Do you have a lot of friends and family to buy gifts for this year? For me, it kinda varies with how many people I associate myself with during the whole year.
i only buy for children and parents not for anyone else.. next yr i think i'm going to get the family pictures done that can be their presents
I feel like the worst member of the family, my husband and I don't really buy anyone anything. Not enough money to buy everyone something so we just don't get anyone anything at all, to avoid hurt feelings if some get some and others don't.
I have found that gift cards are a good way to say "Merry Christmas". Plus, helps you avoid all those crazy mall shoppers. Do you hand out gift cards at all during Christmas?
I love christmas shopping and giving gifts more than anything. Im buying for tons of people. My family, My boyfriend and his family, my close friends and coworkers. Yay for christmas!
Cool. You do enjoy the mall environment scene then? I just find gift cards are my guarantee for not being that person who gave the gift no one liked. Gift cards are too easy to find now a days to without going in the malls. Even grocery stores like Safeway have wide selections.
Ba humbug, I'm finding the whole christmas thing materialistic. Maybe if the media and tv didn't start exploiting it now BEFORE halloween! I'm also sad about how much slave labor goes into making the merchandise and how most of the taxes go to the war effort. I'm really sad how people go without and we still struggle with poverty here in "the most powerful nation on earth". How we go along with the masses and do nothing but continue to contribute to the war effort on "black friday" what the antiwar activists have named "buy nothing day", in response to how BUSH said to america to just: "go and shop" after 9/11. The spirit of Christmas is also co-opted by the christians too. I'm not a christian, so when Yule Tide and Solstice come around I don't think "happy birthday baby jesus" I think, of the earth welcoming the light of the sun and the rotation of the skies and how huge it all is.... this cycle of death and rebirth. New beginnings. Light a candle to bring back the spirit of yule tide. Boycott China. Boycott the war, because beloved J.Lennon said it: So this is Christmas And what have you done Another year over And a new one just begun And so this is Christmas I hope you have fun The near and the dear one The old and the young A very Merry Christmas And a happy New Year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear And so this is Christmas For weak and for strong For rich and the poor ones The world is so wrong And so happy Christmas For black and for white For yellow and red ones Let's stop all the fight A very Merry Christmas And a happy New Year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear And so this is Christmas And what have we done Another year over A new one just begun And so happy Christmas We hope you have fun The near and the dear one The old and the young A very Merry Christmas And a happy New Year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear War is over, if you want it War is over now Happy Christmas
I think Christmas is about giving to others. Making someone happy...with a thought. A gift is an item...but its the thought you take to make someone happy. You could easily passout candy canes and small amount gift cards and that is still a thougth without going broke. Christmas is fun IMO.
I've been down that road, and am sorry to hear about your situation. Being broke during the holidays stinks! Okay, being broke any time of the year stinks! When money is tight I use that time to get creative. I have to say it makes me feel pretty good about the holidays because everything I give was made from the heart. I save the $$$ for my kids Do you like to bake, sew, or anything like that? There are a ton of REALLY cheap gift options. A fabric remnant sewn into little sachets filled with potpourri is easy and cheap (under $5 for a dozen). Fudge is super simple and a batch can be made for under $5 and easily gifts 2-4 people. Cookies and candies are also nice treats. Homemade bread or muffins are also good. The dollar store has wonderful decorative plates or bowls to hold the bakes goods. Coffee mugs can be found for cheap. Add a couple tea bags and you have a cheap gift. Make "homemade cocoa" (back of Hersheys baking cocoa, just the dry ingedients) and create a fancy gift card and divide into little plastic baggies, add a ribbon or decorations. You can give it alone, or with a mug. Costs $3-5 and gifts a family or 4-5 individuals. If you like photography print off one of your pics and frame it (dollar store) for a gift. You can even go to thrift stores and find fancy frames for cheap. (Or if you paint or draw you can do the same). You could also make cards out of photos or artwork. It is perfectly acceptable to only give a few tied in a pretty bow. You can even dress it up with a pen (several in a pack at the dollar store) or decorations. Or, gift certificates. Not the $$ kind, but the "personal" kind. If you have a friend with kids offer a night of free childcare. Tust me, that is better than any store bought gift! If you know someone that would appreciate your help a gift certificate is perfect. This works with your husband as well, you can give him gift certificates for more romantic gestures Christmas used to be about giving, and not $400+ gifts. I would rather get a "heartfelt" gift than a diamond any day of the week. I wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas! May next year bring you joy.
My Mom & I used to give out presents and sing songs with the patients at the mental hospitals. We would also visit the patients in the medical/surgical hospital. And then there is always the folks who never get visitors on christmas that live in the nursing homes. They get lonely. Bringing love and joy and companionship to folks who live in institutions is a REAL PRESENT.
Christmas should be more about the thought and gestures we do for one another. It doesn't have to be about money at all. Home-made gifts can be great gifts too. There are ups and downs in life...our own roller coasters. True friends and family should understand your hard ships too. I wish you a merry Christmas.
I think make sure kids enjoy it is the most important part of Christmas. I hop you ladies are all doen with your shopping and enjoy a Christmas filled with family.
