[Madea]

My husband and I don't exchange gifts. Our kids are young, but they know that things have been tighter than usual and have already (voluntarily) keep their lists down. We are blessed! I've already purchased a couple of things I found great deals on. I'll make several presents, which I've truly enjoyed. And we'll spend our time enjoying each other and celebrating another year with those we love. Last year we were thankful just to still have my father with us, this year my mother.

[No Job Too Small]

Subby if you still do lessons let me know and if you have so many lessons in a package for a certain price. Like 10 lessons for sum $??
I want to purchase some for my son for Christmas because he's interested in learning the piano. This will help help us both out if yo still do the lessons. He will be happy and you will make some $$ for Christmas.
Thanks,
John

[zoo]

for us this is a battle we have had for about 3 years now. I am not going to let the fun and spirit of the holidays pass me by. I will enjoy every minute and know that some how it will all work out. Im very fortunate that my kids never really have a huge list or even 1 item they have to get. Of coarse they are like other kids and want the world but they always seem happy with the way things turn out. We explained to them last year that Santa is having to work extra hard bc there are some families that need his help more then us. As much as the gifts are fun i have learned that there is a lot more to the holidays and we just need to start concentrating on those things. Having good times, making new memories and learning to be creative!!

Good luck everyone and if you are in a tough postition this holiday and there is anything I can make for you just let me know. I love giving during the holidays

[mrshoward]

Everyone on my Christmas list is getting a Snuggie...

[Hi~ho Silver]

I have always thought that Christmas was over commercialized and you have to participate or go through the guilt trip if you didn't come through. We set strict limits and then it's only the kids and grandchildren. I think there is a problem when the Christmas "season" starts before Halloween. Personally, by the time it gets here, I'm close to sick of it. I've always thought there were a ton of people out there that had no clue as to what Christmas really stands for. My view of Christmas, compared to my children's mother, started a fight that lasted well into new year's. For her, it was the great annual pay-off. I hated it on several different levels.

[DreamGirl]

zoo, on 04 November 2009 - 08:14 AM, said:

for us this is a battle we have had for about 3 years now. I am not going to let the fun and spirit of the holidays pass me by. I will enjoy every minute and know that some how it will all work out. Im very fortunate that my kids never really have a huge list or even 1 item they have to get. Of coarse they are like other kids and want the world but they always seem happy with the way things turn out.
We explained to them last year that Santa is having to work extra hard bc there are some families that need his help more then us. As much as the gifts are fun i have learned that there is a lot more to the holidays and we just need to start concentrating on those things. Having good times, making new memories and learning to be creative!!

Good luck everyone and if you are in a tough postition this holiday and there is anything I can make for you just let me know. I love giving during the holidays

Zoo--I absolutely LOVE the bolded part!

[DreamGirl]

BACONFMLY03, on 03 November 2009 - 03:08 PM, said:

I had a friend bring it into perspective for me. She said when Jesus was born he only received 3 gifts and he was thankful for that. The reason for Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I have lost that over the past couple of years. I have bought my kids so much and they aren't thankful for it. I am taking the approach that my friend told me about, my kids aren't better then Jesus and I am going to make sure that we truly remember the reason we celebrate Christmas. When I was younger my dad would sit us down and ask us why do we celebrate Christmas and we would always answer the birth of Jesus Christ. In doing this I hope my children are more thankful and appreciate things and remember that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas and that isn't not just to get presents.

I've always done this.

[RaceGirl]

Well, around here, much like last year, the gift giving will likely be minimal. Our family has suffered the fall out of the housing market crash and bad economy as well. Thankfully, the only child we have is just smart enough to point out to us that she doesn't need gifts because (in her words) "It's not like Christmas is her birthday"
Lucky for me, I have been paying (in small amounts incrementally) for our Skynyrd Cruise in January so that will be our big "splurge"

[DreamGirl]

RaceGirl, on 04 November 2009 - 09:24 AM, said:

Well, around here, much like last year, the gift giving will likely be minimal. Our family has suffered the fall out of the housing market crash and bad economy as well. Thankfully, the only child we have is just smart enough to point out to us that she doesn't need gifts because (in her words) "It's not like Christmas is her birthday"
Lucky for me, I have been paying (in small amounts incrementally) for our Skynyrd Cruise in January so that will be our big "splurge"

Sounds like a very smart girl!

See, I've always spent less on individual presents for Christmas than for birthdays.
I always say: your birthday is your special day. Christmas is Jesus's special day.

[No Job Too Small]

No Job Too Small, on 04 November 2009 - 02:53 AM, said:

Subby if you still do lessons let me know and if you have so many lessons in a package for a certain price. Like 10 lessons for sum $??
I want to purchase some for my son for Christmas because he's interested in learning the piano. This will help help us both out if yo still do the lessons. He will be happy and you will make some $$ for Christmas.
Thanks,
John

Subby are you on here yet today? Let me know the answer to above soon as you can so we can set something up.
Thanks,
John

[Subby Enterprises]

ladybug82525, on 03 November 2009 - 10:53 PM, said:

Subby I don't know you personally, have never met you and I can tell that you are a man of his word by the responses just on this thread alone. That says tons about a person! Please someone who knows him personally, give this kind man a pat on the back for me.

About eight years ago I found myself in a position that I never dreamed possible since I have worked since I was 13 years old. The job I was working at moved their home office to Wisconsin, I didn't care to move there, I had just left my 2nd husband who I had been married to right at 2 years and had been supporting. I was 45 years old, I took a job where I had to drive, the ex used the money for something other than insurance, I was pulled over, lost my license for 6 months but in the mean time someone was having a "friend" fix my car...it was never returned to me...I could go on and on but I won't, I think everyone gets the message.

That year I didn't have squat! Christmas was spent at my oldest daughters house, we ate good, enjoyed the grandchildren see what Santa brought. We laughed, cried but most of all we celebrated the birth of Jesus and cherished every moment we spent together. After that Christmas, I don't worry as long as my friends and loved ones are healthy and happy. Remember...Jesus is the reason for the season.

Thanks for this thread it brings back memories which at the time I thought were bad, they were not, they were just different. God Bless each and every member!

I am not man who normally cries......but coming in and reading this post.....and many others, well....I just tore my record of "normal" all to pieces!!! Someone hand me a dad-burnned hankeey!! Love you folks!!!

I think it's good for our souls to be able to swallow our pride and just accept what is going on now. It's not OUR fault......it's just life. And yeah....I think she may be in heat.

Forgive me, but you know what I mean!

[greg30127]

Ohhhhhhh.... there 'aint gonna be a Christmas in this house this year. It all went to VET BILLS! ARGH.

I don't know who has a good enough memory or not, but about four years ago I had found a black stray dog in my neighborhood. Went through all the hoops to find an owner and never did. Turns out she was older and in the final stages of heartworm, so I had to pay $$$ to get that treated. I wasn't set up to handle that then and through a web site I created for her treatment, some of the cost was paid for via donations. Here's a pic (all three of my dogs, the dog discussed is "Mandy", on the far left - Black dog)...



Long story short, she has some cancer tumors on her and this past week busted one open, requiring quick surgery. So far we're up to over $800 in costs plus once I bring her home in two days, a good couple of weeks of recovery and other stuff. GEEZ! Just in time for the Christmas season! Yippie-Doo-Da day.

I'm in better shape now than I was when she had heartworms, and I was able to pay the vet bill, but that pretty much drained the Christmas account. Dammit - I had an eye on a new lens for my camera. Ugh. So this year it's going to be Pumpkin Pies from Costco, and selling stuff on Craigs List during the time off from work. LOL. This dog had better save a kid from a drowning or something to pay for this - it'll make the season more memorable at least. All I can say is that this dog better consider herself lucky our company while hurt didn't go completely under - otherwise she might have wound up in an urn instead of a recovery room.

This post has been edited by greg30127: 04 November 2009 - 11:50 PM

[justgettingby]

I am flying to the Mideast to meet my husband for Christmas. From there we will travel home TOGETHER and after 20+ months of him working in Afghanistan...he will be HOME FOR GOOD! I don't care about anything else this year. The economy, politics, Christmas gifts, shopping, etc will not even register on my radar. This will be my best Christmas ever.

[~*Kim*~]

Gee~Tee, on 03 November 2009 - 02:47 PM, said:

Christmas for us this year will be smaller. I have been buying since christmas clearance last year for this year. I have about got all 3 of our kids finsihed with, except for one big item each for them. I put a bunch on layaway this year just for the kids. I am working cleaning a house 2x a week and all that money made goes straight to pay for layaway. that was a HUGE help.

We are only a 1 income household, and have been for 8 years, but I do side things to make my money to pay for christmas. We have a budget this year for each child, normally I do not set a limit, I just buy until I feel like i have finished. But this year we set a limit and we are sticking to it. We also buy for every family member and we will continue to do so, I just thank the lord above for his blessings and that he has provided for us one again this year.

Teachers,friends, neighbors, and extended family will get homemade goodies.

I enjoyed your christmas card/picture last year!!

[drosser]

Hubby and I don't exchange gifts anymore. We just buy for the grandkids and give the girls some money. We don't buy for the extended family. We're really cutting back this year because, with hubby working in home improvements, he hasn't worked as much as in years past. I do a good bit of traveling for work during October and November, and I get paid mileage for it. I always use my mileage checks to pay for Christmas. I just look forward to putting up my tree and spending time with my family. We'll get together and eat a lot and just enjoy watching the babies with their gifts.

[GEAgirl]

We are all a victim of a bad economy. I'm actually very excited for the holidays this year. I started my Christmas shopping months ago and I'm happy to say that I'm almost done and I've probably spent far less than any other year. We're taking the savings to give a dozen extra boxes to the church this year. I even made a few gifts this year!

We're going to Florida to see family - but we decided to go after Christmas and got our tickets early. Paid a little over $200 a piece. I'm just so excited to have our families together this year - maybe that's why this Christmas has me so excited.

Don't stress over the holiday Subby. It's about family and love, and most importantly Christ's birth.

[Slumber Parties by Kelly]

Sage~, on 03 November 2009 - 11:43 PM, said:

This is officially the hardest winter my family is having to face. We live day to day in these times. If it wasn't for layaway, I'm not sure how we would make Christmas happen for our kids. Two more payments and I will have their Christmas paid off as well as my daughter's birthday gifts. Her birthday is the day after Christmas.

Garrett and I will not be exchanging gifts, we didn't exchange last year either. The holidays are about the kids and always will be for us. We are thrilled to see our kids filled with excitement when they see that Santa visited them during the night. I don't need material things. All I want is a roof over our head, food on our table and a healthy family. That is what life is all about.

Smart woman. When I was a single mom, I never had to go anywhere for help for Christmas thanks to Lay-a-way. I would start in July.

[Slumber Parties by Kelly]

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