'My auntie's hack to save money on Christmas presents is pure genius'

Everyone is feeling the pinch this festive season, so the idea is being welcomed by many. Would you consider it? 

Christmas is always a big family affair at our place. And when I say big, I mean really big.

There are about 50 people for lunch, including a dozen kids. Which means a huge shopping list, a near offensive pile of presents and a virtual feeding frenzy underneath the Christmas tree every single year.

It’s too much. The sound of wrapping paper ripping, a flurry of excited squeals as brand new toys and games are admired – before being thrown to the side to make way for the next ones.

Money-saving ideas are the best kind of ideas. Image: iStock

As a parent it’s a nightmare too – it’s hard to keep track of who has bought what, and you end up hauling bags upon bags to an already overflowing car boot, home to fill an already overflowing toy box.

It’s expensive. It’s excessive. It’s ludicrous. And this year, we’ve put an end to it.

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The idea really is quite brilliant

You see, my very sensible aunty came up with a very sensible idea.

Instead of everyone buying one present for every child, each parent is to buy ONE present - for their own child. It goes into Santa’s sack, with a loving card from ‘the whole family’.

It’s a good present – a big one that they reallllllllllyyyyyyyy wanted. It’s loved. It’s appreciated. It’s cherished. And it’s something the child’s parents approve of, because they bought it.

And that’s that.

One present from the family, not every child ripping through 12 presents like candy-cane fuelled gluttonous beasts wanting more and more and more … until the last present is ripped open and the sugar highs crash to reality amid a sea of bright blue and pink plastic.

Not only will we not come home with a boot full of gifts the kids forget about after a minute, lose in a few days or break in a week – but just like that, I have just wiped 12 presents off my Christmas list.

That’s about a $500 saving, people. Just like that.

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The post-Christmas mess is enough of a reason to cut back. Image: iStock.

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It's that simple!

I can feel a calmer Christmas already. Less waste, more appreciation.

Our children are so loved, that it can be easy to get caught up in over buying and over spending. Even if it’s cheap stuff from Kmart – it adds up. And it piles up.

The truth is, they really don’t need it, and the more they get, the more disposable it all feels. Un-special. Just ‘another’ one among the 20 they never needed in the first place.

I want to teach my kids to be happy with what they’ve got, and to feel grateful for what they receive. We always wrap up gifts for families in need over the festive season, and each family at Christmas lunch always donates $100 to a chosen charity, but it seems quite contradictory to do all that and still have 10,000 presents among 50 people.

I vote for one good present.

I vote to remove 12 names from my Christmas list.

I vote for a simpler Christmas. One focused on family, not toys.

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In saying that though, not everyone was happy with our new found approach to gift giving. My other aunty still wants to buy every niece and nephew and present, and I know my mum will too.

“I love buying for everyone, and I’m not going to stop that,” she told me.

“And besides – I’ve already started my Christmas shopping – I am very organised this year!”

I must admit – I do love buying presents, and I put a lot of thought into who will like what. I will miss that. But we still have birthdays to buy for, so I’ll manage.

The ultimate goal is to teach our kids to value more by being given less, and in doing so, raising content, thankful, appreciative children who don’t think it’s normal to get 20 presents too many.

And us parents get to save hundreds of dollars in the process.

Talk about a happy Christmas!

Originally published as 'My auntie's hack to save money on Christmas presents is pure genius'