The Story our Money Tells. Christmas is a season of excess. Spending less requires us to plan, research, and cultivate relationships — pursuits that are more taxing than flipping through the latest catalog or scrolling online. As we go against the cultural norm, it is important to remember that spending less doesn’t mean we love our friends or families any less. We actually often find that those to whom we give creative, personal gifts will see and sense our love — and perhaps God’s — more clearly than ever before.