In earlier days Christmas was celebrated only for the birth of Christ. Nowadays it looks that Christmas is celebrated more for giving gifts. Do you agree with me? The commercialization of the festival has brought many negative factors. Most of the people are worried about falling in debt during Christmas. Christmas is becoming a festival of retailers. How to avoid this trap? How to celebrate Christmas in joy only for Christ?



A friend of mine does not give any gift to anybody during Christmas except his family. Rather he spends more for homeless and deprived during the festival. Giving to charities, helping poor are his main occupations during the holidays. All of us cannot do that, but certainly we can bring a balance in celebration. Let us find out how-

1. Do you buy a very large Christmas tree? One that reaches the roof and is decorated with hundreds of decorative balls and other pieces? Why not buy a small tree and decorate it with few decorations only. This will save you a good amount of cash.

2. Do you shop for Christmas during the holiday times or do you watch bargains most of the year and buy whenever you get a deal? Another friend of mine is busy all through the year and buys online few days before Christmas. That makes him so tense that he always exceeds his budget and many times buys things he never wanted to buy.

3. What about the list of people you will be gifting during the Christmas? Have you looked at the list properly? Is it necessary to gift all of them?

Can you not cut few names from the list? During Christmas time, the festive atmosphere makes us immune to tension. So all of us overspend. The truth dawns on us after the festival. Your judgment about who should receive a gift can save you good sum of money.

4. Hunting for bargains is a wise thing. Those who click on a website and buy what ever is sold are many times overpaying. Those who hunt around online and physical shops always get some bargains. That saves money.

5. Form a group of friends and family and decide upon some rules. The amount of any gift should not exceed a certain amount. If a gift is sent a card may not be sent along with that. Think of ideas that will save money for the group and lay down ground rules. This can bring lot of peace to all members of the group.

6. All the parents should teach their children that Christmas is a religious festival. Before the new generation gets affected by retailers, they should know why Christmas is important. Not because of decorations and gifts, but because of birth of Christ.

7. Avoid getting influenced by the shop decors and lightings. Do not be mesmerized in to believing that tomorrow will never come. Budget your spending very carefully. The crowd psychology should be avoided and one must keep one's finances in mind during Christmas. Happy Christmas to all the readers.