I Want, I Need, I Am Getting, I Am Buying...

Sadly this is one of the few times of year I get anything for myself. I would prefer to say we shouldn't buy anything but we will via credit. I do have a bunch of stuff I bought on employee shop day. I don't know that I'll keep it all but it was an extra % off to make it more reasonable + we can double dip upon occasion. Hubby is hoping to get extra hours to pay for things but all we can do is pray on that one. We are also keeping it to basically the immediate household as we sent a gc last year to SIL2 and she never got it and frankly she can afford the gift giving beyond her household we can't.

Actually this year has been a bit rough, so my family have all decided that this Christmas will just be mainly for the kids, we've decided not to get Christmas gifts for the grown-ups, to compensate for the cost. My kids are 3 and 5, and like they say Christmas is like a fantasy for them, my favorite gift will be on Christmas morning seeing their faces light up with joy while the open their presents, that's all I need.

I start early in the year. I buy things on sale. I do not have many that I buy for. When possible, I buy things that also have some kind of a rebate or earn me points, so that I have something to replace the money I have spent. I still always give something to charity,because without giving to those in need, the season is very empty. I will say that there are no electronics on my shopping list, but mainly practical things, many of them are homemade.

Hardworkinggurl- That is the problem of our society is it not? This idea that "Need", we "desire", etc. It's a conundrum. I personally do not see it as being a meiser or scrooge when you have nothing to give, but as we learn from the story of The Little Drummer Boy we always have something to give. We are blessed with a bit of extra to be able to get each of the children two items they have been wanting for some time. I am making my daughter a new dress, myself a new Yule dress, my son a cloak, and my hubby something (but as he also writes on here I'm not telling ). We do a lot of handmade items during tough times and it certainly has been a tough season. For us it's going to get worse after the New Year when our health insurance will kick in. It will cost us 400 per month through my husband's job and that doesn't even address the 20K yearly deductible they've added on so I'm not sure what we're paying for. However it's better to have something than nothing I suppose even if it does cost us out of pocket expenses. Hopefully at least the children's shots will be covered at 100% without deductible. That said after the New Year we won't be able to afford any extras at all. It will be even tighter than it is now. However, I suppose I'm the type that is always hopeful that things will simply work out as they should and bills will be paid, needs met, and a few desires indulged. Now, we don't buy for outside our own family nucleus. Last year I did books for everyone outside the four of us and not one of them came to visit when invited over for their gifts. I ended up having to give the presents to someone else. So, this year I'm not doing any of that again. I don't go over budget though. If I don't have cash I simply don't spend. We don't own credit cards, we don't do layaway, so I don't owe anyone any monies. The husband always takes over time if available so that year round we have extras now and then. I cannot tell you how I work it to be honest. All I can say is my family is blessed and I'm thankful to the Divine for those blessings. I do try to help others out as well during this year. Even if I don't always have monies for us or everything we "want", I always make sure to take care of another family as well. I mean, if we think about it there is always someone else who has life worse than we do at this moment in time. This year we picked out Barbies as the kids though those would make nice gifts for some little girl. Now, my suggestion if you have a work grab bag, or just lots of relatives is to do something where you get lots of little things and do them up pretty to make it look like a larger gift. I've done gift baskets before where I buy most at the dollar store (you can sometimes find really neat items). I've also done picture cards before for family members. I hope you are well this season and may you get some of your desires as well. Namaste-Anora

My bank is truly broken this year as it has been the past eight years or so. This year I am only buying my two youngest kids two gifts a piece, and they are things they really want, totaling under $20.00. All other gifts are of the hand made kind. I have let it be known, that they shouldn't be expecting a lot of gifts under the tree this year. I don't want them to feel let down. I also know that this is going to be one of the best Christmas's ever! It's my old fashioned home made christmas :)

I have already begun my Christmas shopping well over a month ago and I am almost my shopping with only a few things left to buy.I will buy them soon as as Christmas gets closer more and more stragglers and just starting their Christmas shopping resulting in the malls being very crowed and busy.I have gifts for my Mother and Fathers as well my two brothers.I also bought gifts for all of my close friends and relatives and grandparents as well.Christmas is a bit of a strain on m wallet and credit card especially and I really should try to limit myself as I do not want a monster bill at the end of the month.

What I want? A Nintendo DSi XL in burgundy or navy blue, red would be cool too. What I need, a blender! Seriously, I want a really good blender. What I am getting? Both, I will have the money to buy both this year. What I am buying? The Nintendo DSi XL! Someone else is buying the blender!

Fewer gifts this year. Hope I don't have to take the children to a poor country so that they can see how good they will still have it...

I have a lot of overtime coming up in the next few months. The winter months are our busy season where I work so it is pretty much a given that there is overtime out the ying yang. I don't go overboard where the gift givng is concerned but I do try to buy a couple of "important" things on my children's lists. I usually don't spend a lot of money on things that we don't need throughout the year so on birthdays and Christmas, I get them some nice things. I have had many tough years in which I was barely able to get by but thank goodness my children have never had to do totally without. They may not have gotten the 2 or 3 hundred dollar gift they wanted but they had something and they have always been content with what they did get.

Great discussion. You know, this entire year all I have heard from people is "I can't afford this, I have no money for this bill, I can't put food on the table". Now how in the world then can you buy all these presents for your kids come Christmas time. This makes no sense to me at all. I will admit that we have been struggling all year, however our kids won't be getting everything and then some for Christmas. Christmas will be very tight in our house and the kids already know. I have to say, they were a bit disappointed, however, they understand...thank goodness. They realize that keeping a roof over our heads is a bit more important than a bunch of presents. We have also told them that we will more than make up for it around tax refund time...when we will have Christmas in late January/early February.

This is a bit emabarassing... On the months leading up to Christmas, I was trying to pay off more of my credit card. I was trying to clear up some credit so I could buy some special gifts for the kids. I know that it is an illogical way of doing things, but for this year, I think this is how far as I go.

I save pretty much all year. I think that a little bit here and little bit there, week after week, month after month, it really does go a long way in getting enough money together to make the holidays worth while. Not to mention looking for the best deals possible. With each passing year, I find myself getting more creative, but so far, I have managed with this little act.

Well, I consider myself fortunate that we're getting help from the department of community services, so we didn't buy any gifts at all. And my husband and I agreed to skip the gift-buying for each other this year. Also,I make a lot of cotten dishcloths throughout the year, so that makes lovely homemade gifts, and people just love them. So am a scrooge? Bah humbug!

Hi, Hardworkinggurl, I read this post of you and aside of none budget issues, I must admit that I envy you and others who have those Christmas vibes now since I don't really feel it here. It's not the habitual to have a grand Christmas celebration. It's just the ambiance of the public areas which brings the Christmas theme. But I don't buy or have the occasional shopping during this time. I wish I would have the real feeling of Christmas vibes. So could I say I'm lucky or unlucky? LoL ... Anyway, wish you to have a happy christmas celebration later on.

I save Amazon gift certificates throughout the year and bought most of the gifts with that. I worked extra hard last month and this to have enough to buy things for people. I think it's worth it, because I love to give things to people who matter.

Well, with it being already only 3 months before Christmas again I felt even though this discussion was started last yr. this would be a perfect time to respond back to it. Personally Christmas lately has been a little stagnant since my Sister moved away to where my husband and I usually just buy for ourselves and that is it. We might even sometimes buy something for our house we need, and just enjoy from there. This yr. we do have a couple of others we would Love to do something for and Bless for, and just hoping that some of this can happen. With everything going on right now financially, etc. sometimes it seems like Finances will always be like this but believing God for something greater as well. But at the same time we are trying to keep from spending anything more than what we know we will be able to afford as well. Maxing the Credit Cards is never worth the pain.

Hi hardworkinggurl, - I bought a couple of gifts earlier when there was money available. Meanwhile, my income was cut off yet I had to get new tyres and a car battery among other things. I've managed to cut back on food and not get the dog de-sexed (my friend spoke to our vet the other day and he's done no business in 2 months). For the rest of the gifts I need* I purchased a small box of good quality chocolates for every one...they were on sale. When I say "need" I mean the gifts I like to give out to family and close friends. I can't really think about or care what people think. I do my best to let them know I'm thinking of them and they are special to me. We shouldn't need to spend heaps to show our love. Or have times changed in that regard??

i have 13 nephews and nieces aged 1 to 18 years old. just for the kids alone, i'd make extra effort to buy them nice gifts or give them cash gifts to be deposited to their kiddie/teen accounts like we often did in past christmases so they could all save up for bigger items they want or need right after christmas. for my 7 siblings and their spouses as well as my parents and closest relatives and friends, if the budget is low during christmas season, i could always rely on little gift items i have accummulated in my travels earlier in the year. or sometimes when i over-buy during those trips. with my current business involving distribution of health, beverage and personal care products... i can always have a gift ready in my own store. hehe and it's good marketing for the business too. the entire year, i scrape off all the loose change i get from local transport and put it in a coin bank/box. it becomes sizable enough to buy a few gifts by this time of the year. i always work on a budget. i cannot spend money i don't have. i don't do credit cards either. i sometimes go for mall sales, clearance sales and bazaars for little gift items... and buy off-season when prices are lower compared. aside from the business, i sometimes get little seasonal jobs for the extra income. for more belt-tightening efforts, i even go as far as being creative with my old clothes so they should still be wearable as if a new item in my wardrobe (old pants into shorts, long sleeved blouses into shorter ones etc). that's one less item for my shopping list. as i don't often shop for myself, i save a lot for other items for my family and friends. gift-giving has been a family tradition even when we were so poor we couldn't afford to. we sometimes surprise ourselves that given a little effort, everything will be fine. and now we can even afford to share our blessings thru gift-giving to orphans and street kids before the month ends. it's not always the gifts, but the thought... that counts. the love and care that envelopes the entire season. happy holidays!

hahaha! what a nice post! this will reorient people back to reality. =)

I prefer not to receive Christmas gifts, and I give them out only to the children in my family. In my mind, adults are able to buy what they want or need for themselves, and getting them Christmas gifts is a bit of a waste. I know I'd rather just get something for myself if I want it. I do love buying gifts for children and put a lot of thought into getting them something interesting that they'll enjoy. Internet shopping is a terrific way to get good deals, and it's what I rely on.