Food, Home and Style

A Slimmed-Down Christmas — But Will It Last?

The chestnuts will still roast; Santa Claus will be just as jolly as ever—but there’s little doubt that the holiday season is different this year. From smaller Christmas trees and fewer extravagant gifts, to an increase emphasis on homemade foods and decorations, millions of families across the country are cutting back on expenses without sacrificing the holiday spirit this year.

It’s too soon to tell whether these back-to-basics holiday rituals will turn into lasting traditions or whether they’re just passing trends that’ll be gone as soon as the economy heats up again. In the meantime, we’ve put together a roundup of what’s different this holiday season.

A return to the classics. One of the biggest ways retailers are attempting to lure in weary customers is by going back to basics—focusing more on traditional holiday colors like red and green, and less on exotic ornaments and splashy gift ideas—in the hope that old-time nostalgia will lead to increased sales this holiday season.

More cooks in the kitchen. Sales of baking ingredients and other basic cooking supplies have gone up since the recession began, as more families spend time cooking in the kitchen rather than taking part in expensive holiday traditions like shopping for gifts and decorations at the local mall.

Fewer holiday jobs. Not all of the recession-era holiday trends are good, of course. People looking for temporary and seasonal jobs are having a harder time finding work this year. Nearly half of the country’s largest retail chains say they’re expecting to hire even fewer holiday workers than they did last year, which adds up to about 100,000 fewer holiday jobs this year.

More regifting. Regifting is expected to be big this holiday season, as people search for a way to give presents without breaking the bank. Of course, passing off gifts that you don’t want isn’t the only way to save money. Check out a whole host of other, more socially-acceptable, budget gifting options right here.

Extended store hours and layaway plans. Retailers are pulling out all the stops to get shoppers inside their doors. Two of the more popular ways they’re luring customers in this year is by keeping their doors open later, and letting shoppers put the items they want (but can’t afford) on layaway for a longer period of time.

Smaller Christmas trees. Families aren’t the only ones struggling financially this year. The state of South Carolina chose a shorter-than-usual tree from Pennsylvania for its Statehouse in Columbia this year, which cost about half as much as the trees the state has used in year’s past.

Tags: budgets, Christmas, families, holiday, recession, traditions