Spend half as much, give twice as much

When asked what you want for Christmas, have you ever thought "I don't know—I don't really need anything"? You still probably settled on a request for a movie you recently saw and might enjoy owning or mentioned that your white socks were looking a little grungy or remembered that you didn't have any earrings to wear with your chocolate brown cashmere sweater. Have you ever considered saying "I have everything I need, but if you'd like to get me something, I'd love a donation to a charity in my name"?

My big brother made such a request for years, but I'd just tell him he was ridiculous and force him to give me a grungy-white-socks gift idea. I didn't consider myself materialistic; this was simply the only way I knew to "do" Christmas . . . until I watched this documentary. The film is silly, a bit cheesy, and not the most well-made documentary I've ever seen, but it did drive home a point: that thoroughly enjoying Christmastime without purchasing a single gift is possible, that you can choose to "stop shopping" during America's sacred season of spending, and that racking up a credit card balance isn't exactly the best way to celebrate Jesus's birth.

This is one of the reasons why my sister and I have decided to ChristmaCycle this year, and I think all our siblings are on board :) Our rules are simple: At least one gift given to your assigned sibling (if not all gifts) must be something used—something that was not purchased new for Christmas this year. That gift can be something you already own, something purchased at a garage sale or Goodwill, or something you made. The gift must be wrapped in newspaper, old Christmas wrapping paper, paper grocery bags, or something similar. And the $$ that you would have spent on a new gift can be donated to a charitable organization or cause. That's it! Nothing too special. Certainly nothing worth creating an entire blog about, right!?!?

Regardless, if 50 people come across this blog this year and decide to implement ChristmasCycling in their families, this blog is worth it. And maybe those 50 people will tell 50 other people who will tell 50 more people, and . . . well, you get the idea.

So, here's to a new way to give gifts this Christmas—ChristmaCycling.