Hey there, can you believe it? The holidays are just around the corner. They’re supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but they often leave us overwhelmed and broke. But what if, this year, we do things a little differently?
In this post, you will find ten simple tips for creating a peaceful minimalist Christmas, even if you are not a minimalist.
I will be honest: I went broke for many years during the holidays, and sometimes, I even charged my credit cards to purchase gifts. One year, I was still paying off my holiday debt well into the summer. We feel like it’s the holidays, and we should get our loved ones something to show that we love them.
However, buying someone a gift is not the only way to enjoy the holidays or show love for them. Spending quality time with your loved ones, is a way to show someone you care.
I can enjoy the holidays with my family without the financial strain. We’re creating memories without adding debt. I’ve learned to be more mindful and at peace during the holidays. This is the beauty of a minimalist Christmas.
So, if you want to enjoy the holidays without going broke or, worse, owing a debt you will be paying for months after the new year, continue below and find ten simple tips for a stress-free, minimalist Christmas.
- Make a plan
What would a great Christmas holiday look like for you and your loved ones? Would you like to travel to visit loved ones? Or would you rather stay home and avoid all the traveling during the holidays? Whether you travel or stay home is up to you, as long as it does not make this season stressful.
Make a plan now and stick with it. Do not let the guilt of not doing what everyone else is doing this year get the best of you. Let your loved ones know your plans this holiday so they can plan accordingly. This will help you feel more organized and in control of your holiday season.
- Declutter
If you have yet to start your decluttering journey, you can start now to prepare for the holidays. Depending on how many items you have in your home, you can begin by doing declutter challenges or small decluttering sessions. This will get you started at your pace so you do not feel overwhelmed. I highly recommend doing The Minimalist 30-day challenge. Start on day one of the month and declutter one item; on day two, two items; on day three, remove three items; and so on the whole month. By thirty days, you will have removed over five hundred items.
A clutter-free home can reduce stress and improve mood, so I recommend starting your decluttering journey now.
You can start by decluttering spaces where you plan to spend most of the time during the holidays. These can include a living room and a dining area. By decluttering these areas first, you can create a cozy holiday environment.
If you need more ideas for decluttering, read the posts below.
15 Simple Tips for Beginners to Keep a Tidy Home
How to Declutter Your Kitchen and Keep it Clean and Tidy
- Minimal decorations
While preparing to decorate for the holidays, this is the perfect time to declutter some decorations. Depending on whether you have a lot of holiday decorations, I would aim to let go of at least forty percent. When you start decorating, do not fill every space you have.
Instead, just put a few here and there, making it look minimal. Doing this will save you time decorating and putting all the decorations away for the following year. This year, do not buy any decorations. Just use what you have.
- Make space for a family member
One of my favorite things to do for a minimalist Christmas is letting a family member stay in your home during the holidays. I enjoy having the extra room in our home for anyone who needs to stay for a few days. Make space for someone coming in from out of town, not only for the holidays.
At times, the guest room can get into the room that I use as storage, but I always go in there and put everything back where it belongs. If it is something I no longer use, I donate it.
It is effortless for me when someone calls and asks if they can stay for a few days, and I can say yes. If you have a guest room, prepare it for the holidays so you can have guests over. Doing this lets you spend more time with your loved ones and helps them save money by not paying for a hotel.
- No gift exchange
This is probably one of the hardest things for your family to do. It took our family a few years to get together without gifts. We started with the white elephant a few years ago and then did a Secret Santa.
Now, my side of the family can get together to enjoy food, games, and quality time without worrying about gifts.
The only ones who receive a gift are the kids in the family, but they only receive from close relatives, like parents or grandparents.
Letting your family know that this year you want to try to do no gift exchange to avoid everything looking for gifts or spending any money will be very helpful.
- No shopping
Imagine the relief of not having to shop during the holiday sales. You can find sales pretty much all year round, and by not buying anything, you’re saving more. You’ll avoid the holiday crowds and save money by not shopping for gifts, outfits, or decorations. Instead, picture yourself enjoying a warm holiday beverage with a loved one, stress-free from the shopping frenzy.
Challenge yourself to save money by reading this post. 13 Easy Tips for a Low-Buy No-Buy Challenge
- Simple Christmas dinner
This year, you should plan to make a simple Christmas dinner to avoid spending hours in the kitchen. You can order food from a restaurant or find someone who can use the extra money to make the food for you at an affordable price.
You can also have everyone bring something to eat, and you all can enjoy different plates.
We buy the main course, and then I make a list I send to my family. Everyone signs up to bring something. If you want to skip it this year, let someone else plan for you.
- Less work, more quality time
The holidays come around the same time every year. Plan to work less this year and spend more quality time with your loved ones.
Work will always be there when you return. If you have a job where you need to be available, set a specific time to check your emails or work. Preferably, you can do it early in the morning, and then you are done with work for the day.
- Create and enjoy Christmas traditions
The beauty of Christmas lies in the traditions we create and enjoy. Whether decorating the tree, baking cookies, or watching a favorite movie, these traditions bring a sense of nostalgia and warmth to the holiday season.
Depending on your family, holiday traditions can also change after a few years. For example, we used to search for a perfect Christmas tree and decorate it. Now, I have a toddler who pulls and throws everything and likes to put everything in her mouth. So, we placed a small artificial tree on the kitchen counter last year. This year, we will use the same small artificial tree.
- Give to those in need
The best feeling is when you donate to someone in need, whether it be a monetary donation to a local church, a non-profit, or if you know a close family member or friend who might need the money.
You can also donate non-perishable items to a local shelter. If you cannot donate money, you can donate your time. Places like a nursing home or a dog shelter can be a few places to donate some of your time.
Donating your time does not take much and is one of the best ways to create a minimalist Christmas.
Two of my favorite books, which I highly recommend and have helped me value my time over chasing material possessions, are Things That Matter: Overcoming Distractions to Pursue a More Meaningful Life by Joshua Becker and Love People, Use Things: Because the Opposite Never Works by The Minimalist Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus.
Final thoughts
Now, you have ten simple tips to create a peaceful minimalist Christmas, even though you may not be a minimalist.
I suggest you pick the tips that will work for you and your family and slowly add some of the tips as the years go by. Simplifying this holiday season is key to creating a peaceful, minimalist Christmas.
At first, your family might think you are not in the holiday spirit, but we know you are trying to create a calm and stress-free season. I know it was like that with my family at first, but now we can enjoy the holidays without the chaos of this time of year.
Let me know below how you plan to spend your holiday season.