Christmas shopping?

[30ashopper]

I'd just like to throw out a question to anyone interested in filling in the answer. With the economy in the crapper and credit non existent, what are people's plans for Christmas in terms of gift giving? Is everybody cutting back on gift giving or saving up to make this a good Christmas? Will it be a new iPhone/iPod or maybe a wooden toy for the kids? A new leather jacket or a scarf?

 

[Alicia Leonard]

I'd just like to throw out a question to anyone interested in filling in the answer. With the economy in the crapper and credit non existent, what are people's plans for Christmas in terms of gift giving? Is everybody cutting back on gift giving or saving up to make this a good Christmas? Will it be a new iPhone/iPod or maybe a wooden toy for the kids? A new leather jacket or a scarf?

Socks and a candy bar for everyone........seriously, My loved one's and I scaled back on Christmas many years ago. I have already picked up a few small items on sale or clearance. I will set a limit I can live with(without going in debt) and stick to it. One big ticket item may be an xbox 360 for me and my boyfriend together. We have been putting it off, but I have been saving a little back every week so he will be surprised. The rest of the season will be enjoying friends and family and the round of parties that are coming up. Not being in debt on Jan. 1 is a wonderful gift to give yourself.

 

[scooterbug44]

No changes to the Scooterbug family Christmas. Christmas gifts were already a minor part of the celebration, not the focus.

Grandma and Papa Scooterbug will be given their traditional gifts of food which they will say they aren't sharing, Papa Scooterbug will get half his new clothes for the year from Grandma and Mama, Mama Scooterbug will be told all of her gifts were on sale (she fusses if her children spend more than $30 on her), I will recieve whatever articles of winter clothing needs to be replaced for my holiday visits, and my brother will buy electronics for everyone and cook food for Grandma.

The Christmas tree will be from the yard or the National Forest ($10-20 for the permit to harvest one), I will have to untangle all of the lights because I am the only one who has the patience for it, our stockings will be the ones Mama made of felt and had us decorate years ago, and the highlight of the evening will be the traditional family meal of roast beast when my brother gets home from doing the Christmas dinner for a thousand people and gets to be cooked FOR for a change!

 

[30ashopper]

No changes to the Scooterbug family Christmas. Christmas gifts were already a minor part of the celebration, not the focus.

Grandma and Papa Scooterbug will be given their traditional gifts of food which they will say they aren't sharing, Papa Scooterbug will get half his new clothes for the year from Grandma and Mama, Mama Scooterbug will be told all of her gifts were on sale (she fusses if her children spend more than $30 on her), I will recieve whatever articles of winter clothing needs to be replaced for my holiday visits, and my brother will buy electronics for everyone and cook food for Grandma.

The Christmas tree will be from the yard or the National Forest ($10-20 for the permit to harvest one), I will have to untangle all of the lights because I am the only one who has the patience for it, our stockings will be the ones Mama made of felt and had us decorate years ago, and the highlight of the evening will be the traditional family meal of roast beast when my brother gets home from doing the Christmas dinner for a thousand people and gets to be cooked FOR for a change!

Will you adopt me?

 

[Ocean Lover]

I started working part time at a computer/electronics store for extra money. My kids are too old for toys so a discount at a place like this will come in handy. I was hired on as seasonal so I'm not commited much longer than C'mas. Everyone will probably get techie items for C'mas this year. I saw an Albert Einstein action figure today that is going in a stocking for sure! haha

 

[Minnie]

Ours will be very scaled back. Since we have not had a vacation this year, it might be a short trip to the Mts in early December.

 

[Rudyjohn]

Ours will be scaled back too. Both our jobs are tenuous currently - especially Mr. JR's.

I do feel blessed because I can't really think of anything that I'd just love to have or even need for that matter. A trip to the beach would be about the only thing tho. But... that won't be happening. College tuition comes first.

 

[Zebraspots]

Isn't there a thread somewhere on here about how to do less materialistic Christmas or with gift suggestions that aren't $$$?

 

[DD]

Since we have five kids and 5 grandchildren, all the adults are drawing namesand we're buying lots of pretty inexpensive (ok..cheap) toys for the kids. All they really care about is having lots of presents to open and they're still young enough that they have no concept of $$, so it should be a pretty stress free holiday. I suggested that we all make something hand made for drawing, but that got shot down pretty quick. Anyway, at least I'll only have one major present to buy.

 

[traderx]

I typically spend $200 per kid. Last year, I got them the same Garmin GPS thingy. Have no idea what to get this year. No idea at all but I buy almost everything through the internet. When I go to brick and mortar stores, I break out in hives.