looked really fashionable at a friend’s party.  Someone even asked me if I was into fashion!  I didn’t tell them my shirt was 10 years old.  I felt retro-cool and thrifty.

We could sell a lot of stuff online, and have extra cash.  Better yet, we could donate things we’re not using to those who don’t have much, or to charities.

Most of all, by being frugal and financially responsible (not over-spending or going into more credit card debt) it feels really good.  We’re grateful for what we have, instead of craving what we don’t – and that’s very satisfying.