Stop Wasting Money Excessively: Underconsumption And Christmas

The holiday season is often associated with feast and abundance—lavish gifts, extravagant and hefty meals, as well as overflowing decorations.

When I was younger, Christmas season was a time to shop for all new things–shoes, bags, toys, and clothes. It was the time of the year when my late grandmother would empty the cabinets of fancy cutlery and China, reserved exclusively for Noche Buena. It was a time for grand parties with gifts and games and relentless Filipino tradition of giving aguinaldo. I remember we would annually join the ‘advent wreath making contest' and each year we have something new to showcase, but we’ll always have the biggest, baddest, and most adorned wreath until we all grew up and lived in different places. Those were good times. 

Read Also: 6 Reasons Christmas In The Philippines Is Truly Unique

Our experience is not entirely unique—it’s probably a common picture for most Filipino households during Christmas, lavish and abundant, especially those who have big families and extended family members. However, a growing number of parents are choosing a different path and there’s a term for it: the underconsumption core.

“Underconsumption isn’t just about frugality...it urges us to use resources thoughtfully, extracting maximum value from what we own before buying more." —Christina Dymioti, social entrepreneur

This mindful approach that went viral on TikTok emphasizes simplicity, intentionality, and prioritizing meaningful experiences and frugality over material excess.

What is ‘underconsumption core’?

According to Christina Dymioti, an award-winning social entrepreneur and Marketing and Sustainability Communications specialist from London, it is a “movement (that) encourages us to love what we have and to shop less,” shedding light on the wasteful consumerist culture.

Dymioti explains, “Underconsumption isn’t just about frugality. It’s a statement against relentless consumerism. It urges us to use resources thoughtfully, extracting maximum value from what we own before buying more. This mindset fosters sustainability and authenticity, challenging the capitalist push for constant consumption.”

This is probably the epitome of the famed slogan, ‘reduce-reuse-recycle’ and it may also trace its roots to early 2000s minimalist lifestyle, Earth day celebration, and the Zero Waste movement.

Also Read: Posible Nga Ba Ang Minimalist Lifestyle Kung Mayroon Kang Mga Anak?

“Underconsumption core isn’t just a trend—it’s a way of living. It invites us to reclaim our power as consumers, valuing quality over quantity and mindfulness over impulse,” Dymioti concludes.

"I think because we live in an attention economy and culture, we are very inundated with being told that we need things to be happier or to prove ourselves, especially because social media can create comparisons." -Israa Nasir

Why turn to this philosophy during one of the year’s most consumer-driven periods?

Generational change, parenting trends

In case you haven’t noticed, most of the parenting strategies and styles that are being introduced and adopted in recent years are rooted in mindfulness and intentionality. Gentle parenting, lighthouse parenting, elephant parenting—they all encourage us to be more mindful and purposeful of our strategies and way of life when we deal with our families.

Meanwhile, in an article of Parents, mental health educator Israa Nasir  talks about how generation has impacted consumption culture. “I think as parenting trends have changed, I’ve definitely seen an increase in more gifting than previous generations. You can really see this in the way birthday parties are planned and celebrated between millennials being the children and millennials being the parent[s],” she said in the article.

Also Read: See How These Moms Save Money on Christmas Decorations!

She added, “When it comes to holidays, I think because we live in an attention economy and culture, we are very inundated with being told that we need things to be happier or to prove ourselves, especially because social media can create comparisons. That really impacts how we shop for the holidays.”

Environmental impact

The environmental impact of excessive consumption, particularly during the holidays, is another motivating factor to adopt underconsumption core. Wrapping paper waste, overproduction of goods, and the carbon footprint of shipping contribute to ecological strain.

In an ABC news report, Stanford University's Waste Reduction, Recycling, Composting, and Solid Waste Program reveals that household waste surges by over 25% during the holiday season. This increase primarily comes from food waste, shopping bags, packaging, wrapping paper, bows, and ribbons, resulting in an additional 1 million tons of trash being added to landfills each week during this period, the report highlights.

Related Read: How to Live With Less? Stop Buying Things Just Because It's on Sale for Starters

So, if we are to embrace underconsumption for the holidays, what can we do?

Holidays can be a great opportunity to teach children valuable lessons about gratitude, contentment, and the joy of togetherness rather than material excess. By adopting an underconsumption mindset, families can shift the focus from accumulating material possessions to creating cherished memories. Activities like baking cookies, volunteering, swapping clothes with other families, or crafting decorations together leave a more lasting impression than usual holiday gift-giving and tree decorating.

Nasir recommends though to discuss underconsumption with the family by rethinking holiday spending and focusing on what matters more and being intentional about it. “It’s helpful for parents to talk about this openly and in a constructive way with children. Because you don’t want your child to feel left out in comparison to their peers, but at the same time you want to instill values that are not over-consumption,” she explained in the article.

Embracing underconsumption for the holidays: 7 tips

1. Plan and prioritize your budget. According to the American Psychological Association, “The holidays are full of hidden costs. Or they’re not exactly hidden but are often overlooked… It’s 100 percent okay to cut out people you would normally buy for, and there’s a good chance they’ll have to do the same.”

2. Consider pre-owned items as gifts or make a customized one. People can have mixed feelings about giving pre-owned items as gifts, but if this year is 'the year' for rethinking our usual holiday spending, then buying a refurbished video game or pre-loved lego set for your children should not be a problem. There’s no reason not to consider gifting used books, pre-owned bikes, or secondhand toys or collectibles provided that they are still in good condition. With the abundance of online marketplaces for pre-owned items, I’m sure you’ll find high-quality used goods without spending so much.

You can also encourage kids to create personalized gifts like greeting cards or re-designed jars and containers. Kids can also bake cookies instead as Christmas give-aways for their classmates, teachers, and friends.

Also Read: 4 Hacks to Make Your Old Christmas Decor Look New

3. Consider mixing and matching outfits for the festivities. You don’t need a new outfit for Christmas—chances are, they probably won’t even notice. And that new pair of trousers might probably be used only twice next year so there’s really no urgent need to add that to the clothes pile. Mix and match outfits from your wardrobe and don the best attitude for this season and you’ll realize that’s all that matters.

4. Drop the need for a new set of holiday decorations. Re-use old decorations and rethink the habit of changing the Christmas theme every year—perhaps you can do it once every four years or just mix and match if you have already kept a pile of decorations. Think of swapping tree decorations with friends or neighbors—that can also be fun! If your kids are fond of arts and crafts, why not make handmade ornaments and decor and hang them as treasured keepsakes?

Also Read: Mura At Pwedeng Ulit-Ulitin! DIY Christmas Decorations Ng Mga Nanay

5. Go eco-friendly. Opt for reusable wrapping, secondhand gifts, or consumable items to help minimize waste.

6. Rethink gifting. Instead of material possessions, why not offer experiences? Think of movie passes, show tickets, gift cards for indoor playgrounds, gift certificates for a spa for your spouse, a staycation, nature tripping—there are lots of creative choices if you really want to be more intentional with your gifts this season.

Also Read: 5 Indoor Playgrounds For Your Child's Birthday Party

7. Give back. If you really have a lot of things in excess like clothes and toys and you don’t mind giving them away, it is better to donate to charitable institutions.

Underconsumption core is a trend and like any other trends they’re good until the next trend comes marching in. But if we embrace it as a lifestyle, we’re probably making more sustainable and budget-saving choices for the family.

Want to make your holidays less stressful? Here are tips!