6 Ways to have a Frugal Christmas | According to History

Well, it's here. A time of year when our pockets feel a little lighter, bellies feel a little fuller, and stress levels are a little higher.

That's right, it's Christmas 🎄.

But here's the thing, Christmas wasn’t always loud, expensive, or exhausting.

This week I found myself reflecting on how Christmas has changed — and how, for many of us, it’s become a season of pressure, obligation, and over-consumption rather than gentleness, gratitude, and rest.

Through the lens of history — from midwinter traditions and Victorian Christmases to wartime rationing — I explore how our ancestors marked this season with simplicity, meaning, and community rather than abundance.

Beginning our journey from the point of view of Charles Dickens, and his concerns that Christmas had become “spiritually thin,” to the quiet resilience of the 1940s, history reminds us that Christmas was never meant to be performative or financially draining.

In this video, I share six frugal, historically inspired ideas to help create a Christmas that feels:
✨ Gentle
✨ Connected
✨ Affordable
✨ Manageable

We’ll talk about:
04:58 - Avoiding Over Catering
05:58 - Keeping Christmas small and contained
06:37 - Honouring rest as part of celebration
07:35 - Not Always Outsourcing Joy
10:39 - Simple, meaningful gift-giving
13:25 - Creating atmosphere, not abundance
13:48 - A Message for you

This isn’t about being a Scrooge! It’s about reclaiming the quieter, more intentional spirit of the season and reminding ourselves that meaning comes from presence, not price.

I’ll also be taking a short break between Christmas and New Year, to honour rest and allow space for creativity to return — something I hope you’re able to do too, whether you celebrate Christmas or not.

Thank you, as always, for being here 🤍
and I hope you’ll join me for a quiet moment this Wednesday before Christmas commences ✨

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Intro music: By Caine Laskowski

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