I got a Poulan Pro 18-inch 42cc gas-powered, chainsaw for Christmas. It’s the kind in this chainsaw comparison. Along with it I was given some stocking stuffers like work gloves, ear plugs and some smaller gifts like a book on chainsaw maintenance and helmet with a face shield for cutting wood. I gave my wife, among other things, several sewing and knitting books, some contraption that helps her ball up hand-spun yarn, some wool… Next year she might get an actual spinning wheel, but the darned things cost over $400 new so she’s fine with a drop spindle for now.

The thing that bothers a lot of simple-life enthusiasts about Christmas is the compulsive consumerism it fosters. But for us it isn’t so much the tradition of buying gifts for friends and family – because there’s something special about giving, after all – as it is about the TYPES of gifts we used to give and receive. My family has always bought each other gifts for the sake of giving a gift. If it was on sale and remotely of interest to the potential receiver, we bought it, wrapped it and gave it – without thought as to whether or not the person actually NEEDED it. An example I see every year are those silly baskets of bath salts and lotions that end up gathering dust under the bathroom sink until eventually thrown out or given to Goodwill. And, the most silly of all gifts – for which I’ve been guilty of giving – is the thoughtless gift card. It gets pretty asinine when you give someone a $20 gift card to The Home Depot and then they get you a $20 gift card to Walmart. You might as well have just exchanged a twenty-dollar-bill or, to reduce the fraction of effort further, just not exchanged gifts at all.

Last year my wife and I decided to do things differently from then on: First, whenever possible, we would give friends and family homemade gifts that required thought, were useful, and were a labor of love. Second, whenever possible, we would give each other gifts that were useful, and that were needed around the house. This way we can still participate in the gift-giving spirit of the holidays without contributing to the “culture of stuff” so prevalent in our American consumer-crazed society.

How did we do?
We failed, but failed happily. While we were able to give most of our friends and family homemade soap, homemade lip balm, and homemade hats + scarves, I didn’t give myself time to make homemade cheese or canned goods for anyone this year. Also, we did give two gift cards and bought some “stuff” at the store – mostly toys for the kids.

And instead of getting my wife a spinning wheel this year (maybe Santa will bring her one next year), her extra-special-big-gift was a one-of-a-kind, commissioned painting by one of her favorite artists – and her tattoo artist – Sandi Calistro.

Next year we hope to do even better as we keep repeating to ourselves: Don’t buy gifts for the sake of having “something” to give. Buy or make gifts that have had thought put into them, and which will get used.

As for ourselves, here’s what we have on our list for next year and the year after and the year after…

• Grain Mill
• Aladdin Lamps
• Meat Grinder
• Chicken Plucker
• Gas Generator
• Wheelbarrow
• Work Gloves (can’t have too many)
• Spinning Wheel
• Breadmaker (cheating? nahhhh…)
• Hunting Rifle
• Large Cheese Press (handmade?)
• Cheese Cultures
• Non- Acrylic Yarn
• Size 9 womens & 12 mens  Socks (can’t have too many)
• Canned or Dried Food
• First Aid Kit
• First Aid Lessons
• Visits From Family and Friends

I guess the point of this post is to remind our hardcore “voluntary simplicity” readers that gift-giving isn’t a terrible, consumerist act in and of itself. In-fact, giving a gift is one of the most joyous things about the holidays – other than spending time with friends and family. It’s all about choosing to give thoughtfully, which aligns with our philosophy of “the middle way” or the “Golden Mean” when it comes to voluntary simplicity.