“ALL set for Christmas?” is a question you’ll hear a lot in Cork over the coming weeks.
For the month of December, the weather takes a break as a reliable conversation-starter and is replaced by small talk about Yuletide preparations.
Responses vary. “Oh, I did all my Christmas shopping in September when the kids went back to school” -
“Good for you!” I reply.
“I haven’t done a thing!”
“Me either,” says I.
“Sure, herself arranges it all”.
“Aren’t you a lucky man to have a wife willing to shoulder the Christmas mental load entirely by herself.” (I say this sarcastically).
Christmas is supposed to be about celebrating the birth of Jesus and taking time in dark December to connect with friends of family, but the season of giving can sometimes turn into a season of overspending, overindulging, and overwhelming stress.
It is easy to get caught up in the hype of festivities when companies bombard us with advertisements promising us a ‘perfect’ Christmas if you buy their products.
Every time I see a Christmas ad that makes me teary and feeling like I need to create the most ideal version of Christmas, I repeat the mantra “They just want my money” until the feeling passes.
To save you from waking up on the morning of December 25 (27 more sleeps!) feeling like a husk of a human with a scorched bank account, here are some ideas for a meaningful Christmas without succumbing to unnecessary excesses.
Make a list, set a budget, and stick to it!
Take a moment to establish a realistic budget and decide how much you can comfortably spend on gifts, food and festivities.
You’ll be less likely to succumb to impulse purchases and will avoid the stress of post-Christmas debt.
Handmade gifts, homemade foods, or even the gift of time are lovely presents to give and receive.
Meaningful presents often hold more value to the receiver than expensive ones. Babysitting vouchers to use throughout the year are like gifts from heaven for tired parents.
Secret Santa amongst a group of friends, work colleagues or a big family is a great way of minimising excessive present-buying.
I’ve heard of workplaces doing Second-hand Secret Santa where the budget is €10, and the gift must come from a charity shop, which is a nice way of gifting without it costing the earth.
Elfster.com is a handy Secret Santa generator.
Buy local
The world’s largest online retailer, Amazon, is valued at $1.2 trillion and has made almost $10 billion in profit so far this year.
It’s a transnational corporation that doesn’t need any more of your money. Local Cork businesses owners really do need your money.
Before taking the easy option and spending your Christmas budget online getting everything delivered in just a few clicks, make a conscious effort to spend your euros with independent Cork businesses that support local jobs.
Midleton businesses could definitely do with a boost so consider doing your Christmas shopping there this year.
Gift experiences
I know I’m not alone in having a house filled with clothes no longer worn and toys no longer played with. I get anxious in the run up to Christmas that my house is going to fill with even more stuff.
Restaurant, cinema, coffee shop, salon, music venue or theatre vouchers are all fantastic presents and don’t take up any room.
Tickets for the panto for the kids or a gig for the grown-ups create lasting memories while also supporting local performers.
When it comes to gifts for teachers, consider asking other parents to club together for a voucher for somewhere like the Marina Market to spare múinteoir receiving a deluge of ‘World’s Best Teacher’ mugs, again.
For the person who truly does have everything, consider making a charitable donation in their name. Most of us would happily forego a present under the tree knowing a good cause was getting a cash boost.
Be kind to the planet
The festive season generates a lot of unnecessary rubbish. Food waste, packaging and unwanted gifts all take a toll on the earth, so avoid buying disposable items and flimsy toys that won’t make it to the New Year, and please don’t buy excessive amounts of food that will end up in the bin.
Consider a bare root tree or a plant as a memorable, long-lasting and planet-friendly gift. Futureforests.ie in Kealkill has an excellent online store.
Say No. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with invitations and obligations during the festive season. It’s okay to say no.
Choose events and commitments that will bring you joy, rather than spreading yourself too thin.
Spread the load.
Hosting a Christmas feast can be a source of stress for some. It’s just a glorified roast chicken dinner, but when you start catering for large numbers of family and friends, the pressure mounts.
Simplify things by asking friends and family to bring a dish that can be reheated in the oven. If guests arrive with starters, or desserts or a dish of perfectly cooked roast potatoes, that’s one less task for the host and helps spread the load.
If you are lucky enough to wangle an invite to someone else’s house for Christmas Day, don’t plonk your bum down and expect to be waited on, get stuck in to help the host to serve dinner, pour drinks, or do the washing-up.
Many hands really do make light work and this allows everyone to contribute to the festive spread.
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