The season of spending has arrived. CHA CHING! CHA CHING ! The Markets, retailers and even the advertisers have shifted into "OVERDRIVE" mode. They say they have the perfect gift for our loved ones. They even try to convince us to purchase it from them, now while it is available.
The stores are all decorated up for the season........but what season? I think of Thanksgiving and Christmas but the stores think of "Money Season"
I think of all the wonderful blessings that the Lord has give me is The Saviors Birth. The stores think of money and what tactics to use to entice the typical shopper into their stores. Why do they decorate earlier and earlier each year? The answer is relatively simple.... We encourage this by shopping and giving them more money each year. We complain but we continue to do it.
I love listening to Christmas music, viewing Christmas movies and reading Christmas stories. They have the ability to get me in the mood for enjoying the holidays. What do you do to get into the mood for the holidays?
I am suggesting that we hang onto more of our money this year. Yes! It is possible and it is not too late to begin for this year. We can still give wonderful gifts. In fact we can actually give gifts that will be more appreciated than the typical commercial gifts. "How?" you might ask. Each person that we shop for is unique. No two is exactly alike but one thing is for sure. I actually put on Christmas music while I make my homemade gifts. I think of each person individually as I make their gift. It is time to go inot overdive but not with our money. I is time to go into overdrive with our time and out talents. So maybe you cant do any crafty thing like sew or woodworking but you are a great cook. How about cooking a meal for a family one day a week till Christmas? What are some of your ideas?
The average person loves our time more than our money. Admit it, wouldn't you love to have a gift of time and love instead of a commercial gift?
I am sure you have all seen the commercial "Diamonds are a woman's best friend". I am sure that many women love gold or diamonds. I personally do not. I have never had a diamond in my life and I do not feel that I have missed out on anything. I would rather cuddle up with my husband and enjoy his company. I have never wished for a diamond in my life. What could I do with it anyway? I love to spend time with my family and a diamond does not bring me any closer to them. It can however take them away from me because they would have to work longer hours to pay for it.
I love to receive homemade gifts because it means the giver thought enough about me to make it himself. I think of the giver each time I see or use the item they made. I love the holiday season.
How much have you spent on Christmas thus far?
How much do you think you will spend for each person?
Will you use a credit card or pay cash?
What are some of your suggestions for Christmas movies, music or stories to read?
Having a frugal Christmas does not mean we will have a blue or unhappy Christmas. We can have a wonderful Christmas if we get ourselves into the spirit of the season.
If we all share our ideas, together we can help take the Cha Ching out of the holiday season. If we must purchase lets purchase things that are on clearance. Now is the time to shop clearance items.
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Comments: 18
We shall see just how good those sales are that's for sure.
Thanks for your tips!
Suggestions for Christmas movies? OMGosh i love christmas movies. My favorite one is called "All I Want For Christmas" Then you have "A Boyfriend for Christmas" "A Mom for Christmas" "Christmas Shoes" Oh i can't remember the name of it, but its the one where Santa delivers a boy to her and she thinks its her friend, but she takes him to her family as if he was her boyfriend..that one is cute.
A lot of these cheesey movies are made in Salt Lake City, so its fun to see familiar things in them for me. Oh and of course it wouldn't be Christmas without watching "A Hobo's Christmas"
My mom all ready started watching Christmas movies, I made fun of her but now writing this, i think i might just start watching 'em to!
For the step grandkids, I have been keeping an eye on the outlet section of Land's End. They often have free shipping deals and when you watch what they have on super clearance, I can get all sorts of things for a dollar or two. You can't beat them for quality either. (If you check it out, look for "On the Counter". The items change every week and they go down in price throughout the week.)
I also keep my eye out for special offers that are more like steals. My connections here at Gather are great for these. Like the Oprah/Snapfish offer last week. I was able to get a photobook and just had to pay $7.50 in shipping. I scanned in a bunch of pictures of my grandparents and for the words, I put all of the great things that I learned from them. This will go to my mom because I know that she misses them during the holidays.
There are so many great things out there, even if you aren't crafty. You just have to keep your eyes open:)
Not sure. I haven't kept up with it. I'm nearly done though. I used mostly Gather gift cards to buy the kids stuff. I still probably spent more than I should.
How much do you think you will spend for each person?
Not really sure. I don't have a set amount for each person. I just buy what I want for everyone, so I'm sure some get more money spent on them than others, but I try to be fair.
Will you use a credit card or pay cash?
We'll use our debit card as a credit card. We get points for using it that way and the money still comes directly out of our account.
What are some of your suggestions for Christmas movies, music or stories to read?
How The Grinch Stole Christmas is a must for us every year. And of course the Charlie Brown Christmas.
Family members I am just making homemade gifts for. $ is tight this year so we are not spending a lot at all.
As far as what I spend on each person, that really varies. I spend around $20 each on my nieces, and about $10 on each of my pets. They are the only ones that really have set amounts. This year we spend over $250 and my husband did all the work, when we remodeled part of my parents' bathroom when we were home in the spring. That was Christmas, Mother's day and Father's day, all rolled into one. For my husband I spend too much, and for Elliott even more.
We don't get into debt for Christmas presents. We do sometimes put stuff on our credit card, but then we pay it in full when the bill arrives.
My very favorite Christmas song is 4Him's A Strange Way to Save the World.
i have a friend who makes all of her holiday gifts. she works on them thruout the year and it's always fun to see what she's made
Paying it forward.