A Frugal Christmas
@Kazemononoke (248)
United States
November 1, 2015 5:20pm CST
I don't know why it bothers me so much. I saw Halloween stock come out in September. I even started seeing Christmas decorations stocked in October. It seems like holidays are getting more and more commercialized.
Less people at the shelters giving food and more riots for "big savings" on black Friday. At one point, I started buying clearance birthday gifts as far in advance as six months in order to keep up with the expectations of what a family home is supposed to look like.
At this point, the amount of money that I could have saved by gifting frugally probably could have paid off all of my debt. I'm looking at Christmas with a new set of eyes. I've found a way to make a fake chimney with cardboard boxes and wrapping paper. I've found ways to make miniature tress out of discarded plastic bottles. You can even make strings of icicles by melting plastic bottles!
9 people like this
8 responses
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
2 Nov 15
Yes holidays are commercialized but I don't think that that should make anyone feel obligated to spend more than they can afford, although I know many who do just that.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
2 Nov 15
@Kazemononoke I know what you mean but the only expensive tech thing I ever bought my boys was their first Nintendo and gameboy. Everything else, Xbox and all the new and improved tech toys they bought for themselves. As they got into the teenage years and now it is all books and CDs and DVDs they want.
1 person likes this
@Kazemononoke (248)
• United States
2 Nov 15
It's mostly just that my kids are getting older and their tastes are more expensive. Especially since my boys have gotten into this pokemon craze. Plus technology is expensive and my kids are all about the Xbox and 2DS
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 Nov 15
I bought all of my gifts for this year, including Christmas, on December 26 of last year. It not only saved me a bundle, it took away a year of stress.
1 person likes this
@Kazemononoke (248)
• United States
2 Nov 15
I never thought about that! That seems like a pretty good idea. I always have trouble keeping things a secret for that long though. lmao.
3 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
2 Nov 15
@Kazemononoke Really? I bought many items, wrapped them and put them out of my mind. Everyone knows that I did this, but they don't even ask. 
@GardenGerty (160696)
• United States
7 Nov 15
There was a year I did not have time or money for much of a Christmas, then i was hit with the inspiration of using some evergreen garland and tinsel and mini lights to turn a tomato cage into a Christmas tree. I use it often, now. I saw the same idea on a post on Facebook this year. I will have grandkids here before Christmas this year and I think I am going to cut a green felt tree and decorations for them to play with.
@Kazemononoke (248)
• United States
7 Nov 15
I saw a really cool video where a lady used a used 2 liter soda bottle as a top with dollar tree miniature snowmen and Christmas trees to make a kind of snow globe. It was really cool.
@Kazemononoke (248)
• United States
2 Nov 15
It's hard to do when I see an entire section of Wal-Mart dedicated to it! .
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
7 Nov 15
I always buy when I see bargains through the year.
I don't believe in spending huge sums of money, as I don't have lots and it should not be felt necessary
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Nov 15
I try to save money on the Holidays, too. They can really get out of hand!
