Journey To Me

Have you thought about CHRISTmas yet?

It is hardly fall and already I am seeing CHRISTmas items in stores.  Have you started planning for CHRISTmas yet?  I have and have decided to go extremely frugal this year. 

I made a list of the people I would like to buy for, and then made a list of the people I really feel I need to buy for.  This second list comes to four people.  I have my Mother, my Husband and our best friend's two children (4 years and 6 months).  I wanted to buy items for my sister and her husband, my brothers and my cousin's children (13 of them), but have decided against it as we just do not have the money to go that far this year.  Instead, I will have my sister and brothers over for a nice dinner and game night, and I will have to skip my cousin's children. 

I have decided to make presents for my best friend's children, take my mother out to dinner before we see a play at our local theatre (her gift to me is the play) and I am going to buy my Husband a watch.  He actually needs a new watch, his other one still works, but is not at 100% anymore.  He has had the last one rebuilt 3 times (I bought him this watch when we first started dating about 10 years ago.)  and I am thinking it is time for a new one.  I should be able to find one in the brand he likes for about $50 on clearance.  So, for about $100, I should be able to do all my CHRISTmas shopping without breaking the bank! 

I also decline to be a part of all gift exchanges at family events and at work.  I have the type of family that would love anything you bought them, but I married into the type that gives you a list of items that you may buy from, then requests gift receipts so that they can return the gift at a later date.  Plus... how fun is it to shop for "Uncle Bob" (name is changed to protect his REAL identity) when Uncle Bob can purchase anything he wants for himself anyways.... 

I LOVE shopping for the young kids, as they are the people who really get excited about presents!  Plus, I always buy educational gifts if possible, so it is fun for me to see what they have learned from the gift I have given them!

Untitled Comment

01:49, Tuesday, September 25, 2007 .. Posted by gokings13

Ahhhhhhhh the gifts.

I think your list is fantastic! I think your heart is in the right place for gift-giving.
I agree, buying gifts "because everyone else does" is like saying "well mom, I smoke pot because everyone else does".
Same line of thinking.......just doing it because everyone else does!!

I am an odd bird when it comes to gifts, and truly prefer making a delicious meal for ones I love and enjoying their company rather than buying some trinket or do da they could go to the store and buy for themselves.
That goes for birthdays and anniv. too.(( we don't do halmark holidays either!! ))
Laura

Christmas

08:41, Saturday, September 29, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Mom2fur here. Between my brother, two sister and myself, my mom has 11 grandhchildren. 4 of them are mine. Years ago, my sibs and I decided to just stop giving gifts to each other...and then eventually, to the kids. It really does get to be too much, and very often family members are relieved when someone suggests not exchanging gifts!