My husband and I both came from homes where Christmas was pretty much a big deal. The gifts we got were probably pretty modest by today's standards. For one thing, there just weren't many toys that ran into three figures back then. Both of us also got some practical gifts - scarf sets, warm socks, and new sweaters for school wear.
When it was our turn to be Santa to our own two daughters, we usually spent just about all we could possibly afford. I've walked lots of mall miles finding the "gift of the year" for them to be found under the tree Christmas morning. The Glo-Worm, Teddy Ruxpin, and of course, those silly Cabbage Patch Kids were some of those "must find" toys that come to mind.
Last year was our first year that included a son in our family's Christmas. My youngest daughter married in September last year and so for the first time, we got to buy guy stuff. We had a rather "big" Christmas. It was fun, it was nerve-wracking at times, but it was special and I think we'll all always remember it. There were many thrilled faces last Christmas morning.
This year, as everyone knows, the price of gas (which is mercifully falling) has pushed the price of travel, of groceries, and just about everything up, up and up. Van's job is at a plant that is a supplier of car parts to The Big Three. As you can imagine, we're wondering if he'll even have a job by spring.
So Christmas at our house this year will be modest, even a bit frugal. But my daughters and I are planning to bake things we've never tried before. We'll have a wonderful dinner. Although we aren't buying many gifts, and the ones we are buying won't be expensive, I think we're all putting more thought into getting something that is "just right" for each family member.
This all reminds me a bit of the Grinch stealing Christmas, yet the Whos in Whoville still celebrated because at the heart of it all is love, family, carrying on traditions and sharing time with people we love. The "Grinch" is the economy for us and many others this year, but like the Whos, we'll still celebrate and make memories.
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Comments: 42
You are not alone in it being a very frugal Christmas. I think most of us are right up there with you. Merry Christmas
Regardless, our Christmas will be as merry as we can make it, with the members who will be present.
This year may be the start of new memories for many of us, due to money constrictions or members of the family who are no longer present for one reason or another.
And we'll make it memorable and fun.
I hope that Van still has a job come spring. Because if not, he's going to be in lots of company. And that will be bad for all of us, even the ones with jobs!
Connie - It has made me stop and consider every gift more than I usually would. We may be starting a new tradition.
Ina - I think Christmas at Cabo San Lucas would be a nice new tradition. Just grab your son and a couple of suitcases. Oh, I forgot, you sort of like snow.
Last year I spent $600 on my kids. This year it's right under $300. (total, not each) I should feel fortunate that we were able to do that instead of worried that Christmas will be disappointing.
Madame D. - It's cool you mentioned board games. Those are going to be a few of the gifts (hope my kids don't read this), like Scrabble and Sorry, and the only thing I've asked for is the new edition of Trivial Pursuit. I hope after dinner we'll lay around with a Christmas movie on and play board games.
Kerrell - That's a cliche`, but like many cliches, it's true.
Vicky ? Snow Sucks! ? D., Dec 12, 2008, 8:54pm EST
Actually, I was thinking about that today. I only like snow at Christmas. I'd gladly trade it for a wonderful holiday in the tropics with Kevin and Matt. I think that next year might be the one, as long as another financial crisis doesn't hit.
Princess - We're not going to stint on the meal, that's for sure. We don't get very fancy at holiday dinners, anyway. I'm thinking that maybe it would be really cool to go to a midnight service on Christmas Eve.
Peace to all of you as you celebrate.
Grems
I sure hope things turn around!!!! Sooner than later.
Ina - I jokingly told Van this morning that we should just sell out everything and take off for Mexico, and I was only about half joking! We could probably live okay there on just his military pension.
Ellie - Yep, it seems that people that have insurance but high co-pays are skipping going in for colds or check ups and clinic appointments are down.
Things are going to be tight here this year too cause my hubby doesn't have a job right now. Thankfully I've had some wonderful gather friends that have blessed me with some gifts for my daughter and she will never know the difference but everyone else is getting nothing. My hubby and I aren't even exchanging gifts.
We do our Christmas Eve with our family of choice. I talked to them about two months ago about not exchanging presents and we agreed to do a white elephant gift exchange which will be really fun with this group, but, then I got a call. "I feel like you're trying to deprive me of my bliss". That would be my friend the politician. Her and her lover are very frugal and the most generous woman I know. We've all hung together, lived together before and raised our kids together since they were small. I told her "I knew you'd do this". BFF - "No really, I don't give gifts because I want something back, I give gifts because I want to give".
I'm not even going to try and argue it with her, I'm beat before I begin, she is like the reigning queen of rhetoric in our circle and I've learned just to let her have at it. I will be bringing her a crown and a sash saying "Fairly Godmotherish" though. HA!
in the past,i made great efforts to save and then buy some of the pricey electronic items he wished for....this year i will give him a Border's GC and a Winter coat which my bro back east is paying 1/2....we both love stocking stuffers,but other than some fruit and candy peanutbuter cups,the stockings this year will not draw the anticipation of previous years...
many of us are closer to becoming homeless than we care to think of,especially during this festive season.....such is life,eh?
have a cool yule!
I think everybody better start getting used to being satisfied with less of everything.
The depression we seem to be entering may make the "Great" one look good by comparison.
Spending time with people you care about is more important than more "stuff".
I am not a religious person but I am offended when some of the lovely old hymns are used as jingles. Silent Night, for instance, is the background music for Pampers.
I was also saddened to hear that one can't say Merry Christmas with out giving offense.
My husband and I decided ten years ago that we had too many toys so we sent cards to our friends telling them we would not be exchanging gifts, but that we would be contributing to the charities of our choice. Naturally I chose the Carleton County Animal Shelter. This saved a lot of wrapping and disappointment and gifts having to be exchanged after Christmas. Then we started creating our cards on the computer and emailing them to our friends, saving even more stamps and paper.
Since many members of our families live at a distance, we do try to call them around Christmas.
So this year, having been given a turkey in exchange for dog-walking, I'm planning on one big meal and lots of lunches. My husband's granddaughter has been given the all-clear after finishing 12 treatments for Hodgkins Lymphoma. She will be with us between Christmas and New Years. Who could ask for a better gift than that?
Many blessings to you and yours.
I think that I probably have done this evey year though. We have never had a lavish income. We have always been paycheck to paycheck kind of folks.
Apryl, I think it would probably bother me more being frugal if the kids were still little because don't we really like to thrill them to thrill ourselves with their reactions? So it's okay, and we have to be thankful that our Christmas will be a close family time.
Marianne - finding the "just right" modest gift this year has been more enjoyable to me than the hair pulling and stress that went into finding a Wii last year!
Ang, my husband and I were going to forgo gifts to each other, too, but I squirreled his away months ago before the economy did a nosedive. I will be thrilled with just a costume jewelry necklace from him - if it shines, it's fine!
flit - you'll always remember this Christmas as the Year of the Cast. We have one from the 80s we call The Year Of The Stomach Flu. I think every family has something that ruins a Christmas sometime through the years.
Sue - that's our New Year's sorta resolution, too. We're going on a spending diet. I tell you what, I stand in front of those big old plasma TVs and my heart beats faster, but my head says, NO GO! I think I would rather be eating next year than watching two channels on a TV that we can't afford to hook up to cable! My Mom's and Dad's stories about living through the depression are haunting me a little!
Mugg - After my husband cashed his paycheck yesterday, I told him, "Ya know, we ought to just withdraw everything and head for Mexico!" He was half tempted to do it. I could get used to living in one of the little communities down there that are full of retired military.
Mariana - Like I mentioned above, I've heard stories about how my parents were thrilled to get an orange and a new pair of socks for Christmas. My Mom was never taken downtown to see Santa as a child. Her parents told her Santa doesn't come to poor children. They didn't want to her to ask Santa for anything because they knew she'd never get it. My Dad had it even tougher. One Christmas dinner their entree was possum. But Grandpa whittled him stick rubber band guns and train whistles, but anything that cost a cent wasn't even thought about. So, I am not bitching about our Christmas this year. Next year we may be whittling train whistles!
Magi - I think this is a good year to make Christmas more spiritual. Since living here in Hannibal, we haven't attended a midnight service on Christmas Eve. That's one of my hopes for this year. We can have hot chocolate afterward in the glow of my daughter's Christmas tree.
Wilhelmine - oh my gosh, you certainly did get the greatest gift with the all-clear about your loved one's health. What a special Christmas for your family.
Bob - My fondest memory of a Christmas as an adult is the last one we spent with my Dad. I have no idea what we got under the tree that year, but I remember being gathered around the piano with my sister picking out Christmas music and us all singing together, sometimes all breaking down into laughter. It is really all about the people.
Jules - I do feel sorry for families with young kids who feel a pressure to get things their children have seen on TV that cost a mint. But the old cliche about the little kids having more fun with the boxes is like many cliches, true.
Monica - I'm so glad you go to Mass with your parents. That's very sweet, and reminds you of what it's all really about. I know your Mom has had her health problems in recent years, and I'm so glad you'll get to share Christmas with your folks and your kids and cute hubby.