Are you worried about Christmas shopping yet?

Hi Everyone! :o).....Last year for Christmas our family started taking the money, that we usually use to buy gifts for each other, and give it to a needy family. So every year i give $100.00 to Franklin Graham (Samaritan's Purse)(...there's a website for this program too...it's www.samaritanspurse.org) instead of buying gifts. My children get gifts all year long so they understand at christmas we give to a family in need. I also go to the mall and our hospital and pick names off the christmas trees. God Bless Everyone this Holiday Season.....:o)

We decided we weren't going to spend alot of Christmas this year. We probably will just buy for our little ones. Luckily, our children are small and don't expect 200.00 presents. We will make sure they have a nice one, but we won't put ourself in debt for it. We are all together and that's the important thing. If you are crafty there are tons of presents you can make. If you are a good cook, make a tray of homemade candies or cookies or loaves of holiday bread for everyone. Mixes in jars are always nice gifts, like cookie or soup mixes. I am sure your family and friends will understand your being short on cash and will appreciate what ever you give them.

Yeah, I have thought about it. I hope to find something cheap and nice on the internet but if I don't I'll just offer to cook everything and to do more favors for people in exchange for gifts.

I am not thinking about Christmas yet. For me Christmas does not represent gift giving, I celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas. Christmas has become so commercialized, and a lot of people get so wrapped up with gift giving and receiving that they lose the real concept of Christmas. There was a time that I was able to afford to buy gifts and it was nice to be able to. Now, there is no money for gifts, and I will not let that bother me. Actually one year, when everyone was not doing that good financially my family decided that we wouldn't exchange gifts, but focus more on the day itself, and it was nice. We had a nice dinner, there was a tree, and we just enjoyed each other's company. I am sure the stores will suffer greatly this year financially, but basically people have to do what they have to do. I am sure a lot of people will have to get creative, if they want to give other's gifts, everyone should realize what is going on in the world and understand. Have a great evening.