The things i remember from childhood were the lessons I learned from the personal attention of an adult or something made specially for me. I dont remember the plastic presents or any excess.
Dad's special stuffing
A woman's handmade and lined Barbie clothes
Sewing with mom and playing with her scraps
Playing board games with Mom and Grandma (or just watching them play and "helping")
Building anything with Dad (even the boat he could not get out of the basement when finished)
Santa cookies each year with Mom
It left me with the great feeling that doing something was so much better than buying something.