Has the financial crisis affected your plans for giving this Holiday Season?

As of right now, yes. I hope to get some money together soon though and make it a great Christmas!

Sometimes it not how expensive the gift was but it is the thought that counts.

Well there are some things my husband and I would Love to do this yr. for Christmas in giving gifts to others. The only thing is can we afford to do it? We believe in first giving to others and then ourselves as this is the Biggest blessing you can do. Things are tight financially so we are hoping that we can at least do a small portion of what we have planned. Personally it would be nice to see a Miracle about now.

I bought a small Christmas tree years ago. It will have to do and I will have cheap decorations. I am considering giving my kids and my sister's kids money instead of presents. If they have £10 each a week before 25th December they will be able to buy a present that they will like. So it might be Christmas cards with £10 notes in. I think your idea of the dollar shop is a very good idea. My daughter will probably buy a doll, my disabled son will probably buy two little trains and my teenage son will probably buy a cheap computer game.

I know this Christmas is going to be rough because my husband lost his job and we have to move. I buy for my niece and nephews as well as my immediate family members. I know this year I will not be able to spluge as much as I would like to, but I will try to cut back. In the past I always made gift basket filled with cookies, candy and fudge.

I always believed money or gift shouldn't get involved when comes to celebrating some festive seasons e.g. Christmas. When I was young, my parents always spent alot in buying food for Chinese New Year, new clothes, new curtains, new shoes and what's more red packets as part of Chinese traditions. I came to a time and started thinking I shouldn't be spending the money to buy new clothes. There came a time when I told my mom that I do not want to buy any new clothes for new year and then it became a "new" tradition to myself that wearing some good enough clothings from last year is still a good way of celebrating the new year. Certain beliefs and traditions needed some thinking cap, I think. We shouldn't be thinking that we all need to spend alot of money on buying gifts and other stuffs in order to celebrate some festive seasons. Of course, spending on food is what every households need to do, but when financial crisis like this took plan and it's going to affect our spending patterns, probably we could opt for home cooking OR sharing the cost with siblings and relatives. Even the world financial need a break, what's more everyone of us , should do the same too. I would prefer to spend it on the needy people on the street and for those who having hard time managing themselves. Some differences I could make for the poor and it's going to be a meaningful festive season for me. :))

I think the financial crisis definitely has affected my plans, but in a slightly positive way. You see I am usually a guy who saves a bit and spends a bit. So this season due to the financial crisis, the prices are very low. I can dip into my savings and do some extra nice bargains in the current scenario. :) So crisis is not all too much doom and gloom for all :) Cheers! Ram

Honestly since I've become a mom and I spent a few years at home and now I only work part time. I just don't have the funds to go to town on gift giving like we used to. Now we are just thankful to have our bellies full. Thrifty ways are buying gifts ahead of time on clearance or even buying gifts second hand. (though I don't personally feel a gift should be used)

Yes financial crises has affected my plans for Christmas. I am planning on starting to shop for Christmas earlier this year than any other year. I am going to most likely look at every dollar spent, and buy cheaper gifts. I am hoping that buying earlier and saving up earlier will help. Even if I just buy one gift at a time and slowly shop, I think it will help. I've also thought about taking $5 and save it up for Christmas every time I get paid. I have been looking online and looking for any types of deals and promotions. One of the websites I am in, you earn points and redeem prizes. I might use some of the prizes as gifts with a small gift bought. This would help save me money. Hope you are successful in Christmas shopping and saving money this year.

I dont get everyone christmas presents in my family but do try to remember the important people in my life to get them something. I am not going full out this year and will only be spending on certain people. I am almost done with my boyfriend but am hoping to have the payout on this site this month to order something online for him and then get him a couple more things. Of course i will do both of our parents then our brothers and sisters in laws and my little cousins all get things as well but thats really it and nothing big too because money is hard and we are going out of town christmas night and have a long drive as well and then we are hoping to buy a house next year too and saving money would be a great thing too.

Oh yes, it has. I used to buy gifts for everyone, all adults included (mom, dad, aunts and uncles - and we're a very big clan. Then when the economic dipped, I gave only to the kids - young cousins, nieces and nephews. Then last year, I cut down again to just my nieces from my brother. I know I disappointed a lot of kids last year, so, this year, I'm starting to save up for the Holidays this early. And, I'll be shopping from Xmas bazaars - something that's common in our place when the holidays are near. Aside from the discounts, sometimes, there are freebies, too.

Financial crisis really affected my plans for this holiday season. Especially on christmas day. My family used to go out anywhere aside from staying in home to celebrate Christmas day. But now, so sad to know that we would have to cancel our plans for this Christmas break:((

i lost my job recently so it is a very big problem for me as i dont have money to spend on gifts. although i believe something of little value can make a lot of people very happy.