Spend Less
LIBBY & DAN MOORE
In November of 2008, we were involved in a car accident. Our SUV was t-boned after a truck pulling a trailer of horses ran a red light. We were fine, except for Libby having a few bruised ribs and a mild concussion. Everyone else involved (including the horses) was uninjured. However, our SUV was totaled.
We were engaged at the time and in the process of figuring out how to join our two lives under one household, including finances. Thankfully, we had good insurance, so we received a payout amount for the vehicle. It was enough to basically cover the car loan plus a small sum leftover. Unfortunately, it wasn’t really enough for another down payment.
We were left with the question…what do we do next? What is the best way for us to steward this money? We ended up getting an old junker from a family member, and that small leftover sum ended up being the start of a path which led us ultimately to debt freedom.
That car accident ended up completely changing our lives. After the accident, we kept learning more about stewarding money, minimalism, non-consumerism, and environmentalism. We began making choices that went against the consumer culture. There’s an old saying, “Use it up. Wear it out. Make do, or do without.” That became our mantra.
We learned that living our best life is not about cars or handbags or shoes. During the holidays, it’s not about the Christmas decorations we have up, or the presents we have under the tree. It’s about spending time and showing love to the people that matter most. Worshiping Christ all year...not just at Christmastime.
It’s hard. People throw out terms such as cheapskates, nay-sayers, scrooges, penny pinchers, and tightwads. When we rejected the idea of consumer culture, especially during Christmastime, some people in our lives took it as a personal rejection. Others mistook it as a rejection of our nation, or even a rejection of Jesus.
For our family, it’s about embracing people, relationship, and togetherness. God with us. It’s not about what gift someone buys, or grand gesture someone makes, or even the smorgasbord of food on the table. One of our favorite Christmas gifts wasn’t wrapped in a box, or pulled out of a bag. It was a moment around a table, playing Apples to Apples Jr. with three generations of smiling, laughing people being completely present and genuine with each other. That’s the joy of Christ. That’s God with us.
Do we give gifts at Christmas? Yes, we do. However, we set spending limits, and we are intentional about what we purchase, who we purchase for, and from where.
For our children, we go by the four-gift guideline: “Something you want. Something you need. Something to wear. Something to read.” In addition, we usually purchase a new board game as a family gift and plan a fun, frugal day trip.
For extended family, after our first year of a “less” consumer Christmas, one side of the family was inspired and switched to drawing names for gift-giving. Another side of the family has started purchasing more experiential/activity-based gifts because they know that is something we value.
We recognize that these ideas may not work for every family. This is just what works for us. “Saying yes to a different way of celebrating.” (https://adventconspiracy.org/spend-less/)
Dan and Libby Moore are both teachers by trade (history and music). They love thrifting and family game nights…even better, a thrifted family game played with their two children, Elijah and Imogen.