Your neighbors have begun to put up their fluorescent lights, wreaths hang from every door. The lines at stores grow longer, the shopping carts grow fuller and fuller. The holidays have arrived.

While Christmas is said to be a time of family and cheer, many Americans are more focused on what they’ll be buying, whether it’s for loved ones, coworkers, or for themselves. The fact that the U.S. reportedly spends $8.3 billion on unwanted items, according to Nebraska Recycling Council, doesn’t help the consumerist image the nation already seems to have.

In 2022, more than $900 billion were spent during Christmas, according to Exploding Topics. That number is a result of an increase every year in spending around the holidays since 2008. It’s predicted that the number will rise by 7% this year, according to CBS News.

Many begin Christmas shopping in October, but the spending only seems to continue. Even when people aren’t actively searching to buy something, they might be adding more to their wish list. The collective thought of needing to wanting something is a key factor in overconsumption during the holidays. When we’re constantly surrounded by advertisements for all kinds of different unnecessary items and are engrossed in them, we lose sight of what Christmas is really supposed to be about.

There are several ways to make Christmas less about shopping and more about the time you can spend with loved ones. More often than not, alternatives to spending money lead to moments that are far more memorable.

One aspect that people like about the holidays is the nostalgia. It’s nice to know that you and your siblings will still fight over who gets to place the star on top of the Christmas tree or that you and your friends will go outside to see the snow. The memories that come rushing back when the old cardboard box with ornaments is opened once again give more joy than gifts ever will.