Do you spend that much for a Christmas gift?
By bingskee
@bingskee (5234)
Philippines
December 2, 2011 8:59pm CST
Recently, I wrote a hub entitled Saving Tips for the Budget to Work this Christmas. It is all about how to work on your budget for the gifts because as I said, at present it is necessary to find ways to save.
Previously, I prepare gifts as early as October of each year. I really allot money for the gifts that amount to even more half of my salary for a month. But times are a-changing. There comes the difficult times and so we try to work on what we only have.
I plan to cook more sumptuous food that are only enough. There will changes in the gift-giving but I know this will be understood as everybody is experiencing the crunch.
Do you spend that much for a Christmas gift? Why or why not? 
4 responses
@LadyDulce (830)
• United States
3 Dec 11
I don't usually spend much money on gifts, since it's not the item, but the act itself and the thought behind it which ought to be the focus. But I do like to get everyone something tailored specifically to the recipient - something that shows forethought and consideration, instead of an expensive, impersonal gift. Shoot, even pies, cookies, or plants from my garden are often appreciated.
@vandana7 (100606)
• India
3 Dec 11
I am a Hindu, so I guess, I dont spend that much around Christmas. But I do spend more around January 15th because that is our festival time. We buy new clothes and cook nice food. Giving gifts to others is not something that we follow in our home. One of the reasons is that we'd been through some very tough times. It was not possible for us to give gifts and even receive some at that point of time. Every gift that we receive, we have to give another instead, isn't it? So we avoided people and slowly the system stopped with us. However, we do give our maid some clothes around that period. She buys her clothes annually. So we give her clothes or monies for clothes then. About four dresses is what I buy normally around that time. So that would be around 5000 INR or $100 as of date. Dad too buys a couple so another $50 or so on clothes. And another $50 on sweets and clothes to maid.
@bingskee (5234)
• Philippines
5 Dec 11
hello, vandana!
interesting to learn from your culture. it does makes sense saying that every gift we receive, we have to give another instead. it is very true. it has been a custom here for a very long time now. but not everybody thinks that way, they just want to receive.
interesting to learn from your culture. it does makes sense saying that every gift we receive, we have to give another instead. it is very true. it has been a custom here for a very long time now. but not everybody thinks that way, they just want to receive.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
3 Dec 11
Not really. I always go by the phrase' it's the thought that counts'. I usually buy practical things for other people - especially if I know that they need it. Need and want are two different things. Though I know people want something, one cannot always get that want, and sometimes what they need. SO I provide the need. It cannot provide the want because I have my own set of needs and wants, too.
So, I spend as little as possible. I'm banking on the thoughts.
