Cutting Back This Year

**mauimagic** · 10-24-2011, 12:50 AM

I wonder what my Christmases would be like if I didn't make things year round - probably not much. I know that I go overboard giving little gifts to so many, but I totally enjoy doing it and figure I will as long as I want to and can.

DH and I don't exchange presents, the air tickets roundtrip to Kauai are horrendously expensive as it is. But then we cannot put a price on the time spent with my dear MIL and I fear time is running out.

**Sophia** · 10-24-2011, 07:52 AM

Last year I talk to SIL and we didn't let our kids exchange my brother and sil have 3 boys and I have 2. It was still a good christmas and my mom gets for all the boys. We bought for my parents our kids and my great nephew who was 1 1/2 yr old. My dh's parents didn't want to exchange last year which was fine with me. I love them but his mom is so hard to buy for. She will tell you what she wants and you can get it and she decides she doesn't like it and wants you to take it back LOL. Then with my side of the family My mom and her brother and sister and there family. Last year we did a santa type thing.(we normally don't do this) they read how the Grinch stole christmas and everytime Who was read we passed the gift one way and another word can't remember the word we passed another way it was so fun. we did a 5 dollar limit. We did this with some from church but spent 1 dollar. It was so fun. TC and Enjoy spending time with family.

**auntie2many** · 10-24-2011, 07:54 AM

I had to do the hardest thing ever this year and that was to tell my great nieces that we would not be able to get gifts for them this Christmas. We love them dearly, but our income is not large and we were hit with some unexpected bills this month that wiped us out.

So, this year all that we are buying for are my mom, step-dad, FIL and two names that we draw from dh's side of the family. My dh wants a $8 item that has to be mail ordered and I am saving $50 to get some new jeans because I have lost weight and my old ones are now a size too large.

A2M

**grammea** · 10-29-2011, 06:07 PM

I am new here but hopefully won't upset anyone by saying my thinking and feeling is just exactly the opposite of some of the things expressed here!

I feel badly for those of you who have lost the joy of the Christmas season!Perhaps simplifying things can get it back.

I love winter,snow,cold,etc.!
I love the Christmas season and start playing Christmas music sometime in October.

I try to look for things all year round and have even found some great treats in thrift stores,etc!

One year I found books that had been markde down from 5$ to 1$ to 10 cents in the grocery store! They were mostly murder mysteries and I got 5 different ones for a friend and made her a bookmark to go with them!

I make slippers,scarves and hats for my grandchildren and my daughters.My son doesn't care for such things but I usually am able to find discounted books on his favorite subject,golf!

If all else fails,I do stockings with the name embroidered on them and filled with their favorite candy,sample sized and free sample goodies.

For example today I found a set of lovely dishcloths in fall colors,marked down to 1.50$ at the drugstore and a matching fall scented candle so for 3$ I got my dil a present she wll love!

I love the Christmas movies,the decorations,the carols and especially midnight mass.

I love all my presents but my particular favorites are handmade and hard to find things I've been looking for at thrift shops.

Enjoy and keep the season one of love!

God bless,
Helen(grammea)

**gottadance** · 10-29-2011, 08:45 PM

I agree that anyone who can't afford gifts or feels all the shopping is too much should stick to their guns - it's very freeing to be honest about your own situation and to do things you want to do and that are within your budget. For a few years, me, my sis and mom didn't exchange gifts - but now we do something small.

Helen - I love your ideas because I DO believe it's the thought that counts. Little things that let people know you're thinking about them. I'm giving my nieces almost everything purchases second hand. They know I'm on a budget. I'm honest about it. And I do work find things I really think they'll enjoy.

I made apple butter - a LOT of it - this year, and I'm going to be giving away small jars of those with a pretty ribbon to friends, neighbors, the mailman, coworkers. People have been asking me for apple butter since I made it in September, but I'm holding off and giving it as Xmas gifts. It's costing me about .50 a jar, but I know it will be enjoyed.

**Missourimom** · 10-30-2011, 10:18 PM

I guess this is the only upside to not having anymore family and I'm an only child....I don't have the pressure to buy gifts for so many people.

Stick to your guns and good job for doing what is best for you and your family.

QM · 10-30-2011, 10:47 PM

Your family sounds like my family.

Are you sure we aren't related?

In all seriousness, you have to do what's best for you financially and emotionally. Try your best to show that you love them...which doesn't have to be in material things. Tell them how much they mean to you, bring goodies to share, enjoy being with them...that's what Christmas is all about. If they can't see it then it's really their problem.

**BlissMommy** · 10-31-2011, 12:04 AM

My hubby and I will buy for our respective mom and dad, the kids, our nephew staying with us, and each other. I will be getting a couple of small presents for my sil and her daughter, but that is it. My husband has a huge family, but they don't do a lot for my husband. Before we got married he hadn't celebrated Christmas in 5 to 6 years. It makes me so sad to think of that. I'm grateful that we can have Christmas together this year, I love it, but I'm doing more for what we need not want so much.