These 5 gift-giving rules keep Christmas meaningful — and affordable — for our family of 6

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
A young girl with her face obscured by four presents. a Christmas tree is in the background.
The author has come up with 5 rules to keep gift giving in check during the holiday season, including limiting her kids (not shown) to four gifts each.

Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

We're high earners with student debt and kids. Here's how we continue to build wealth.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
Couple posing for photo
The author and her husband are HENRYs: high earners, not rich yet.

Courtesy of the author

I quit my job to pursue a better opportunity, but then I was fired. I'm now forced to rethink my whole career.

Tech Insider : Business
a man packing up his desk and looking distraught
The author lost his job and had to start over.

Lacheev/Getty Images

I'm 47 and quit my job without having anything else lined up. I didn't want to live a life with regrets.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Woman working from home
The author now works from her kitchen table.

Courtesy of the author

My parents are boomers and always encouraged me to feel my feelings. All my friends wanted to hang out at my house.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
The author with her son and parents.
The author's parents are boomers, and they gave her unconditional support.

Courtesy of Tonilyn Hornung

I got my kids, all 7 and under, a landline. They invited friends over on a snow day without my help, and I was thrilled.

Tech Insider : Business
Kids playing the snow
The author's kids invited a bunch of friends over during a snow day.

Courtesy of the author

There's one holiday tradition my 6 kids look forward to every year, and it doesn't involve gifts

Tech Insider : Business
The author with her family.
The author (second from right) poses with her family and Santa while participating in her family's favorite holiday tradition.

Courtesy of Nicole Schildt

I was the 'ugly duckling' in middle school. It took me until my 50s to finally feel beautiful.

Tech Insider : Business
Christina Daves in middle school next to a headshot of her today
The author felt unattractive as a teen.

Courtesy of Christina Daves

My dad prioritized experiences over possessions. Because of this, our family has traveled to 20 countries together.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author poses with her family while visiting Mount Titlis in Switzerland.
The author, shown here on Mount Titlis in Switzerland, has visited 20 countries with her family.

Courtesy of Varisha Tariq

When life gets expensive, my family of 7 plays the 'no-spend week' challenge. Here's the gist.

Tech Insider : Business
A parent and child write down their budget using receipts with an iphone and a laptop.
I have 5 kids, so unexpected costs can come up.

Images By Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images

Subscribe to Essay