5 Christmas Trends I’m Not Taking Part In This Year (And What I’m Doing Instead)

Every year, Christmas rolls in with a wave of glittering adverts, Pinterest-perfect ideas and new must-do traditions. And while some trends are genuinely lovely, others can feel expensive, stressful, or just... a bit much.

I have to be realistic this year. I was made redundant from my full-time job last month, and I have two young kids. Both financially and in terms of enjoying the magic of Christmas, this is not the year to go all out.

Instead, I’m giving myself permission to step back and celebrate Christmas in a simpler, calmer and more meaningful way. Just to be clear, I am no Scrooge and will be starting the festive season early - just in a budget-friendly, stress-free way.

So here are five Christmas trends I am not participating in this year, and why I’m perfectly happy about it.

1. The Organised Christmas Lights Trail Tours

You know the ones. You buy tickets at extortionate prices where even the tiny baby costs a bomb, bundle everyone into the car, queue, walk, shuffle, point, buy a hot chocolate for £6, and drive home wondering why your toes feel like ice cubes.

Yeah, they're absolutely gorgeous and one day might be worth it when the kids can also appreciate it but, we have access to plenty of lights without paying the additional cost.

We are blessed with some wonderful streets surrounding our home, that do go all out each year on Christmas lights. We will definitely be going for a wander around at some point - most likely Christmas Eve. It's perfect for young children as if the weather is bad we can just take the car.

We also have a National Trust pass and we will be able to get stuck in with festivities at so many different sites near us. There's bound to be some lovely lights for us to see.

Sometimes the best lights are the ones right around the corner.

2. Elf on the Shelf

I am gently excusing myself from this tradition.
I respect the parents who can remember to move the elf every single night, let alone stage miniature elf escapades that look like they belong in a stop-motion movie.

Me? I do not need another daily task disguised as festive joy.
No elf. No guilt. No 10pm panic.

3. Secret Santa

Secret Santa and I have parted ways this year for practical reasons: I used to only take part at work, and I was made redundant earlier in the year.

So no Secret Santa this year.
No guessing, no trying to stay within the exact £10 limit, no wrapping something that is hopefully not terrible.

Instead, I’ll focus on quality time with people I actually see regularly.

4. Waiting Until December to Put Up the Christmas Tree

This rule has always felt like waiting to eat cake when the cake is right there.

I’m putting the tree up early.
If twinkly lights make the dark evenings feel softer and the house feel warmer, then I’m absolutely going to enjoy that before December. Life is short. Let the lights glow.

5. Spending Lots on Brand-New Presents

My boys are still young.
They enjoy the box more than what came in it. They play, they explore, they forget, they move on. And that is absolutely normal.

So this year, I am keeping gifts simple and realistic:

• A few presents that feel thoughtful, but not expensive
• Some second-hand finds where it makes sense
• A total spend of about £100

Christmas joy doesn’t come from how much we spend. It comes from the atmosphere we create.

A Simpler Christmas Can Still Be a Magical One

I’m learning that Christmas doesn’t need to be curated like a shop window display. It can be soft, slow, and just right for our family. Less stress, less cost, more meaning.

If any of these changes resonate with you, feel free to borrow them. Traditions are meant to serve us, not drain us.

This year, I’m choosing joy over pressure.