Hard Times
By cynthiann
@cynthiann (18602)
Jamaica
November 11, 2008 9:15am CST
Last night at my community meeting a neighbour said that her son had lost his job at cicuit city and his wife had just had a baby. she is on a pension but was waiting to get her pension to send the money to him. Then we spoke about Thanksgiving and each of us said what we are thankful for. What it came down to was that we gave thnaks for each other and family. So maybe this year, there is no money for the turkey or ham. Maybe your meal will be very simple but still give thanks for each other. Try and make is a little special for the children. It is amazing how children like to eat by candle light with the other lights turned off. Put out your best plates and cutlery and let the children dress up in their best clothes. Likewise you and your partner. You can give your children a wonderful example of making the best in hard times. and most of all, remember to give thanks for having one another. Does anyone else have suggestions on how to make your thanksgiving special with next to nothing to spend on it?
5 people like this
7 responses
@jands1 (835)
• United States
11 Nov 08
I am sorry to hear about your neighbour's son. It was a long time coming with Circuit City though as they have been having bad financial problems for many years: Layoffs, closing of stores, etc.
As for Thanksgiving, well, any time we get together and share food with friends and family, that is always special. It is not the food, or even how much food, but the act of eating the food with others. It is practically a ceremony.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 Nov 08
Thank you for your response. I just love your attitude towards life. It is special eating together especially iof prayers are offered for those who do not have anything to eat that day. You have made it special by making it a cermony and this is wonderful.
@kareng (55042)
• United States
12 Nov 08
You are so right that having family and friends is the best thing along with good health to be thankful for. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season and enjoy the company of others. We will be inviting extended family over this year for thanksgiving dinner. I remember going to various aunt's houses growing up and I'm going to be extending invite to those aunts and their kids and families this year. We will have a full house, and it will be fun to visit also!
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
12 Nov 08
Thank you for your best wishes and for your response. I'm sure that you have wonderful memories of visiting your aunts and their families. and now it is you that will be doing the entertaining.Isn't this is what family is all about? Have a wonderful Thanksgiving when it comes
@AmbiePam (85661)
• United States
11 Nov 08
Well, sometimes there are organizations that give away free turkeys. I never can remember what the name of these places are, but I know that depending on one's circumstances, like being out of a job, qualifies them for something like that. And you make very good recommendations. Parents can even tell their children they are starting a new tradition, and it could be food that is good, but cheaper than traditional Thanksgiving items. And while it saves the parents money, the kids feel like they began a new tradition and they get to be in on it. Even when things get better financially, they could still have that one item every year, just to remind them of good times in the midst of hard times.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 Nov 08
I so agree with you. I like the idea of having a dish that is done on 'our family' - it certainly is starting a new tradition and children like special things that only their family does. I don't live in the USA - but I have a daughter in N.C and she celebrates Thaksgiving with friends so I do know how special this day is for all citizens of the USA. Many thanks for yor response
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
11 Nov 08
here in canada, our thanksgiving is in early october, so for us, its over and for some reason, canada doesnt seem to be as hard hit as you are in the us, but besides that christmas will be difficult this year for a good number of us and to that end, i have made (and am making) a lot of christmas presents, plus, i shop all year round.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 Nov 08
Hi Cher, I don't think that recession has hit Canada hard yet. It is the same in my country. The effects of the recession are just beginning to be felt as tourism has bombed. I used to do the same as you and shop from early in the year but this year was so difficult for me as I helped pay for my daughter's Masters degree, So I am in mega credit card debt. However, I have already bought some things for the children but have asked my adult friends to forego the exchange of gifts this year. If they want to give then let it me to someone in need or a charity. Thank you for your response!
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
11 Nov 08
I too, have lost my job, and money is very tight. My mother has been battling cancer for nine years. This year she feels well and wants to have Thanksgiving dinner at her house. I am so Thankful that she is still here and is doing very well. My siblings told her that she did not have to do dinner, but she insists, because that is something that she always liked to do, and since she was not able to do it for so long, she is looking forward to it.
Times are really hard for me, but I will not allow that to stop me from being Thankful for everything that I do have.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 Nov 08
I am so sorry that you have lost your job Sudalants, and I hope that you will get another one soon. What a wonderful gutsy women your mother is. How proud you must be of her and what an example she is to your family. You should let your mother do the cooking as it obviously what she wants to do this for her family.Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
11 Nov 08
I have never yet been able to spend much for any holiday. Last Thanksgiving was my first one ever away from my parents and brothers. Last year, we had just moved to a new area. New jobs, new everything. To my husband and I it is more about calling up our family and friends just to tell them Happy Thanksgiving. We make a relatively small meal, but share it with all that stop by. Before we sit down to eat, each of us tells what we are most thankful for this year. For me, it is always the same, my family and friends. My kids enjoy this tradition, and I feel that it brings the meaning of the holiday to life. Last year, the youngest said that he was most thankful for turkey and mashed potatoes.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 Nov 08
HI lynnbug, thank you so much for your response. I would think that Thanksgiving is just what you say - speaking to relatives, keeping in touch with family and friends. Although I have never celebrated Thanksgiving (actually, I was supposed to go to my daughte who is in NC this year but financial constraints stopped me) I always did the same as you when we were on our farm. At Christmas, I always cooked mega big time and the people who work for us could always stop by and get a dinner and a drink. I used to like doing this. I try to invite all my friends who may be widowed like myself or just lonely and we eat together at Christmas. This year, tthe budget is worse than tight so I have swallowed by pride and asked each invited person to bring a dish. After eating we will put the food in boxes and deliver to the homeless. However hard things are for us, there are always those who are in a worse condition than we are. God Bless and have a wonderful Thanksgiving when it comes.
@qiongzheng0523 (55)
• China
12 Nov 08
Now it is the hard time for most of people, many people face losing job. People try their best to save money. From now on, we should change our consume habit.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
12 Nov 08
You are so right - jobs are getting scarce and we have to face the reality. However, we sometimes put the blinkers on. I will know this Saturday at my company's AGM if I have my job still. I suppose I've been putting the blinkers on to! We have to try and get into saving even a little if we have a regular job. Fro many htough, it is about survival - just day by day
