Have you cut back on gift shopping this year?

[Amandine]

With our current economy, have you cut back on gift shopping this year? Are you doing other things to compensate, like DIY gifts, baking, etc?

DH and I have cut back a lot this year, although it helps that we aren''t actually seeing any family for Christmas this year, but later in January. I am making ornaments for my staff...and still haven''t figured out what to get DH!

 

[beau13]

NO..not at all..if anything we spent more this year. Just finished remodelling three bathrooms..wasn't really thinking it would be close to Christmas when I said "go ahead..let's do it"! So..hubby and I agreed that was our Christmas gift to each other.The kids expect the tree to be full..poor economy ,or not!! They're still young..and between mom, dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles they are spoiled!! I think Christmas is for kids mostly..so we enjoy it while we can, while they are still young and one of them still believes in Santa! Handmade gifts, baked goods..are a great idea. I would certainly appreciate receiving gifts made , rather than store bought!

 

[beau13]

pretty quiet around here..I guess everyone is out shopping!

 

[777_LDY]

I can''t really say that I have cut back (yet) this year as far as holiday shopping on others, but I certainly have spent less because there are so many things on sale. I averaged about $30 per child this year (for nieces and nephews) as opposed to $50 last year. I have definitely thought twice before spending on myself though... Do I really need it, how good of a deal really is it, can I pay it off immediately if I use a cc, etc... You just don''t know what is going to happen tomorrow and right now I would much prefer to make sure the bills are paid and try to save than to just continue spending...

 

[Rhea]

I thought I was going to cut back, not because of the economy, but because we''d really like to have a down payment for a house within five years. Then my mother emailed me what she wanted for Christmas. And what my sister would like for Christmas. The idea was to chip in with someone else, but no one else wanted to. Both things would make my mother and sister happy so that''s what I''ve bought. We ended up spending just as much on my family as in previous years. I think DH has spent less on his.

 

[icekid]

well, we really haven't cut back- especially with all of the fabulous deals out there. However, this is also my first year with actual income since finishing school! So that might account for it though, since we HAVE more money.

 

[Clairitek]

I''ve cut back quite a bit but not really because of the economy but more because FI and I have a pretty expensive trip coming up next year that I desperately need to save for. We also have our wedding to save for. My parents aren''t doing as much either because of the wedding and my father is building a boat in our yard and its taking up a good amount of their extra funds. Instead of buying a bunch of gifts we (my parents and I) are spending a good amount of our Christmas money on a 3 day weekend in NYC for my parents anniversary and Christmas. Going to see Spamalot, brunch at the Central Park Boathouse, tasty dinners out, etc.

I can imagine that if I didn''t have the aforementioned reasons to not spend tons of money on gifts I would be spending the same as I always do. Its not much but my gift list can get pretty extensive.

 

[isaku5]

A few years ago my DD and DIL decided that we should buy only for the children (or grandgirls, in our case) and our spouses. At the time, I didn''t feel right about doing this, as I love pretty much everything about Christmas, but decided to go along with it for a couple of years and then re-assess the whole idea.

Actually, their decision has made Christmas much easier as I''m not able to go out and "shop til drop" anymore. Physical ailments have taken a toll and trying to renovate on top of declining health has been nightmarish to say the least.

As of right now, only one gift has been purchased and I''m getting really nervous...

Did I spend less on the one gift? Technically, yes, as our daughter bought a jewellery chest for her daughter which will be from us. On Christmas Eve, we will visit them and I will pay her back. In actual fact, had I been doing the shopping I would probably have spent less....but not because of the economic decline.

Sorry for the ramble....

 

[KimberlyH]

My parents/sister and her hub/my hub and I decided to start pulling names for the first time last year; we all buy for my nephew. It''s made Christmas shopping a lot easier and more fun. We''re not exchanging gifts with friends, but I''m baking and making tamales again this year. I think when all is said and done we''ll have spent close to what we did last year, but it''s a lot less than what we spent 2 years ago.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Ah, I feel silly. I posted about five times saying I was anti-gift and anti materialistic, but after all the soap-box talk, I''ve ended up deciding to get my husband a few gifts this year. I DID cut back on presents for my kids and spent less than $250 TOTAL on the two of them, but that is mostly because their rooms are disasters and they have too many toys.

Our families don''t exchange gifts and that saves a ton of money. We all end up buying a ton of food for get togethers and that''ll be our contribution - plus good microbrew beer for those who like beer

 

[Blenheim]

We have. We cut back on the amount that we spent on each of our family members because there was a very real possiblity that DH would lose his job. And now that he has, hubby and I have decided not to exchange presents with each other. The dogs are going without as well, but I don''t think that they''ll notice.

To compensate, we''re just going to focus on the gifts that we are receiving from family members and have fun doing cheap things, like cuddling in front of a fire with hot chocolate and baking bread/cookies and things like that.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 12/13/2008 10:12:02 AM
Author: beau13
pretty quiet around here..I guess everyone is out shopping!

are you trying to be funny? I guess it sounds a little harsh considering a people are losing their jobs here and we are in a recession. If I am misunderstanding then forgive me.

 

[Skippy123]

We have scaled back a bit. We usually spend a lot on each other (hubby's sis, bil, my sis, bil) so this year we are focusing on the kids. I am not scaling back on the cute kiddos but we are on each other since we really have lots to be grateful for and a lot of stuff in general.

 

[Kaleigh]

Yes we have. We are spending a lot less. And most gifts for the kids will be purchased after Christmas. Their idea.

 

[Rhea]

Date: 12/13/2008 3:17:58 PM
Author: Blenheim

To compensate, we''re just going to focus on the gifts that we are receiving from family members and have fun doing cheap things, like cuddling in front of a fire with hot chocolate and baking bread/cookies and things like that.

I''m sorry he lost this job. Even though it probably wasn''t your original plan baking and cuddling in front of a fire sounds so perfect!

 

[beau13]

Date: 12/13/2008 3:20:19 PM
Author: Skippy123

Date: 12/13/2008 10:12:02 AM
Author: beau13
pretty quiet around here..I guess everyone is out shopping!

are you trying to be funny? I guess it sounds a little harsh considering a people are losing their jobs here and we are in a recession. If I am misunderstanding then forgive me.

"I guess everyone is out shopping"..sounds harsh?? WOW..sorry..just trying to add a bit of humour..but it seems almost impossible around here lately!! I think I will refrain from posting on this site..period! It seems no matter what I say ..It offends someone in some way! I'm sorry so many people are losing their jobs, and are suffering this holiday season..but not ALL of us are. Some of us may still like to keep the Christmas spirit alive, and not be reminded about the state of the economy, every single day!! Or perhaps we can all use a little humour and a chuckle from time to time, to help us forget about the economy, at least until the holidays are over!
Merry Christmas!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 12/13/2008 4:22:01 PM
Author: beau13

Date: 12/13/2008 3:20:19 PM
Author: Skippy123

Date: 12/13/2008 10:12:02 AM
Author: beau13
pretty quiet around here..I guess everyone is out shopping!

are you trying to be funny? I guess it sounds a little harsh considering a people are losing their jobs here and we are in a recession. If I am misunderstanding then forgive me.

'I guess everyone is out shopping'..sounds harsh?? WOW..sorry..just trying to add a bit of humour..but it seems almost impossible around here lately!! I think I will refrain from posting on this site..period! It seems no matter what I say ..It offends someone in some way! I'm sorry so many people are losing their jobs, and are suffering this holiday season..but not ALL of us are. Some of us may still like to keep the Christmas spirit alive, and not be reminded about the state of the economy, every single day!!
Merry Christmas!

don't go; I wasn't sure if you were trying to be funny?? that is why I said the last part.

 

[beau13]

No worries Skippy..I like you. Just seems like a real struggle on this forum these days. I think the break will be good!! Happy Holidays to your and your family!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 12/13/2008 4:22:01 PM
Author: beau13
''I guess everyone is out shopping''..sounds harsh?? WOW..sorry..just trying to add a bit of humour..but it seems almost impossible around here lately!! I think I will refrain from posting on this site..period! It seems no matter what I say ..It offends someone in some way! I''m sorry so many people are losing their jobs, and are suffering this holiday season..but not ALL of us are. Some of us may still like to keep the Christmas spirit alive, and not be reminded about the state of the economy, every single day!! Or perhaps we can all use a little humour and a chuckle from time to time, to help us forget about the economy, at least until the holidays are over!
Merry Christmas!

Not everyone is struggling, but I want to reiterate in my other post that although I''m buying two gifts for my DH, I''m spending less than $100 because my husband switched jobs into a new field and isn''t making as much. I do not think "the spirit of Christmas" will be dampened by giving him only two presents.

It''s great that you''re doing good financially, but just as you don''t want to read about the failed economy, others don''t want to be reminded that others are raking in the bucks this season. Just something I wanted to toss out there.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 12/13/2008 3:32:41 PM
Author: Kaleigh
Yes we have. We are spending a lot less. And most gifts for the kids will be purchased after Christmas. Their idea.

That''s so good you can wait until after Christmas to shop! I''d love to do that, but even at age 8, my older son still believes in Santa and he still is super excited about his stocking and gifts under the tree. He just started asking if Santa is real and I had to dance around the answer to that. Many of the kids in his class are saying that the parents are buying gifts and pretending it''s Santa who brought them. lol Now him and his brother are also questioning the existance of the Easter Bunny!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

So I feel kinda bad that we aren''t getting any gifts for DD. Here''s how I see it, she doesn''t know what is going on or will remember. She just had a birthday and has SO many toys. She is going to be spoiled by everyone else so she will have lots of new stuff to play with (and open). Still makes me feel like a bad mom. Oh well. Still even without adding her into the mix I think we have spent more this year.

 

[coatimundi_org]

We''ve scaled back.

 

[Rhea]

Date: 12/13/2008 5:31:41 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
So I feel kinda bad that we aren''t getting any gifts for DD. Here''s how I see it, she doesn''t know what is going on or will remember. She just had a birthday and has SO many toys. She is going to be spoiled by everyone else so she will have lots of new stuff to play with (and open). Still makes me feel like a bad mom. Oh well. Still even without adding her into the mix I think we have spent more this year.

I think this is a great idea!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 12/13/2008 5:50:49 PM
Author: Addy

Date: 12/13/2008 5:31:41 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring

So I feel kinda bad that we aren''t getting any gifts for DD. Here''s how I see it, she doesn''t know what is going on or will remember. She just had a birthday and has SO many toys. She is going to be spoiled by everyone else so she will have lots of new stuff to play with (and open). Still makes me feel like a bad mom. Oh well. Still even without adding her into the mix I think we have spent more this year.

I think this is a great idea!

Thanks Addy. Truth be told I buy her stuff randomly anyways (when I see a cute toy or book). I guess next year she will "get it" more so we will do the whole Santa thing.

 

[bebe]

I planned on scaling back. But I started shoppng in August and lost track of what I bought. But most of the stuff I did buy was on sale.

 

[zhuzhu]

We prob. will be spending less because we are not visiting them across the country this year. DH has a big family, and the gifts are mostly for 3 teenagers of his brother''s. Since this year we will be spending it at our own house in CA, the gifts will be something small enough for mailing, therefore will prob cost less.

 

[pennquaker09]

Date: 12/13/2008 5:31:41 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
So I feel kinda bad that we aren't getting any gifts for DD. Here's how I see it, she doesn't know what is going on or will remember. She just had a birthday and has SO many toys. She is going to be spoiled by everyone else so she will have lots of new stuff to play with (and open). Still makes me feel like a bad mom. Oh well. Still even without adding her into the mix I think we have spent more this year.

Tacori, don't feel bad! You know Savannah and Gray are 6 months old and I really don't see any point in buying a bunch of toys that they really won't remember anyway. I feel like as they get bigger over the next year, I can just go out and buy them toys that are appropriate. I went to the Disney store and I got both of them some of the huge stuffed characters and I don't know if I'm going to get anything else. I'm not sure I need to because they have Nate's parents, my parents, and aunts and uncles.

Btw, how old is Tessa?

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

My list is always small anyway (we exchange names in our family), and b/c we don''t stand on ceremony and buy what we want during the year; often I feel there is "nothing to buy" at Christmas. I bought my DH some mohair socks and a robe. Less than $100 bucks and my son wants a new IPOD and not the costliest one either. I am overwhelmed at times with the selling and to pressure "give" and am happy to receive nothing or get a nicknack on sale after the season.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Penn, she is 13 months. Congrats on surviving the first 6 months! I think the next 6 months are so much easier than the first. Plus with twins I am SURE it is much easier now.

 

[Dancing Fire]

haven''t been out to the mall lately.