7 Simple Ways To Avoid Consumerism At Christmas

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Have you ever felt overwhelmed by consumerism at Christmas, wondering how we ended up here?

I was getting ready for work this morning, fixing my hair whilst scrolling through videos on my phone, and honestly? I felt exhausted just watching. Person after person buying everything Grinch-themed for their home.

Entire kitchen counters being “restocked” with Christmas-themed snacks and drinks that’ll probably go stale by January. Gardens and houses decorated in a way that would genuinely rival Disneyland at Christmas.

And I completely understand the desire to just buy, buy, buy or consume, consume, consume. It feels like that’s what everyone around you is doing, doesn’t it? The adverts. The emails. The “limited time offers“. The pressure to make everything magical and Instagram-worthy.

But somewhere along the way, we forgot Christ.

We forgot that it’s His birthday. And by the time we realise it, we’re too far gone; knackered, overspent, and honestly a bit empty inside despite all the tinsel.

Here’s what I’m learning: consumerism at Christmas isn’t just about spending money. It’s about where we’re placing our attention, our energy, our hearts. The commercialism and Christmas have become so intertwined that we don’t even notice it anymore.

We’ve normalised the chaos.

But friend, what if this year could be different?

Not perfect. Not Pinterest-worthy. Just… different. More rooted. More intentional. More about Jesus and less about everything else screaming for our attention.

In this blog post, I want to gently open your eyes again and help you not get caught up in the whirlwind of consumerism. It’s absolutely okay to get a loved one a gift. Please hear me on that. But let’s not forget what truly matters at the heart of it all.

These seven ways aren’t about being legalistic or joyless. They’re about protecting your peace, your finances, and your focus during what should be the most hope-filled season of the year.

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Set a “Why” Before You Set a Budget

Most people say “set a budget” and leave it there. But honestly? Budgets fail when we don’t know why we’re setting them.

Before you even think about pounds and pennies, sit down with a cuppa and ask yourself: What do I actually want this Christmas to feel like? Not what it should look like. What do you want to feel?

Peace? Connection? Warmth? Gratitude?

Write it down. Pray about it. Let the Holy Spirit guide you towards what He wants for your season, not what the adverts are telling you that you need.

Then, and only then, set a budget that serves that vision. Because when you know your “why,” it’s so much easier to say no to the seventeenth bauble set or another kitchen gadget nobody needs.

I’ve started doing this for the past two years, and it’s changed everything. Last year, my “why” was rest. So I deliberately spent less on things and more on creating space; space to read, to pray, to just be. It meant saying no to a few gatherings. It meant a simpler tree. But it was the most peaceful December I’d had in years.

Your budget isn’t just about money. It’s about protecting what matters most to you.

Choose One “Signature” Tradition That Costs Nothing

Here’s the truth about Christmas and consumerism: we’ve been sold the lie that memories cost money. That the best Christmases are the ones with the most stuff.

But that’s simply not true.

Some of my favourite Christmas memories are from when I was a child, sitting in church on Christmas Eve with a single candle lit, singing Silent Night in the dark. Free. Simple. Sacred.

This year, pick one tradition that costs absolutely nothing and make it your signature thing. It could be:

Reading the Christmas story from Luke 2 together by candlelight on Christmas Eve
Taking a walk through your neighbourhood on Christmas morning before the chaos begins, thanking God for the gift of Jesus
Writing out prayers of gratitude on slips of paper and reading them aloud together
Singing carols on the bus ride home from work during December (even if it’s just in your head!)

When consumerism holidays take over, we forget that the first Christmas was humble. A baby. A manger. Shepherds. Nothing flashy. Nothing expensive. Just the presence of God breaking into our world.

Let one free, Jesus-centred tradition anchor your December.

Limit Your “Christmas Content” Consumption

This one’s hard, but stay with me.

The reason consumerism at Christmas feels so overwhelming is because we’re constantly consuming it. Every scroll. Every advert. Every haul video. Every email screaming “FINAL HOURS!“

It’s designed to make you feel like you’re missing out. Like you’re not doing enough. Like your Christmas isn’t good enough unless you buy more.

So here’s my challenge: for the next two weeks, limit how much Christmas content you’re consuming. Not all of it; just be intentional.

Unsubscribe from a few marketing emails. You don’t need seventeen reminders about sales.
Mute accounts that make you feel inadequate or anxious.
Set a timer when you’re scrolling. Ten minutes, then put the phone down.
Replace some of that time with something that fills you up instead such as worship music, Scripture, a real conversation.

I’m not saying avoid joy or inspiration. I’m saying be wise about what you’re allowing into your mind and heart during this season. Because holiday commercialization thrives when we’re too distracted to notice it’s happening.

Guard your eyes and your heart. They’re more precious than any sale.

Give One Meaningful Gift Instead of Many Small Ones

We’ve been taught that more gifts equal more love. That the pile under the tree reflects how much we care.

But real life? Real relationships? They don’t work that way.

This year, instead of buying multiple small things that’ll be forgotten by February, consider giving one thoughtful, meaningful gift. Something that reflects the person. Something they’ll actually use or treasure.

For my husband two years ago, instead of five or six random things, I made him a mini memory book filled with photos and notes from our first year of our relationship. It cost me very little for the small photo album and some printer ink. He cried. He still looks at it.

Or maybe it’s not even a physical gift. Maybe it’s:

A handwritten letter telling someone why they matter to you
An offer to help them with something they’ve been putting off (cleaning out the garage, organising paperwork, etc.)
A promise of time together: a walk, a coffee date, a meal you’ll cook for them

When we resist the pull of consumerism and Christmas spending, we make space for gifts that actually mean something. Gifts that reflect love, not obligation.

One meaningful gift honours both the person and the season more than a dozen thoughtless ones.

Create a “Contentment List” Before You Shop

Here’s something I started doing that honestly saved me from spiralling into a consumerist Christmas last year: before I went shopping (or scrolling online), I wrote down everything I already had.

All the decorations tucked away in the cupboard. The fairy lights that still work. The recipes I already know how to make. The games we already own. The blankets, the candles, the Christmas music playlist.

I called it my Contentment List.

Because when I saw everything written out, I realised I didn’t actually need more. I had enough. We had enough.

Consumerism at Christmas whispers that what you have isn’t good enough. That you need the new thing, the trendy thing, the thing everyone else has. But Scripture reminds us: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11).

Contentment isn’t passive. It’s an active choice to say, “I’m grateful for what God has already given me.“

Write your list. Read it when you’re tempted to buy what you don’t need.

Focus on Presence Over Presents (Really, Though)

I know, I know. You’ve heard this one before. But hear me out, because I think we’ve misunderstood what this actually means.

It’s not just about being physically present. It’s about being emotionally, mentally, spiritually present.

Christmas is too commercialised, yes. But it’s also too distracted. Too rushed. Too exhausted.

This year, what if you committed to actual presence?

Put your phone away during meals.
Don’t fill every moment with noise or activity. Let there be stillness.
Ask real questions and listen to the answers.
Pray with people, not just for them.

On the bus ride home from work, instead of scrolling, I’ve started just… noticing. The lights. The people. The quiet hum of the city. Thanking God for small things. It’s become a little pocket of peace in my day.

When you’re truly present, you won’t feel the pull of consumerism as strongly. Because you’ll be experiencing the richness of real connection, and that’s something money can’t buy.

Be where you are. Not where the adverts are trying to take you.

End December with a “Heart Check,” Not a To-Do List

Here’s the thing about consumerism holidays: they measure success by what you did, what you bought, what you achieved.

But Jesus? He cares about your heart.

So instead of ending December with a list of tasks completed or gifts wrapped, I want to encourage you to end it with a heart check.

Sit quietly before the Lord. Maybe on the bus. Maybe in those early morning moments before the day begins. Maybe late at night when everyone’s asleep.

Ask Him:

Did I worship You this month, or just survive it?
Did I make space for Your presence, or just fill my calendar?
Did I experience Your peace, or just chase perfection?

This isn’t about guilt. It’s about realignment. It’s about remembering that Christmas commercialization can happen in our hearts just as much as in our homes.

And if you realise you’ve gotten off track? Grace, friend. There’s always grace. God doesn’t measure your December by how much you got right. He delights in you simply returning to Him.

Check your heart more than you check your to-do list.

A Final Thought

I won’t pretend this is easy. The pull of consumerism at Christmas is real and relentless. Is Christmas over commercialised? Absolutely. But you don’t have to participate in the chaos just because everyone else is.

You can step back. You can breathe. You can remember why we celebrate in the first place.

Jesus came into the world quietly, humbly, without fanfare or excess. And maybe that’s the invitation for us too, to celebrate Him in a way that reflects His heart, not the world’s noise.

You don’t need to do all seven of these things. Pick one. Pick two. Just take a small step towards a more rooted, Jesus-centred Christmas.

Because at the end of the day, the best gift we can give ourselves—and others—is to remember what this season is truly about.

So here’s my question for you: Which of these seven ways feels most doable for you right now? And what’s one small step you can take today to resist the pull of consumerism at Christmas?

Let’s walk this out together, one intentional choice at a time.

With grace and hope,