Money and the Holidays

Here is my opinionated response to your question about holiday shopping. I think that I will be spending less this year due to the effect of the economic crisis that hits everyone. I have a project and a goal to achieve and spending more would not be a good option for me. A lot has been changed and I want to meet those challenges with a good response. Good day.

HI OpinionatedLady,

I have actually started making my shopping list, and have cut down on some not so important items and people. Money is tight and I can't afford to shower everyone with gifts and I think many of friends will understand as they too experience the same difficulty. I've seen on the local TV some creative tips on making gifts that are nice but inexpensive, and I intend to try some of them. I guess you can also find in your area some good tips in making the Holiday still memorable but easier on the pocket.

For the past year and a half due to financial crunch I'm unable to utilize my week's holiday at time share. I'm thinking of selling the scheme so i have more money to spend on my family.When the economy improves or if i can put this money to better use then i can plan for vacations within my budget.

What budget? What shopping list? I haven't bought for Christmas for years. I can't afford toilet paper much less gifts for Christmas. We hear other families are having it but we aren't even sure anymore what it is. Ideas that would work? Ya. Rob the bank just about a week before the supposed day he was born and then that way you have alittle time to shop! Oh, and be sure to wear a mask.

Hi, OpinionatedLady!

I think this year I will try to spend less on the gifts and only buy those necessary things. I have been thinking of making my own Christmas cards as I suddenly feel that I have lots of ideas about designing the cards!

There are so many things inside my head on what to do and buy, what to wear, what the theme colors going to be, but I haven't listed them down yet. Everything has to be according to the budget.

So, I don't think I have any better ideas on how to spend wise on this coming festive season, but what I am going to do is to save the extra money I earn from this site.

We are severely limiting the people that we will be shopping for this Christmas. My husband and I get to chose one thing that we really want, and that is all that we will get for each other. If we have any money left after we buy for everybody else, then there is a joint gift that we would both like to have that we will buy.

We have also talked with my parents, and we will do Christmas with them in the summer. That way, it is not as financially taxing, and we get to enjoy Christmas twice in one year. Besides, they don't live around us, so we might not get to see them again until then, anyways.

Our plan is just to not spend so much on people this year. Since I am out of work and my husband is the only person that is bringing in income. Normally every year, my brother and I chip in and get things for family members and they normally turn out to be expensive stuff. But not this year. So hopefully he understands that this year will be a little different and nobody will be getting expensive stuff.

I will be cutting back too. The only good thing about the economy is that I can go back to my childhood and make homemade gifts again. When I was little my grandmother and I made homemade gifts. She croched while I bought ceramic ornaments and painted them. As I got older my grandmother and I would bake cookies, candy, fudge and bread. This year I will be making gift baskets for family members. For my family that lives out of state I am painting ceramic ornaments and for one friend I am painting a sled and a Santa Claus. The sled will say Santa Express.
For my niece and nephews I got them books. I bought one on amazon and the other three at Barnes and Noble.
I will be spending less money on everyone else. I hope I can get a seasonal job so I can get my husband the one big gift he wants which is a Nintendo Wii.