Comments on: Five Big Ways You Need to Think About Christmas … Now!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:15:12 +0000

I just saw this post and I had posted about getting ready for Christmas on the 25th of this month. Your tips are great. Hope you get a chance to pop over to my blog and read my post, particularly the part about getting gift cards now to ease the budget.
Nancy
http://www.howtohomemaker.com/2010/07/getting-ready-for-christmas-really_25.html

By: haverwench

haverwench — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:06:56 +0000

Don’t forget to keep the folks on your gift list in mind as you do your yard saling. You can often find great, barely used toys for kids and interesting books or hobby items for adults. (Check out my article at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2943590/save_money_by_doing_your_holiday_shopping.html?cat=46 for details.)

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:29:30 +0000

Ditto on the Christmas account – had one for several years and it really saves me the stress of a big credit bill. Got to start one for my property taxes – ugh!!

By: Lulu

Lulu — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:36:57 +0000

I have reassessed my desire to celebrate this holiday all together. The emotional drain and financial expense are burdens that I no longer want to shoulder. I’m not a Christian, my children are grown, I hate shopping and I find Christmas annoying. I might change my mind if I ever have grandchildren, but for now, I’m happy to skip it.

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:08:47 +0000

I have been doing this for years – picking up sale items during the year for birthday gifts and Christmas. It saves time and I don’t have a huge, expensive amount to buy in December. Couple of tips – try to designate one spot (like a closet or corner in the basement) for the items and keep a list; it’s so easy to forget who you’ve bought for and what you’ve bought. Best wishes!

By: DivaJean

DivaJean — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:16:13 +0000

#33 Angie- Getting together on the Sundays before Xmas was something I did in my 20′s with my “found family” of friends. Each person in the group hosted a Sunday dinner after church time and we spent the afternoons enjoying each others company and NOT scrambling in the malls. The slowing down of the holiday was a hallmark for all of us involved and most never sped it up again. We had luscious meals to look forward to and our closest friends rather than fighting for sales.

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:22:17 +0000

I’ve made gifts in the past (flavored vinegars, Christmas tree ornaments), but ran into problems with the expense of MAILING them. A yucca-bell wreath or dilled vinegar may be cheap to make, but the time investment can be more than you’d think, and actually mailing such things can cost five times the gift budget! And I never started before October or November, meaning that getting things finished became a major PITA.

But reading this gave me an idea for a type of homemade gift that should cost less to mail, and by reading it NOW I can start researching what I’ll need to make them. Thanks!

By: kristine

kristine — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:47:13 +0000

Kerry,

A a teacher- a “snacktime” gift is SO much more appreciated than another tchatcki! Small items are usually just dusting and moving and storing work disguised as cuteness. That and the guilt of not keeping it when you know a child picked it out for you.

By: Angie

Angie — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:53:00 +0000

Here’s what I always thought would be a fun holiday tradition: a couple weekends before christmas (before all the craziness of the time), have all the family get together. Both sides of our family are within 4-5 hrs of each other, so would probably rotate homes each year. In the morning, do a fun exchange type game where everyone picks a name, then go to a specific place (store/mall) and try to find something within a certain price range (likely under $10). Then do something- sled, bowl, movie -in the afternoon. Come home, wrap what gifts were bought that day, and have soup/sandwiches, open gifts. To me, spending the time with the family – plus the fun of shopping *without your person catching you while shopping for their gift*, done ahead of the rush would be fun. But neither side of our family will cooperate, so I suggest once in awhile and hope it catches up. We go to 5 Christmases between Xmas eve and day and is never fun, we don’t have a chance to visit, just eat, open gifts, say thank you, leave. It’s turned into one of my least favorite holidays.
I’ve never run into a gift card charging me to use one, and I don’t give them to people for places they don’t shop at anyway. And if I have to use my own money to use all on the card, then I got a really good bargain for something, so I could care less. In the early 90s, I received a gift certificate for JCPenney, lost it, and found it in 2001. It was still good – but that was the old certificate, not giftcard. I was supprised it was honored. The only problem is with this economy it’s hard to tell which stores will still be around long enough for the recipient to use.

By: guinness416

guinness416 — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:49:47 +0000

One problem I (and some other members of my family) have is those who agree to kill the gift exchange but then, maybe this year maybe the next, start sneaking back in some “little things” that “don’t count”. Then you end up buying the damn gifts anyway, just in case someone gets you that “little thing”.

Or you could just live abroad like I do. Cuts the physical gifts waaaaay down.

By: the other Tammy

the other Tammy — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:29:15 +0000

Now is the time to start your Christmas Club bank account, if you don’t have one already. Old fashioned, yes, but they do still exist! Make it automated so the money comes right out of your paycheck…our bank cuts Christmas Club checks in October and surprise! I’ve got $500 saved for Christmas shopping without even having to think about it. No credit card bills for Christmas = best decision ever!

By: Kerry D.

Kerry D. — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:43:19 +0000

Like Rebecca, we really LIKE giving thoughtful gifts to the people around us, especially those who are particularly kind to our (also special needs) kids… and friends–it is a delight to give gifts to my own friends. What pleasure to find some (small) treat that my friends will enjoy. I don’t spend vast sums, but it’s amazing with some creativity what enjoyable gifts we find or make. (End of school year teacher gifts were a couple home made oatmeal bars, plus a bag of cocoa or a couple of tea bags, in a brown bag which my daughter decorated with markers to say “snack time.” Some teachers were delighted to open up and eat immediately! ) I’m sorry this joy and fun can get lost in the time, money, or “impression” pressures.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:20:53 +0000

What would the holidays be without waiting until the last few days to get it all done and then spending too much because you didn’t find bargains?

My budget is about $1,000 on the holidays. I put $85/month in ING and at the end of the year, I have $1,035 or so with interest. Saves me a ton of stress January 25 when the credit card bill is due.

By: Crystal

Crystal — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:20:29 +0000

My problem is that I get great ideas and even find great deals, but I give them to the recipients REALLY early because I want them to be able to use it as soon as possible. :-)

I usually don’t allow myself to Christmas shop until at least October since anything I buy earlier than that never stays very long in my house…

By: partgypsy

partgypsy — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:57:35 +0000

All of the children of my in-laws have brought up the last couple years the idea of forgoing gift exchange (which is a big deal for the parents) and going on a vacation instead. My parents in law the only ones that are not on board, so the gift exchange continues.
For my own family, if I see something significant I want to give my family, I just do it at that time. For example going to help my mother buy a new mattress, and treating my Dad to a stay at the beach for a couple days. The Christmas gift doesn’t have to fall on Christmas. Then at Christmas we exchange smaller gifts (pajamas or socks, chocolates, etc) so there isn’t this big pressure of finding the “perfect” gift. Much less stressful, I know they are getting something they actually want and need, and spreads out my expenses.

By: kristine

kristine — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:58:06 +0000

Hi Molly!

Just make sure the pictures are of your gift recipient and you, or their family, and not your own kids! Grandaparets might like the once a year photo, but…I have a sister-in-law who sends us 300 snapfish images of her family every month, gives us too many photos, and for Xmas, gives us framed photos of her kids, and mugs, and T-shirts, and calendars go to the grandparents (a calender of HER kids, never mind that they have 4 grandchildren, not 2.) I have more photos of their kids, one for every year, than I do displayed of my own children. It became embarrassing coming up with excuses why we do not have the obligatory shrine to their children from all those photos! I stopped displaying all photos of living relatives, and instead confine it to ancestors, and paintings of living fmaily. That did the trick.

It’s just best to alternate photos with other things.

I find art suppies- a pad and colored pencils, are apprecfiated by almost anyone- artist or not! For teens, a great gift is an XL white T-shirt (Fruit of the Loom is fine), and a package of colored Sharpie markers, so all their friends can draw on and sign a shirt for them at the party!

By: DivaJean

DivaJean — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:51:11 +0000

My daughters are “into” American Girl dolls. I have been sewing all year and plan to give some for special outfits they want and sell most at the school craft show in the fall. I have also gotten handy at refurbishing the dolls and find the best sales price for used is during the summer when no one else is thinking about Xmas. Last year, I got a doll for under $30— pretty good if the price new is over $100. Believe me when I say, the overall quality of the doll is worth it, but the difference in the cost of buying used versus new is worth it. If others are interested in looking into getting used dolls, American Girl also has a really good customer service and a program for fixing up dolls. You could get one used off eBay and still be ahead of the new price getting a new wig on the doll and an overall cleaning. Do not be fooled by cheaper imitations. The cheaper, rooted hair goes natty after no time versus AG wigged hair lasting longer.

As for my boys, my oldest son is all about movement and music. We usually end up buying him cds or videos of his favorite, Cirque du Soleil. If any kid of mine “runs away” to join a circus, it will be him. The cds and videos he would want are rarely “on sale” unless I find a good Amazon search. which I have on all the time. We bought him a gymnastics mat last year that got a lot of usde- we are considering getting another to add to his floor area “routine.” My youngest son is 3 and we find that recycling toys from the oldest kids often goes unnoticed. There might be an occasional “I used to have one of those..” but otherwise, no one makes a big deal out of it.

As for the extended family, we have not so many to buy for anyways now. I would rather wait until it gets close enough for me to be sure of what I am getting. We have cut many down to getting school pictures in the holiday card, and they are all just as happy to not have to shop.

I still like to receive a few things at holiday time, but I am always certain to let people know my size, color tastes, etc so I don’t end up with a pile of returns.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:47:31 +0000

@#22 Gretchen, most of that money goes towards my sons’ therapists. 2 of my 3 kids are disabled, and we have about 12 men and women who spend hours a week at our home helping my sons, not to mention the awesome teachers and support staff at the school. These people spend their days helping kids who need every bit of time they have, and it is not an easy job, but they do it because they love kids like mine! My husb’s coworkers also have been nothing but supportive of our situation, letting him work from home, come in late, leave early without affecting his job security. In my mind that needs a thank you.

I think the big thing here is to cut your shopping list down to only those you feel you really want to give gifts to. That list is different for everyone. I know at my past jobs we didn’t do gifts. But sometimes they are appropriate.

I know as a kid I had an aunt who gave us a gift certificate for a bookstore as a gift. We LOVED that, as our library was tiny, and we couldn’t afford new books otherwise.

And I can say that I personally LOVE getting gift cards. If I get cash, I can tell you that I will not spend it on me but use it to pay bills, buy groceries etc. But if my mom gives me a card to a specific store that I love, it forces me to get something for myself. That is a huge treat for me.

By: Susanne

Susanne — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:29:45 +0000

I saw this EXACT list on the local news this morning (WDIV Detroit). What’s up with that??

By: Zaboozie

Zaboozie — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:23:08 +0000

I like the idea of bowing out of gift exchanges early. I don’t buy a lot of gifts for anyone, except my brother and his wife, and my parents and grandmother. But our extended family always wants to do a gift exchange/secret santa thing…but people always fail to follow the rules. Instead of each person buying one gift to exchange, they’ll buy the one gift but still buy extra gifts for the relatives they are closer with or something. Then others feel guilty for having more than one gift, blah blah blah. It’s a mess in my family. I think I’ll be opting out of gift exchanges altogether this year.