Practical Hope in Hard Times: Christmas Without Shopping
Are you worried about Christmas with Empty shelves this year? Well, that is a good instinct, but remember, there were times in American history where we faced this before – and we have better tools now! That’s the good news.
First, the problem: The tariffs currently imposed against our former trading partners have effectively created an embargo around the US. Imagine sanctions against Russia, or if you are old enough to remember, the Cuban embargo? Or the Great Depression. Except this time, our allies will not be there for us. We are hurting them almost as much as we have hurt ourselves, and they will not soon forget it. It’s important to remember that this is an entirely manufactured crisis that could be repaired by lifting the tariffs now. It would take 6-9 months for the supply chains to rebuild, and probably more than a year to replace the wasted crops that are either rotting at the docks, in the fields, or being sent back to us. It will take longer to repair our relationships around the world. But this column is not about politics, it is only about the fallout of politics and how we are going to have Practical Hope in Hard Times.
Optimism is not a luxury. It is a survival skill.
So if you’re worried about having nothing under the tree for Christmas, start fixing that now. Here are just a few of the many ways to provide for Holiday cheer without money. I say Christmas, but of course I am referring to all holidays, from birthdays, to secular celebrations, and traditional celebrations of all types.
In the US, we have plenty of stuff. Our landfills, resale stores, and garages are overflowing. But, as much as possible, hold onto your hard earned cash for necessities – shelter, heat, water, healthcare – even food can be found free or less expensively. But for now, we are talking about presents. I LOVE giving pressies! IThe most fun birthday party I ever had was when we made a feast of Indian food, and I did the “Hobbit” birthday tradition of giving gifts instead of receiving them. Since we had little money, I gathered used, nearly free but worth reading, old paperback books and wrapped them in water colored newspaper. Most of our friends are creative types, so at the very least the idea made everyone jolly. Some traded books, based on personal taste. It was glorious. Holidays of any kind are an excuse for indulging that personal pleasure without breaking the bank.
So here are some ideas that you may not have heard of or considered.
Time. The gift of your time with someone, both quantity and quality, though do your best to insure the qualities are positive and healing where needed. With permission, always let loved ones in on your mental health, physical health, and well being otherwise. However, be discerning about how much any relationship can bear. Do not lay your heaviest burdens on new friendships, co-workers, with rare exception of former co-workers, acquaintances, or any other whom you have not directly requested that kind of support from. Do ask. That’s also a gift, when asked and when given.
Most importantly, do not depend on only the best of loved ones be your support as a substitute for professional help. If you are not sure, call a crisis line. They can set you up with someone to talk to in an emergency as you find a professional who is covered or affordable who is suitable for you. Personal concerns, like mental, physical, financial health as well as other concerns should be brought to the attention of experts. I will write another time about sorting through expertise of different types.
Most often cited regrets folks have when it is time to leave is not any kind of financial success, but not spending more time with loved ones. It is the only resource that cannot be recovered, repaired, or remediated. Once gone, it’s gone forever. Give the gift of yourself, to yourself, your loved ones, your community, and even strangers. The stranger the better. There is no gift so great as a bigger table, a kinder world. Like courage, kindness and caring are infectious. It is the most important part of what makes us human.
Care. This one has endless applications, but my favorite example is hand made coupon books for loved ones, or community members for that matter, donating everything from rides, to labor such as lawn mowing, housekeeping, and pet sitting, to personal care for loved ones, including hair washing, and footrubs.
Upcycle Crafting. Since yarn, and other materials for crafting, can be so expensive at retail prices, gather unused, old, torn and otherwise unloved clothes and use them to make fabric art.
Know someone who knits? Unraveled bundles of coordinated yarn colors might make a great gift!
Food. For years, in the midwest where I was from, we made huge batches of treats to combine, wrap and give during the holidays. One of my favorites amid the fudge, bar cookies, and traditional holiday fare was stained glass window candy. I am sure you can find a recipe online. Warning: not healthy, lol. Made with simple sugar, flavoring, coloring, and powdered sugar, the process is relatively simple. You will need a non-stick pan, a candy thermometer, hopefully a good pair of flexible cooking gloves, as melted sugar is HOT. The results, though, are a mixed and matched combination of colors that look exactly like broken, stained glass window panes. Recommend giving in small amounts, because they are pure sugar.
Buy from artists you know. Online artists can be a little pricey, especially if your aim is not to spend money at all. Some alternatives, however, would be trading with local artists, or artists you know for services. Most artists I know don’t drive, because — well — we’re poor. So asking, or posting a request on “buy nothing” or neighborhood sites and offering a limited amount of service in exchange for art might be a wonderful gift to the artist, so that you are giving as well as receiving at the same time: the fundamental basis for a gift economy. And while we are not going to be able to move away from the use of money any time soon, that does not mean that we cannot live lives full of joy, and music and beauty while having very little.
Shakespeare in the park. In almost every community you can find free – or nearly free – theater, music, poetry readings and storytelling hours performed by talented volunteers. You can find a list of these events in almost any community newspaper or magazine, as well as posting on your community boards and in shop windows in your neighborhood. And highschool productions of anything from music to theater can be surprisingly good. Why not support local kids and get to know more of your neighbors?
Other places to look include:
Buy Nothing Groups in your neighborhood. Look them up at buynothingproject.org . I have been a member of Buy Nothing groups in two neighborhoods for many years now. I have offered handmade jewelry, clothes, but also shelf stable, but open and resealed food items that I could no longer use because of diet changes. We gave away starches like flour, crackers, white rice, unopened cake mixes, shared harvests that were shared with us – apples, carrots, oranges – and cat food. Other non food items included downsized items like books, dishes, pans, furniture and small appliances. Over the years we received many things, but remember it is always ok to put out a request. I was looking for a hummingbird feeder for a couple of months, and then thought “what the heck, I’ll just ask”. Quite unexpectedly I was gifted a hand blown art glass feeder with a unique shape and brilliant colors.
Other things to look into are
https://thefreestore.org where gifts of every possible type, including food but also including clothes, toys, durable medical goods, furniture and other household items.
And, even if the tariffs are lifted tomorrow, you might consider a lifestyle change that includes spending less and sharing more. We live in a land of more than plenty. And the more cash you can hang onto, the simpler and less dependent you will be on the whims of those you work for and those you may not have elected, or did – doesn’t matter – the future is always uncertain. But a few books based on faulty data notwithstanding, human nature is fundamentally cooperative. We survive by helping each other and our advertising and economic pressures of stagnant wages have driven us into isolation from each other. As little time as we may have, it will go further with others. As I was told many times growing up in Michigan, many hands make light work.
Later I will offer lists of other ways to move from survival to thriving through sharing and community building. But this first blog is about the holidays, so I will sign off with some links.
Gratefully, Sarah
Thanks to:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/28/trump-tariff-battle-empty-shelves/ for reprinting this Bloomberg article.
The Savings Expert: The Truth About America Collapsing! The Cost Of Living Is About To Skyrocket! Morgan Housel gives a superb interview about coming economic realities, and realistic living
