A few years ago, my husband and I were ready to make some changes to our gift giving traditions. We were interested in giving our kids experiences instead of things so we skipped the gifts under the tree and instead we took a family trip.
We went on a 3-day cruise to the Bahamas. My kids tell us “it was the best Christmas ever!” The memories we made on that trip will last us a lifetime. So far, we’ve had the blessing of traveling to Las Vegas, Universal Studios, and we’ve even kept it local with a hotel stay in Pittsburgh on New Year’s Eve.
However, we found that the trips can be expensive and so we decided to take the trips every other year…..so what about the years we were home exchanging gifts?
Several years ago, I read about the 4-gift rule and we observe it on the years we are not taking a trip.
Here’s how it works…
Each person in the family receives 4 gifts:
- buy something they want
- buy something they need
- buy something they wear
- buy something they read
Each gift given was meaningful and important to the recipient because there were only 4 gifts.
As a consumer, it completely changed my shopping experience. I became more selective, mindful and intentional with my gift choices because I knew I was limited to only 4 gifts.
If you want to redirect your family away from the commercial side of Christmas or want to stick to a budget, the 4-gift rule may be a good option for your family.
I can tell you we’ve never looked back.
Wishing you a blessed Christmas and Happy Holiday season.