As people have mentioned, it is very difficult to avoid evil corporations. My aim here was not to buy things exclusively from “good companies” but to reduce the amount of money I spend on things altogether. Most of my money now goes to experiences—shows, drinks or dinners with friends, movies. I am not a fan of chains so I hope by doing this most of my money goes to local businesses and back into the community. Plus by buying less things, maybe I helped reduce the toll that manufacturing and shipping takes on the environment, just a bit. Maybe? I don’t know. Now, I do still buy clothes and shoes, but not at the rate I used to. I feel I’ve made significant headway in changing my spending habits.

My hope is that my family will continue our new tradition of a present-free holiday as well.