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Every November, it starts the same way. A friend texts, “Can you believe it’s almost Christmas?” You open Instagram and see “gift guides” for people you didn’t even know you were supposed to shop for. And before you know it, you’re knee-deep in shipping notifications and wondering if buying matching pajamas for your dog was strictly necessary.
Let’s call it what it is: holiday overdrive.
The truth is, the holidays have quietly turned into a spending marathon. Americans are expected to spend over $950 billion this year, which is more than the GDP of Switzerland, in wrapping paper and novelty mugs. Meanwhile, one in three people says they regret most of their holiday purchases by January.
So what if this year we opted out, not of holiday joy, but of excess?
Here’s your Conscious Holiday Guide: a way to celebrate with meaning, warmth, and style (without the clutter, debt, or regret).
1. Redefine What “Special” Really Means
Somewhere along the way, “special” got confused with “expensive.” But the truth? Luxury isn’t the price tag. It’s trust, comfort, and longevity.
A little note before we get into the good stuff on what we’re doing at Treehouse. We believe the most meaningful gifts are the ones that last and are timeless. Our organic cotton and linen pieces are made to be loved, washed, and passed down to others, not tossed out by summer.
When you give something safe, soft, and designed to last years, it says far more than a pile of plastic Amazon stuff ever could.
(And yes: this year, we’re adding a little extra magic: orders over $100 come with free gift wrapping when you add the note “gift” at checkout. And for orders over $150, we’ll include a handmade felt wool ornament — crafted by Nepalese women artisans — on us.)
2. Buy Less, Choose Better
The average child in the U.S. receives more than 40 new toys each year, yet plays with only 12 regularly.
It’s not that they’re ungrateful: they’re genuinely overwhelmed by…stuff.
When you buy less but buy better, every item becomes part of a story, not just another thing to clean up and lose parts of. That is as applicable to clothes as it is to accessories, toys, books, you name it.
As Vivienne Westwood famously said, “Buy less, choose well, make it last.” Turns out, it’s also the best parenting strategy.
3. The Art of Giving Without the Guilt
Gift-giving should feel joyful — not like a budgeting exercise or a shipping emergency.
A conscious approach means rethinking how you give, not just what you give:
- Gift experiences: museum passes, zoo memberships, or even “sleepover coupons” from grandparents.
- A gift handmade: a framed photo, a quilt, a family recipe book, or a jar of homemade jam says “I love you” in a way that Amazon could never.
- Gift practicality: A kids' magazine subscription or a soft, neutral, timeless gift such as our Treehouse baby gift box is both thoughtful and usable every single day. For adults, consider luxury loungewear made from merino wool or cashmere.
The point isn’t to spend less, it’s to spend it smarter on better items.
4. Talk to Kids About Value (Not Just Gifts)
This season, your kids are absorbing more than Home Alone on repeat and carol lyrics; they’re learning what the holidays mean to your family.
Start the conversation early:
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Ask them to donate one toy before new ones arrive.
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Bake or craft gifts together to show that time and thought are gifts.
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Explain what the holiday you celebrate means to you and why.
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Center the conversation on time with family, experiences, and the value of gift-giving.
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It might also be a time to explore wider topics of waste and consumerism by talking through what happens to lesser-played-with items, unwanted gifts, etc.
When children see the link between kindness, craftsmanship, and comfort, they start to understand true value, not just price tags.
5. Declutter Before You Decorate
Before you start hanging twinkly lights and unpacking ten bins of ornaments, take inventory.
Research shows the average home has over 300,000 items. And the holiday season adds around 25% more clutter.
This year, try the “one in, one out” rule: for every new item that enters your home, something else goes.
It’s amazing how much lighter the season feels when your shelves aren’t competing with newcomers.
6. Wrap It Smarter (and Prettier)
Every year, 2.3 million pounds of wrapping paper end up in U.S. landfills, much of it glittered, coated, or impossible to recycle.
Switch to kraft paper and cloth ribbons. Or reuse old boxes and tissue: trust us, nobody cares. You can even make it a creative moment with your kids: draw on the paper, stamp it with their handprints, or tie it with dried citrus slices.
(Or, skip the hassle: we’ll wrap your order beautifully for free when you spend $100+ and add a note of “gift” at checkout. Done and dusted.)
7. Support Makers, Not Machines
Fast fashion and mass production account for 10% of global carbon emissions, and textiles are among the top three pollutants in our oceans. That’s not the kind of “holiday sparkle” anyone needs.
At Treehouse, we believe beautiful things can and should do good. That’s why this season, for every order over $150, we’re including a handmade felt wool ornament crafted by women artisans in Nepal, as a gift from our family to yours.
Each piece supports sustainable livelihoods and fair wages for the artisans who create them, using traditional needle-felting techniques passed down through generations. It’s our small way of adding meaning to every order, a reminder that the holidays can still be magical without the mass production.
8. Spend Within Your Peace Range
The average American racks up $1,500 in holiday debt, and most don’t pay it off until the following summer.
So this year, make peace with your spending limit. Set a budget per family member.
If you can’t buy it without anxiety, it’s not a gift, it’s a trap.
A conscious holiday budget looks like this:
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Gifts that get used (timeless Treehouse sleepers > holiday print PJs)
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Bundles or boxes that simplify decisions
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One splurge item that actually lasts (better than 10 trend-led filler gifts)
Consider following a family formula: 1 homemade gift, 1 quality item. For larger budget items, pool funds with others.
9. Make It About Memories, Not Merchandise
Years from now, your kids won’t remember the tenth toy they opened, but they’ll remember baking crooked gingerbread men or camping under the tree with twinkle lights.
In surveys, 88% of adults say holiday memories, not gifts, define the season. So lean into that.
Watch the same movie every year. Start a family “gratitude ornament” tradition. Take a walk after dinner.
These are the things that outlast trends, batteries, and glitter glue.
10. Conscious Doesn’t Mean Boring: It Means Better
Being conscious isn’t about stripping away joy; it’s about refining it.
It’s trading 20 cheap thrills for one lasting comfort. It’s making space, physically and emotionally, for what matters.
And honestly? It feels good. The air smells like cinnamon, your space feels calm, and you’re not secretly panicking over a credit card bill.
