This was a frugal Christmas.

Hear, hear! *raises vodka glass* I have the exact same resolution as well. I also resolve to work my seating apparatus off in the computer world to get as much money as possible from there. Best wishes on your own endeavour, we're all in on this together!

It seems frugal living is on the air! I want to keep on earning as last year online, although I will probably have less time. Fortunatly I have not got into debt yet, but that has been only because several members of my family are helping me out with some of the extras that I have had to pay for chemo.

I am glad that you have some insurance otherwise it would have been awful if you would have had to sell your house. If someone has cancer in my home country the National Health Scheme is free. I have Leo and he has many appointments. If I lived somewhere else his health care would be very hard to afford. He has had five operations: head, back, hips, leg and foot. Many hugs.

We have a lot of help in health service but it depends on your kind of insurance. I chose a better one, so there´s a big deductible but it covers better hospitals and quick health care. My family has been very helpful but cancer is a high cost illness. If I had to pay for all of it, I would have to sell my house probably. As it is, it is affordable but it would be better if it was completly free.

Here it depends on how much you earn. Poorer people have free healthcare but it is not as good as the one I pay for. Still the government pays for most of my chemo.

btw, i hope 2012 is a good year for you!

I have great expectations with the chnge of year. Making birds house ornaments sound very nice and caring. I love cross stitching too although I don´t do it anymore as my eyes are older. Have a wonderful 2012!!!

I had to put limits this Christmas. My youngest daughter´s partner has four children by a former marriage. They were coming for Christmas. And then there my 6 grandchildren. Way too much!!! So I decided to buy presents to the youngest kids who would be interested in toys. For the rest I made cupcakes and cookies.

We have to do what we need to do. I never went in debt for Christmas but one time, years ago. i said i would never do that again & i want.To me having your family all togewther is the best present of all. hope u are feeling well. take care of yourself in this new year. Hope it will be a happ& HEALTHY one for u.

If my teen grandchildren do not understand, I think it is high time that they start to think about it. I don´´t really need any material thing and I do think that presents are just symbols for love giving. So no need to exchange more than hugs between adults.

Correct my friend! No amount of material thing can commensurate to the time and effort we give in taking care of the children. Hugs and kisses and a time to be able to play with them is more than enough. But since they are kids, maybe a homemade bakes cookies individually placed in small paper bags will already be really appreciated.

You are a sweet, friend!!!This is the real spirit of Christmas. I am sure that the rice will be a real help. A big hug and I thank you for sharing this. How I wish all of us were as you are!

I do wish there were more people like you, friend.

Thanks for the BR, you see friend, modesty aside I was raised in a Christian home where it was always important to give than to receive, we were never allowed as children to go to our God parents house just so we would be given money on Christmas like most people do here, perhaps my parents wanted us to be givers more than receivers. I guess most already know that I was an elected official in my place during the late nineties and most people here has always been expecting something ever since, not to mention my 30 plus God children I have from the Catholic faith ranging from baptism to confirmation to matrimony. What most mylot members do not know is I ran a trading company that buys anything I can make a profit on as long as I can ascertain true ownership and make a profit on, no matter if it is scrap or a few grams of rusty nails or scrap plastic, to things like funitures and antiques etc..., if I make a peso profit then that's just fine with me,so I know exactly who to give to, I pick the most deserving although I always pray that God would bless me more

My youngest child is 30, but she didn't care anyway. I know it sounds strange to some people, but I agree with you that if things are a little tougher, people can be happier. We let material goods take the place of relationships and enjoying life as it is.

I don´t think children really care that much about big presents. Half the fun is to see what is inside the wrappings. I think that we can teach our children to have a better attitude towards material goods. We will all be happier when there are money problems.

I am sure that this year will be better. Last year it started very badly with a lymphoma stage IV. Everywhere I read about it the prognosis was worse. I had my chemo and the lymphoma is on remission. And I discovered on the way that it was much worse to lose a loved one than to be very ill yourself. So I did not even get depressed. Now I am thinkg what to do next

hi marguicha! yeah, it really is a present to myself and to all those people that i love and care about if we think really hard about me paying off my debts. just so sad that others that don't think like that. too bad i can't please everyone. anyway, the amount that usually goes to paying off my debts for january will be stashed and saved accordingly. was thinking of rewarding myself and buying something that i really want or need since last year like a good belt or a new pair of shoes but thought otherwise. i'll hold off buying or rewarding myself for the longest time until i get at least three months equivalent salary as a 'emergency' fund. that is my new financial goal for the immediate future. wish me luck marguicha!!! cheers!!!

I am sure that paying off your debt will be a gift for all the people that love you. I congratulate you. And, of course, you also gave yourself the best present because you will not be worried about your finances.

I quit smoking because I discovered that I could save from an airfare that way. I say I am a smoker who does not smoke. I love vacations so I must save on other items. Have a lovely vacation!

A smoker who doesn't smoke That's good.. hope the people in my family would be like that too

Fortunatly I try never to get into debt. I always pay all of my credit card except when I travel because sometimes I have extras that get paid the next month. But I don´´t spend more than what I have in gifts and presents..

Thanks, friend. When I was young, only for birthdays and holidays did my mom buy some goodies. The rest of the year she made something nice for teatime on Saturdays to last until Sunday. With presents it was like that too: only presents in those days. It was unthinkable to ask for a toy on another opportunity.