I have a big family. No, make that massive. And with a large family comes a large budget for Christmas gifts. Yikes.

That isn’t the only issue when it comes to the holidays. I am bombarded with Christmas Wish lists that are expected to be fulfilled. Not fun.

These very reasons is why this year our family is implementing Memory Christmas, where for Christmas, we are giving memories to each other in lieu of gifts.  

Need an example? My older brother just bought a house, so my parents are buying him a few tools with a promise to give him a weekend to help with renovations.

If you can’t think of any ideas, think about how you want to spend your time with (or for) that person. Once you have that, it should be easy to buy a small gift that represents the memory you will be giving.

And me? I am finding myself looking forward to Christmas this year, instead of dealing with the stress of money and the pressure of finding the perfect gift.

Most of all, I am excited to spend more quality time with my family this season.