We cut our Christmas gift buying by 100%

[SoCalDem]

We had a discussion with our grown sons & their wives & we all decided it was stupid to keep trading gift cards, and or trying to figure out something to get for family that lives hundreds of miles apart, are grown up, and perfectly capable of getting what they want, when they want it..


I did promise (sort of) to bake some stuff and send it to them, if I get around to it

a cousin in my new daughter-in-law's family lost a job in October, and his wife was laid off last week.. they have 4 kids..so her whole family suspended gift-buying this year, and instead, they are pooling their cash to open an account for them..to surprise them.. so now my son & wife will be able to put in more for them..

I think we're getting a car in January, so that will be "our" gift..My husband's been wanting a new truck, and if we can find a bargain, we'll put the 17 yr old Honda & the 1988 Dodge truck out to pasture

[pnwmom]

1. That idea about giving to the cousin's family instead is a great one.

We all know someone in a really tough situation -- probably more than one "someone."

[SoCalDem]

2. they had decided to do that when HE lost his job, but now it's even MORE necessary

since she lost hers too.. there are 6 people with NO health insurance ...her job provided it, and they cannot afford COBRA...

[pnwmom]

6. If it were me, the priority for giving to that family would be

to spend it on COBRA. Once you miss a payment on that, you lose it permanently.

[Merlot]

7. Back when I was offered Cobra (many yars ago) it was more expensive

than buying your own policy. I'm not sure if that's changed.

[zorahopkins]

3. Good On You!

I applaud your decision not to spend any money at all on Holiday gifts this year.

*ith so many people in need, it seems to me obscene for anyone to spend money on cards, gifts, or anything like that.

Instead, I am GIVING TO THE POOR AND NEEDY.

note: In protest of the continuing occupation of OUR *hite House by the illegal and totally corrupt Bush/Cheney regime of thugs and cronies, I REFUSE ot use the letter bet*een "V" and "X".

[NashVegas]

4. I've Told My People I'm Buying for Food Banks

And home heating help programs.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. We've done that, too, this year.

My husband and I will be giving something to the grandsons and each other, but the daughters are on their own. I'll probably give them cookies and maybe a matted and framed photograph -- and, of course, we'll have our traditional prime rib dinner on Christmas Day, but we all just decided to keep it simple this year. We're all adults, we have plenty of "stuff." I don't want anybody to be stressed over money.

[BoneDaddy]

8. We did as well

and we did at work. We all decided to go out for apps and a drink or two. Much more enjoyable, no pressure to buy more gifts and of course less money spent.

[GentryDixon]

9. We decided to do the same for the extended family.

We haven't bought each other gifts for many years. Just the kids, grand kids, and my husband's parents. Alas, my parents are both gone. It's just the little one's this year. And the dog. I got him a new comfy bed and made him a pillow to lay on when he follows the sun to the sun room for his morning nap.

I started making my Christmas candy this week and burned the first batch of peanut brittle to a smelly crisp.