The $5 Christmas by Jane Tolbert

It won't be couture this year. . .

Many years ago, our family needed to save money for a European trip. We decided to limit the amount we spent on gifts and implemented the $5 Christmas at a time when Frommer published his guide on Europe on $5 a day.

Even many years ago, it was difficult to find a nice present for $5, so we decided to make our gifts. After all, the spirit of Christmas was in the giving. These gifts would have that personal touch. As an artist, my sister, Margaret, had an unfair advantage. Dad knew woodworking, and he made inlaid letter boxes, shoe polish kits or nativity scenes. Mom also sewed or helped by filling clay pots with wonderful plants. I had few skills but decided to sew clothes and even a necktie (all of which were mistakes).



Nativity--when an artist and workworker collaborate on a $5 Christmas . . .

Santa’s workshop meant entire areas of the house were off limits to other members of the family. We worked alone on our gifts. The gifts experienced a moderate success, but we never saw each other during the holidays. As Mom observed, the greatest gift would be to spend time together.

The spirit of Christmas seems be synonymous with increasing commercialization. Even in this period of recession, merchants began reminding us about Black Friday and Cyber Monday early in November. Now as we approach Christmas, we are assaulted daily with new store hours, email reminders of free shipping for a purchase of $150 or an additional 20 percent discount with a store credit card.

Although the mall parking lots look full and the post offices have long lines, are people buying lavish gifts? Or have they also implemented a $5 Christmas? The last few years have been very lean. People are concerned about job security and health care. In Florida, our unemployment is 11.2 percent with more layoffs expected. Underemployment is much higher.

Years ago we used to buy something frivolous for Christmas—a paperclip holder in the shape of a Viking, a fedora or a pair of fantasy tights or even reindeer antlers for the pets. Sometimes we bought couture instead of dégriffé. But these days, everyone is my entourage is giving the more basic presents—the things we really need. Although we have put a limit on expenditures, we are buying rather than making our presents. After all, the greatest gift is having time together.