topic Re: This Christmas in Holiday

This Christmas

Trailrun23 — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:28:24 GMT

Am already thinking about Christmas 2022. Do you think you will be spending less/cutting back on the # of gifts you buy or how many people you give wil be giving to? With none of our kids or grandkids being here for Thanksgiving or Christmas, I will prob not be spending as much or buying as many gifts. Most of our friends are all retired and need nothing really, but the prices I am seeing right now on just about everything is eye-popping. Am I the only one planning on spending less for Christmas gifts?

Re: This Christmas

Mary Bailey — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:48:04 GMT

I don't know if I'll be spending less. I do think I'll give more gift cards with a little something fun to unwrap. Gotta to unwrap something.....

Re: This Christmas

homedecor1 — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 03:09:09 GMT

Christmas is easy for us - our kids like to get cash towards something they want. I already ordered and sent to parents our great niece & nephew gifts (the niece is a Christmas baby).

I'm pretty organized when comes to GD she gives me list now and I shop for her things. Normally, can be found on "A" so her things will be sent by November.

Today the ladies were discussing buying for holiday meals (non perishable items) for baking & cooking as prices of food are steadily increasing. I won't have to be concerned with this as it's just the 2 of us & I won't bake cookies this year.

Re: This Christmas

beach-mom — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 03:38:55 GMT

Yes. We will be simpler this year.

DH's sisters are single, divorced, and widowed. His widowed brother-in-law is now an empty nester.

His 6 nephews and one niece have families now. Most are doing quite well.

We used to gave the his sisters and two brothers-in-law something for their homes, books, etc.

When the children were young we gave toys. For years after the boys and the one niece (who is the oldest by quite a few years) were in high school we started giving them gift cards. I tried to get them from places they liked. We don't get many thanks, and we don't even know if they are happy with them. When they had children we gave gift cards to them and toys for their children.

After DH's youngest sister was widowed 3 years ago. I decided to give his sisters more personal gifts, like bath items, scarfs, sweaters, notepaper, etc.

I will probably still give small gift cards to each family. I wish someone would suggest we just stop. But I'm the in law, and I learned long ago not to get involved in things like this.

We have to send everything too, since we haven't gone up for Thanksgiving in three years. I spend more on postage than I do on the gifts! We sent his niece and family gift cards and toys for her children years ago. DD had saved her babysitting money to give her older female cousin she saw once a year a special gift. I think DD was 14 or 15 at the time. The box was returned to us. They had moved and no one, including her mom, let us know.

I already bought gifts for his sisters. I'll pick up some little thing for his brother-in-law and send small gift cards for the whole family for the niece and nephews.

My family is gone, and everyone else we exchange gifts with is here.

Re: This Christmas

tarytoo — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 04:24:51 GMT

In years past for Christmas, we have spent a small fortune buying for everybody in our family. my brother and family total almost 20. With the cost of postage and shipping going through the roof. We said enough is enough. This year we are cutting way back. We are seniors with a limited income. Gift cards with token amounts will be the name of the game. It's the thought that counts. And in the past we have been more than generous. Time spent together is more precious to us now . As for myself, I've begun to repurpose clothing by shopping at local thrifts. It's fun and affordable. Plus I've found Isaac, Belle, Woman Within, Graver, Basso, etc. brands. Hard times need special attention.

Re: This Christmas

Neetgal2 — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 11:09:56 GMT

I hope it will be less! I have tried for a few years to cut back, especially with my retired friends. We all need nothing and have too much. Lately we are just giving gift cards to each other! I have suggested for years let's just meet for lunch but they always come with gifts.

I looked at my airfare to visit family at Christmas last night and it would be 4 times as much last year. I did want to take oldest grandchild to a holiday ballet. I am not up to the long drive myself, so I have some thinking here. I just saw them a few weeks ago and spent a week long vacation in WDW in June, doing everything!

No you are not the only one who feels this way.

Re: This Christmas

ScrapHappy — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 11:13:48 GMT

This Christmas we will be on a cruise. Not spending a lot of money for gifts for daughter and husband, our gift is the cruise. I've gotten some small things for them to open before we leave. Each years for family and friends, we spend less and less. I agree with the prices we're now seeing, eye popping to say the least, so I expect not to buy as much.

Re: This Christmas

Nataliesgramma — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 12:23:40 GMT

My daughter's family all moved to Florida last year, so Holidays will be different now. They are coming up for a weekend visit the 10th of December and we will go down on Jan 3rd for a week to celebrate Christmas. No one needs or wants the stress of flying the week of Christmas. I would rather enjoy the holidays instead of stressing out and paying an arm and a leg. We got a direct flight under $100 the first week of Jan.

I am going to give money wth something small for each to open....

The only thing that will stay the same is I am am putting up all my trees and Christmas Village...decorating to the hilt as usual.... early... so they can enjoy it when they come.

Re: This Christmas

Meowingkitty — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 12:31:43 GMT

It's just my husband, me and the cats. We stopped buying Christmas gifts several years ago. We only give a gift cart to our hairdresser. We just bought new iPhones. We're done.

Re: This Christmas

LindaSal — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 13:47:47 GMT

I'm staying about the same money wise as we cut back many years ago. Our kids are adults, we have no grandchildren, just grand pets. We always give them a substantial gift card with some smaller practical gifts they can use such as Beekman products, puzzles, throw blankets.........this year I added a Corkcicle item for each of them. Corkcicle has some great things in collaboration with Star Wars, Disney and Marvel comics! They make great gifts.

Also I shop all year long when they offer promotions and sale discounts. As a matter of fact, I'm already done, have been since last month Merry Christmas!!

Re: This Christmas

Tall Nurse 1 — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 14:54:02 GMT

Holiday spending will be a challenge this year. I won't be purchasing any new decor items - I have enough from a lifetime of buying. It's more important to me to spend the money on holiday get togethers' to be with family and friends in that way. The cost of food will blow most of my budget, and with what's left over, I will present gift cards or cash to my family members. It will be different, not better, not worse, just different.

Re: This Christmas

CinnamonBear99 — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 15:58:25 GMT

My family decided to stop all the gift giving to each other and the extended family and all go together and donate to a family in need, with gifts and food. I think it was a great idea and there is nothing we need that we cannot just buy ourselves. Within reason. The money is put to better use this way and helpling a family in need is a wonderful thing.

Re: This Christmas

Sooner — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 16:02:06 GMT

@tarytoo wrote:
In years past for Christmas, we have spent a small fortune buying for everybody in our family. my brother and family total almost 20. With the cost of postage and shipping going through the roof. We said enough is enough. This year we are cutting way back. We are seniors with a limited income. Gift cards with token amounts will be the name of the game. It's the thought that counts. And in the past we have been more than generous. Time spent together is more precious to us now . As for myself, I've begun to repurpose clothing by shopping at local thrifts. It's fun and affordable. Plus I've found Isaac, Belle, Woman Within, Graver, Basso, etc. brands. Hard times need special attention.

@tarytoo I remember how hard it was when we were younger, besides having little money we were expected to dash around the state with gifts for all. It was hard, and not much fun at times. But a blessing to have family.

Now they are gone, it's just the two of us, and a little sad, but we enjoy the peace and quiet and togetherness as our blessing for now.

Re: This Christmas

Trailrun23 — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 16:26:50 GMT

A couple of years ago we asked our adult children to choose a charity they would like us to donate to on their behalf. They enjoy choosing one and we enjoy making that

contribution since we know it will be put to good use. They receive a nice acknowledgement from the organization.

Re: This Christmas

Marsha2003 — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 17:06:40 GMT

I cut back pretty significantly in 2020, so this year will be around the same level as the last two years.

Re: This Christmas

chrystaltree — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 20:34:54 GMT

We'll probably spend about the same as last year. We don't have any financial challenges and my grands are getting older and more fun to shop for. I haven't thought about Christmas, I'm looking forward to Halloween and Thanksgiving now.

Re: This Christmas

Spurt — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 22:43:04 GMT

@Trailrun23 wrote:
Am already thinking about Christmas 2022. Do you think you will be spending less/cutting back on the # of gifts you buy or how many people you give wil be giving to? With none of our kids or grandkids being here for Thanksgiving or Christmas, I will prob not be spending as much or buying as many gifts. Most of our friends are all retired and need nothing really, but the prices I am seeing right now on just about everything is eye-popping. Am I the only one planning on spending less for Christmas gifts?

@Trailrun23

With family we stopped gift giving years ago....

There's 4 of us close friends instead of a gift we give a small donation to that person's favorite charity. We just get together for the candlelight Christmas Eve church service and a Christmas Eve dinner afterwards at a favorite restauraunt.....and we look at Christmas light displays, and then watch a Christms movie.....

Christmas Day a family dinner at my sister's (its just me, my sis, brother and S.O's and a couple cousins-maybe a couple close friends) ----we play games .....

Re: This Christmas

Spurt — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 22:55:08 GMT

@Meowingkitty wrote:
It's just my husband, me and the cats. We stopped buying Christmas gifts several years ago. We only give a gift cart to our hairdresser. We just bought new iPhones. We're done.

@Meowingkitty

No gifts for the kitties??? Family/friends have stopped giving gifts to each other but 2 of us get each others cats a little something....a toy or some catnip

....

Re: This Christmas

Luvsmyfam — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 00:28:28 GMT

@Trailrun23 I have only 2 grandchildren and 1 daughter plus parents to buy for.I usually stay within budget.My grandson is gratuating early and has asked for a pricey computer.I am thinking of getting him that,anad also saying its for xmas as well

Re: This Christmas

ECBG — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 00:37:24 GMT

At this time, I will decorate the house down stairs as I usually do and everything will flow as it usually does. I am the matriarch of the family. Our grandchildren only know Christmas as I do it.