How Are You Handling a Tight Money Christmas?

[Royd]

I got my hair trimmed and tipped the woman $5...Giving and recieving on the same gift...Christmas is over.

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
Ditto

 

[sheaviance1]

I would much rather everyone not gift me. I've struggled, still do, and would rather know in my heart that they have good food on their table, gas in their tanks, and the ability to heat their home!!! There are very few people who are truly shallow enough to be offended when you just can't afford to do anything for Christmas. I think it is more in their own minds than anyone else's.

If it were up to me, my gang would get together for a little bit and visit with each other and that would be more than enough for me. Truth be told, I'd rather it be around September too, so it's warm enough to spread out on the lawn and fire up the grill.

 

[yoie]

I bake cookies for our family and friends. I usually get some ideas of what everyone is craving for each year and go from there. This year my girls helped pick out some of the cookies that "we" are going to bake this year. They picked out gingerbread and cupcake icecream cones to help bake this year. I have a little more challenging cookies I'm baking this year like Chocolate Swirls, Poppy Seed Rugelach, Dutch Almond Thins, Diamond Slices, Peanutbutter Biscotti, Turtle Snappers, Spumoni Slices, and Butter Spritz Cookies. I usually package them all up nicely, like this year I'm doing cookie tins I found at dollar tree, the same ones that Walmart and the same sell! I usually cater to each families taste for the variety in their boxes, like my sister hates nuts so I leave any nut cookie out and put more of another kind in. Along with the cookies I usually take a nice Christmas picture of my girl and give that along with the cookie boxes. If we have extra we get a few gifts for family but nothing much, just a little something that is personal to them. My girls get one bigger gift (not overboard though), and a few smaller presents. My DH doesn't like Santa out doing him so "Santa" only fills up there stockings, which is usually filled with small very different little gifts. As far as me and my DH we exchange a few gifts, but we don't go overboard, we figure we can hit up the sales AFTER Christmas. Plus his birthday is on the 23rd of December so that usually gets pushed into Christmas for the rest of the family. We don't stress over gifts, if the cookies get made, they get made, if I don't get them all finished before Christmas it's ok. If we have extra for gifts cool! If not no one gets upset. My parents usually go WAY overboard anyway with gifts always have, that is just the way they are, but they respect the way that we have chosen and think that it is awesome!

It's more about meeting up with family and my favorite, Christmas Breakfast at my parents

My dad is usually sitting at the kitchen table with the griddle taking breakfast order all morning while gift exchange goes on. It is such a funny site, but one that I will always remember.

 

[sutillman]

This will be the most broke I have ever been at Christmas. Husband had to take a drastic pay cut to save his job. Lot's of small kids in our family, and they draw names, so only one small gift. My sister's and I took a photo of the four of us and are blowing it up and framingit for my parents 60th wedding anniversay (Dec. 30). But will giving it to them on Christmas when everyone is home. First time I've never bought my grown children anything, but told them we are not exchanging gifts for the adults this year, only the little kids. My eleven year old always gets big gifts from other family members, so I'll be buying him a few small things. Just can't see spending piles of money and having to figure out bills later on. Having my family together and having a nice dinner is all I want. That's what Christmas is all about to me. Celebrating Christ birth and family. The only thing I would really love this year is to see my daughter, but I have to face another Christmas without her.