Is this a happy holiday season for your family?

my family has been strapped for cash for the past few years, so we've had to come up with creative ways to give gifts like doing secret santa or just buying 1 gift and putting it in a pile and one by one we go and pick one. i hate that though because usually i cant make use of any of the things that people buy. i'd prefer for people just to either not get me any presents or just give me cash, because i hate getting useless presents that just end up gathering dust under my bed. i know that's selfish, but i guess im just used to getting presents on christmas, so, if i get one, i'd rather have it be of use to me. the problem with my family is that we're also pretty big..like for the past few years its been my parents, my sister, my brother-in-law, my brother, my 2 grandmas, my 2 aunts, my mom's cousin, and then like this other family that my family knew. this year we've decided that we're only going to exchange presents with the immediate family meaning my parents, my sister, my brother, and me...

No, this is one of the saddest holidays I have had in a long time. My husband and I separated back in July and are still trying to work things out. It's been really hard on me though..putting up xmas decorations by myself, doing christmas shopping for our kids without him. I'll be glad when all the holidays are all over with. Atleast I have my kids here to make me smile through them!

I agree this season is way to commercialized. Sit down and share a cup of hot cocoa with your child.. If you can build a snowman first do that. Pop some popcorn...and watch a movie with your child etc... Buy a box of crayons and a coloring book and color with your child...They could give the picture as a gift to a grammy or grampy....ummm..Buy a dollar puzzle and put it together...bake some cookies... there are so many things that can be done without having to spend a whole lot of dollars... i am starting to figure this out.. take care..

yes!!!it is a happy holiday!!!and i love it so much!!

As usual. I went for holiday vacations with my family for some days. We enjoyed our holiday vacation. Purchased some dresses for entire family and gifts for friends and neighbors. The good thing of this tour was all of the family members were together in this tour. Especially our children enjoy this tour very much.

Not really having a good christmass. I already know what im getting, and i already know that im not getting hardly anything. This doesnt bother me. What bothers me is the fact ill be revising for exams all the way through, and the fact that i have exams on my birthday, and the fact that all my family ever does is argue and complain. Yet another merry christmass indeed. I wish. Id rather sit here on christmass day and play a game. Instead, ill be forced to "socialize" with the family. or whats left of it anyway.

We are not doing very well finacially this year, my husband has even put some stuff up on ebay to make a little extra. We are all ok though. We have a roof over our heads, jobs, we are together and have great kids. Merry Christmas!!!

I know how it feels to be financially strapped during the holidays. It used to really bother me, however in the 3 years since my youngest son was born we've all learned to feel blessed with just being together and having our health (my youngest son was born with severe heart defects and things were very touch-and-go with him until this past spring). We tend to concentrate more on having a good time spending time together, going out to see the Christmas lights, watching Christmas shows together and making gifts for each other when possible.

We're pretty broke ourselves over here, but it's a few years that we do all the Christmas eve cooking and have both our families over. This, in itself,is a gift. The only person we buy a gift for is our godchild, who is 4 yrs old.

This will be a happy holiday season for me and my close family and loved ones. I will be going home since im in college going home is always a happy time since i get to see my family that i havent seen in a while. The holidays should be a happy time regardless of the circumstances. I know its not always that easy as it is said but I wish everyone happiness during the holiday season, and all year for that matter.

Before, when I don't have yet a personal realtionship with God, Christmas is more on myself and my love ones but now, it changed a lot. What I'm praying is to be a blessing to those who need to be blessed especially this season so that they may glorify God in their lives.

Yeah we are gona take a trip to Canada this year and im gona get cool presents i always get something cool for christmas.......

We have just sold our house and are moving to another one. We have also been told we may move before christmas. At the moment the bills have built up till we are drowning and selling the house was the only way. Next year will be better. We will be mortgage free and more financial. I would like to wish you a wonderful holiday season and may all your cares be little ones.

Well I used to love Christmas and I still like a lot, especially when I know that my family (3 brothers and 2sisters, plus my parents and friends) in Brazil having a great time together! But in my case, every year is “kind” frustrate, because I plan everything to make the best Christmas I ever had in USA, but always something happen… Oh well, I just believe that the next year and forward, me and my son will have a great Christmas time with my family in Brazil!!! Actually we’re very healthier and nothing missing to us, I think these are for me the most important and the others things I just live in God’s hands! ;-)

Well you will be in my prayers, what is with the red tape, that is just wrong... I hope is all is well...

I think everyone I know included myself is strapped for cash this christmas seasons and with having three kids it's hard of course the younger two will just be glad to have gifts but I struggle with making sure my 12 year old gets want he wants of course I spread his list out to all of our relatives so that he gets most because I can't buy all the video games and stuff he wants it's expensive!!!

We don't have a lot of money this year either but this is going to be a very happy christmas for us because this is our first christmas with our baby

Christmas is about family for me, spending time with those I love, meeting up with those I have not seen in a while.Due to children we're pretty straped for cash too but we have hours of fun making present for people. Really think it's good for my kids that we're straped for cash as it teaches them so much,presents come from the heart and not the shop in this house.

I have asked my family not to buy Christmas gifts for me this year, as I have so much stuff that I need to start getting rid of it. They all thought it would be a good idea if we each bought something for a few euros - like a tea towel, soaps or something similar that wouldn't be sitting on the mantlepiece collecting dust. Now I'm looking forward to Christmas, knowing that I don't have to battle my way through crowds in order to buy the perfect gift. Just getting together with all the family is much nicer than any gift. I hope your son and his wife will be able to get together very soon. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.

Thanks man. Hope you also recover soon from the family trouble.