Comments on: The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Multi-Christmas Edition

By: deRuiter

deRuiter — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:42:24 +0000

Russian Orthodox Christmas IS in January. Think of the bargain shopping for a Christmas tree and Christmas wrapped candies and cookies! When I see the discarded Christmas trees start to hit the curb Dec. 26. I entertain the idea that next year I ought to celebrate Christmas with the Russian Orthodox date in January, and just pick up one of the disacarded trees and decorate it for my “new” Christmas date. Actually I once did that when I was hosting a big holiday party on the weekend between Christmas and New Year’s, and one large room looked a little bare. I scooped up a discarded Christmas tree, decorated it, everyone thought it was gorgeous and the room looked elegant, and pitched the tree out the day after Twelfth Night. It was still in pretty decent shape!
This year there was a terrible wind storm late Autumn. Many trees fell and were cut into smaller pieces and put out in cans for recycling. I picked up a whole truck load of pine and fir branches on the curb, gorgeous deep green, FRESH branches, and made seven grave blankets, and two huge sprays for the doors for the house, plus some greens to put around the wood cutout Christmas ornaments on the lawn to camouflage the spot lights. The big red velvet bows and other trim for the grave blankets and wreaths were bought for a couple of dollars at a summer yard sale. I’m pleased with my nice decorations when I see grave blankets selling for $29.99/$50., and door wreaths for $10/$30 (plus tax!) Being thrifty doesn’t mean doing without, it means being creative and using what is free or cheap, recycling in many cases, good for the wallet, good for the environment, and good for the balance of trade.

By: Misha

Misha — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:29:24 +0000

For the past 10 years, to accommodate scheduling of out-of-town guests, my family’s been celebrating Christmas a week early or a week late.

By: Evita

Evita — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:25:28 +0000

Johanna: some do. In our extended families, this year was such a nightmare of coordination that hubby and me decided to celebrate Christmas with the (grown-up) kids and their families in the middle of January. We’ll have the youngest with us at our home at Christmas and that’s it!

By: Liz

Liz — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:33:04 +0000

My college roommates and I always celebrated Martin Luther Kingmas (yes, we called it that). We had a three-day weekend ridiculously early in the semester (usually the second week of classes), so we’d cook an elaborate meal and have a Secret Santa. We always drew the Secret Santa names in November so we could keep an eye out for a good, inexpensive gift. Whoever was hosting the dinner would have the tree up, and we’d all take the leftover cookies, fruitcake, etc. from our newly dieting parents to add to the party.
Too bad it’s not a three-day weekend for any of us anymore — we work places where you’re lucky to get Federal holidays off…

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:23:08 +0000

I’ve often wondered why more people don’t celebrate holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas a week early or a week late. The sticking point would be arranging the time off for everyone, I guess, but if you can do that, it would make the travel a whole lot easier and cheaper.

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:48:19 +0000

When our family began having multiple Christmas celebrations, some were of necessity held after Christmas Day. Sometimes we met family members at the airport on or the day after the 25th. It was very sad to me that the large majority of other travelers had already lost their Christmas spirit (good cheer, good humor, smiles all around, etc), when ours was still going strong. For me, spreading the celebrations out over a week or more has really emphasized that the Christmas attitude isn’t just about how you feel or act on one specific day.

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:43:01 +0000

Johanna #1 – unfortunately for many people that isn’t obvious, or it’s something one puts off for when you get the first raise or are making more money.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:53:34 +0000

Five ways to save money in your first job – Number 1: Start saving. Genius.