Would a Three-Gift Christmas Work For Your Family?

By SheSpeaksTeam Dec 20, 2013

When you get caught up in the holiday shopping mood, it can be easy to overdo it (and overspend) when buying toys and gifts for your little ones. Some families have come up with a way to ensure they keep the extravagances in check this time of year by adopting a three-gift Christmas tradition.

Today reports about the three-gift trend that for some has religious significance (Jesus was said to receive three gifts from the Wise Men) and others do it to simply keep costs down. Marion, VA mom of two Stacy Myers explains why this year will be a three-gift Christmas for her family. She says, “We decided we wanted to simplify Christmas here at our house by using the three-gift rule so that we could focus on the real reason for the season, which is the birth of Jesus, instead of ‘Gimme, gimme, gimme’ and ‘What can I put on my list?” She adds, “It just comes down to trying to change your mindset how you view this time of year -- kind of switch it to family and your faith instead of stuff, because stuff just piles up in your house.”

Handing out three gifts to each member of the family can drastically change your Christmas budget too. A recent Gallup poll reveals that we spend about $786 on Christmas gifts each year.

Glennon Doyle Melton, mom and blogger for Momastery.com, has also adopted the three-gift rule and explains to her kids how they should devise their short wish lists. She tells them to include in their list something they want, something they need and something to read.

What do you think of the three-gift rule some families have adopted for Christmas?

Does this sound like something that could work for you and your family?

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Comments

by llplante | PAWTUCKET, RI

Dec 31, 2013

I love this idea. In my family, my youngest grandson makes his Christmas list and it can be 2 pages long...both sides! His parents believe the more the better and I believe less is more. This year, after reading his list, I did suggest he cut it down to just the top 3 things he wanted. He said it would be too hard.

by sharman421 | TALLAHASSEE, FL

Dec 26, 2013

I can see where a three gift minimum would work for many families. But as far as grandmas go, we are going to do all we can whenever we can. Perhaps a 3-gifter is good for parents and their children as long as other relatives are allowed to add their gifts into the mix. Christmas gifting should be a personal thing. That said, a three-gift Christmas may work very well for many families and seems like it could turn into a sound tradition for them as well. Good article!

by bak7az | RED ROCK, AZ

Dec 22, 2013

I think the 3 gift thing is a good idea, but at my Grandmas house, ( my mothers side of the family) we drawl names. We tried this one year and have been doing it for about 10 years now. Every Christmas after opening gifts, one of the younger kids write down all of the adults names, fold em up, and put em into a bowl. Each adult then takes turns drawling a name, and that's who they buy for the next year. Kids are not included in this drawling. Everyone buys for all of the kids of course, oh and for Grandma too but as far as everyone else, you buy 1 gift and you receive 1 gift. It is much easier and way cheaper this way. Either way, 1 gift, no gift, or 100 gifts, being with loved ones is what matters most!

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