Do you usually make a list of people to whom you will give Christmas gift?
By Bebs08
@Bebs08 (10681)
United States
October 21, 2008 3:15pm CST
hahahah I always do that before. During the time when I was working and I have extra money on December? I always make a list of people I'm going to give gifts. Particularly the kids. I always give gifts to the kids, my nieces and nephews and God children. Of course I have to make a budget of how much each. But now that I am not working, I have nothing to give.
i just missed that day when I will do over time wrapping gifts before the Christmas party. Those were the days.
What about you? Are you having list too and of course the budget?
i just missed that day when I will do over time wrapping gifts before the Christmas party. Those were the days.
What about you? Are you having list too and of course the budget?7 people like this
28 responses
@dhisaw (304)
• United States
22 Oct 08
I used to make a list and try to get something for everyone. Lately though I can not afford to get something for everyone. I will be lucky if I can get the kids something. Even if i have to get them one item each from dollar tree. i am going to do my best to get something for them. Even though christmas is not about presents and that kind of thing. I am and have just tried to at least get something for each child.
2 people like this
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
22 Oct 08
Yes I make a list every year, plus what I would like to get for them, as it makes it much easier for me.
2 people like this
@austere (2812)
• Philippines
22 Oct 08
Of course! i make sure i have a list or i make a list of the people whom i need to give a christmas gifts to!:) well, i dont want to missed out those people whom i really need to give gifts to and at the same time, i also want to limit my budget to those people who i really have to give gifts.. i dont have that much money to spend you know!:)
@austere (2812)
• Philippines
23 Oct 08
yesss!! even when i was in college.. i didnt have much money.. all i have is a small allowance from my parents and and a little earning from my tutors who pay me per week.. but then, i was able to give the whole family small gifts to open during christmas eve!:) isnt that happy enough.. i ended up having no money, but the satisfaction and joy in my heart is something that money cant replace..:) seeing my siblings faces when they opened my gifts for christmas is really happy!:)
1 person likes this
@alexsis (2149)
• United States
21 Oct 08
Yes, I make a list. The only people on my list are family members. I do have a budget which is $150. I'm a crafty person so most of the gifts I make myself. Last Christmas I made a fruit/snack basket for my grandmother, and a spa gift basket for my Aunt. Most of the items in there were free samples and travel size items. This year I'm going to make dog tag key chains for most of them. I have a three year old daughter, but she really don't care about receiving toys.
2 people like this
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
22 Oct 08
A list and a budget, I don't know anybody who doesn't shop with one. I guess you could make something for the kids, although they like toys, something from the heart is always nice.
2 people like this
@rodveiga (333)
• Portugal
25 Nov 08
I usually make three lists:
a) list of people from family/friends that I intend to give some gift
b) list of people from family/friends to send ecards or postcards
c) list of the rest of people (co-workers, pals, etc) that I intend to call on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day.
@rodveiga (333)
• Portugal
26 Nov 08
Hi
lol
I don't spend money, I don't have any to spend, really. The gifts I give? things that me and my kids (some my husband too) do, with simple stuff we get. Some are things people throw away, we get them, clean them, painting, recovering, what need to. I knit somethings, make and paint wood boxes, sew bags and kids dresses, and so on...
The postcards? my kids really love to do paintings (messy, lol) and we use them to make cards. Sometimes, we recover pretty gift wrappings, cut around the pictures, glue on card, make a wish and... tahdah!!!
We don't use snail mail, it costs a lot here in Portugal, if one have too many postcards to send. For friends and family far away, we send ecards. For the ones near, we take the postcard, with some cookies (I made them at home) or a parsley bread (made in home too), call them first at phone, and show their homes to give all stuff.
Ecards are free, of course. We use 123greetings and other postcards sites. We have one in Portuguese (postais.pt) with plenty of stuff.
Hope it helped. Try this kind of things, we'll see it's fun and cheap. This year it has to be REALLY cheap, lol.
1 person likes this
@twowizdom (861)
• Philippines
22 Oct 08
hi there Bebs08,
nice question! especially now that Christmas is getting closer.
Anyway, just like you, I also make a list of the people whom im going to give some gifts to. I usually do this several weeks before Christmas. I always make it a hobbit to do this so that I would not forget anyone if im already buying presents cause it could really be time-consuming to go back to the store again just to buy a gift for that person whom I forgot. ^_^
The people who I always give gifts to are my classmates and close friends. Before the month of December I make it a point that I have saved my allowance already and have enough budget for the gifts Im going to buy so that Im not going to be short on cash.
thats all... ^_^
Happy holidays to you and your family!
even though its still kinda early...lol
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
22 Oct 08
Wow!! Christmas time si truly amazing because people would spare their allowance
just to save money to buy gifts to their loved ones and friends. It is indeed a good thing to think about. We can suffer not spending our allowance so that we have something to give? that's amazing...
@maral1294 (3)
• Canada
22 Oct 08
I have a very small list, three grandchildren, and I send money. We spend our winters in Mexico and I usually try to find something I think each family would like and bring that back for them. My total budget for all of these gifts is about $300 or so. I am not trying to be cheap, but all our children fritter away more money each month than we live on. I can't afford to buy any of them the quality of presents to which they are accustomed. I sometimes make gifts or as I said before pick souveniers or hand crafted items made by local people.
I also don't decorate except for flowers. I don't enjoy looking at garish Christmas decorations and they don't add anything to my holiday spirit. I enjoy the holidays with our friends and Christmas morning is still special curled up on the couch with coffee and Bailey's.
1 person likes this
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
22 Oct 08
hahah that's right!! curled up on the couch..om early Christmas morning with hot coffee or tea? wow that's a good budget $300? hahaha.. if you are going to spend that in the Philippines? that is already a 1 month salary bonus...that is almost 15,000 pesos there. LOL
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
23 Oct 08
I make a list every year, I will still make one but because of the budget I will have to shorten it some. I usually give everybody something, I've got 3 sisters and 1 brother, and 7 nephews, and my mother of course. This year tho, we decided to only give to the nephews, kids expect things like that, and the adults should understand better that with todays economy, it will be a little harder this year.
1 person likes this
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
23 Oct 08
Well, I think that's a good idea to just give the kids and forget the adult this time because of crisis. hahaha adult people can understand but kids really are expecting little present from the old ones and they would be disappointed when they can't receive anything.
@elitess (5070)
• Ipswich, England
22 Oct 08
Hi there bebs. I don't make a list in writing, but i know in my mind the persons that i have to give gifts too:
- my mother and father - last Christmas i made a present for both - i split the costs with my girl
- my brother and his fiancee - made a present for both as well - also i split the costs with my girl
- my girlfriend (own funds here)
- my grandmother's girlfriend - i split the costs with my girl
- my girlfriend's parents - i split the costs with my girl as well
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
22 Oct 08
Yes, I have a list always! I should do that in order not to omit anyone. My list include names of mostly my loved ones which means my own family, the extended families like my Mom, my siblings, my nieces, my nephews, my grandchildren and my in-laws. So many names actually on my list and I really enjoy wrapping them all. It gives me joy to give during Christmas for that is Christmas is all about after all. (Remember God gave us His son...that is the greatest gift of all!) Besides, it is actually in giving that we also receive is it not? Gifts could come from those whom you have given or from others you don't even expect. And of course I love the excitement of opening gifts as well. God loves a cheerful giver and he has ways and means of blessing a giver.
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
22 Oct 08
Amen my friend.. You are really good with that Bible principles ha? yes, am sure you are now starting to wrap your gifts and maybe you already have your Christmas tree put up? wow!! you have place to store your gifts until Christmas.when I was working before, I still wait for my X-ma bonus before I will buy gifts... Now? I am zero hahahaha.. anyway, I'm still glad that has has given me, life and health.. maybe that is the only gift I can receive and the only gifts I can give to my friends and relatives are PRAYER for a prosperous life. Love can not only be measured by material things but..how you show compassion to others and whisper a silent prayer for them and their families. Is the best gift ever.
yes, am sure you are now starting to wrap your gifts and maybe you already have your Christmas tree put up? wow!! you have place to store your gifts until Christmas.when I was working before, I still wait for my X-ma bonus before I will buy gifts... Now? I am zero hahahaha.. anyway, I'm still glad that has has given me, life and health.. maybe that is the only gift I can receive and the only gifts I can give to my friends and relatives are PRAYER for a prosperous life. Love can not only be measured by material things but..how you show compassion to others and whisper a silent prayer for them and their families. Is the best gift ever.1 person likes this
@lisa0502 (1724)
• Canada
23 Oct 08
I always make a list. We usually have around 20 people here for christmas and want to make sure everyone gets something. We also have 8 kids so this way as I buy things I mark it down so that the gifts are fairly even. Our budget is very very tight but we manage.
1 person likes this
@Millie872 (42)
•
22 Oct 08
I am totally a list person. I write lists for everything (and then usually forget what I've done with them, so Christmas is no exception for me.
1 person likes this
@Marie5656 (336)
• United States
22 Oct 08
I do not make a list as it is easy to remember. My husband and I either exchange gifts or buy one for the house. Then we buy for the two grandkids. Done like dinner.
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
22 Oct 08
[i]Hi Bebs,
No need for me this time, no budget! LOL! We'll be only giving to Parents and sister as well as her hubby so, it's easy to recall unlike before! LOL!
Those were the days indeed! LOL![/i]
1 person likes this
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
22 Oct 08
Hi Che,
You are truly right!! Those were the days.. we are the same.. since we have no work, we are dependent from our hubby and we have lots of bills to pay, we must be wise enough to use our little income.. just give a little for our family... good luck to us.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
22 Oct 08
Yes I have a set budget and so I have to make a list too. I am lucky this year in that I started to put a bit of money away from January and so I have my christmas money already. It is very lucky I have done that as it is entirely possible that my hubby could be redundant in the next couple of weeks.
1 person likes this
@don_naces (464)
• Philippines
22 Oct 08
I am not used to make list for the people whom I will be giving gifts at Christmas. It's because they are only few. Sometimes i do not give them gifts because I do not have enough money. I just told them that if ever I have extra money, I will give them gifts even not during Christmas season.
1 person likes this
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
22 Oct 08
ah well, am sure your family and friends would understand that. It is just our mentality that we are guilty when we can;t give to someone.. Funny thing... Indeed we are truly excited to see those people whom we give something when they are happy to receive it. It make us glad too. That is the spirit of giving.
@Grace030174 (741)
• Qatar
22 Oct 08
hi Bebs...
I do have a list...
I start it early becos im having a long list.
as I notice it, my list increases every year.
I have started my shopping
Advance Xmas my lotters...
1 person likes this
@ECHECH (45)
• Philippines
22 Oct 08
yes, i do. i make it a point to remember as much people i can give to on christmas and i'd always end up with around 50 people on top of my list. but the sad thing is, due to tight budget, i can only do so much as give to like half of those on my list. at least it's the thought that counts!
1 person likes this
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
22 Oct 08
hahahah!! like me before? when I have many on my list? I would just buy, handkerchief so that each of them can receive something.. hehehe.. or key holder.. those were cheap ones that i can afford.. sometimes I buy pens and pins.. You can even buy neck tie for men and scarf for ladies? those are not expensive gifts right or just socks for winter? that if you are living in the cold area but when you are in the warm climate you buy fan... hahahaha for them or sun glasses
