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Christmas budget revised - downward

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  • #1

    Christmas budget revised - downward

    I'm having a tough time with Christmas this year. Nobody is cooperating with telling me what they want. Or they are just giving me a few inexpensive items. Even the kids are not asking for much of anything. We already collectively agreed to tone it down from last year, but this is getting ridiculous.

    Guess it's a good problem to have. With all hoopla in the newspaper and local media trying to drum up excitement about Christmas, my family is kinda "meh".

    I expected to be done with all my shopping by now, but I think this year it's going to come down to the wire. Few ideas....everyone has everything already....the fun of the season is evaporating and being replaced with stress!
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  • #2
    Maybe you ought to utilize what is the surplus from your budget and put it towards an activity or something family could do together. The fun of the season should be memories together IMHO.

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    • #3
      You can always do gift cards to a general retailer like Target. Let people pick out their own gifts. And if they choose to, especially the adults, they can use that money for needs rather than wants.
      Steve

      * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
      * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
      * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

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      • #4
        May I ask what you mean by "a few inexpensive items"? Are you looking for suggestions? If so, how about telling us a bit about the people you'd like to give gifts to.
        "There is some ontological doubt as to whether it may even be possible in principle to nail down these things in the universe we're given to study." --text msg from my kid

        "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." --Frederick Douglass

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        • #5
          well the nephews just want video games - those are fairly cheap (relatively speaking) $30-$50 per. More concern is editing their list of titles to cut down on the murder, mayhem and misogyny. Their mother says no "M" games, which I agree with. Some of even the "T" games are surprisingly violent. I guess graphic violence= OK, boobs=not OK. Whatever...
          Their mother has forced some practical items on their list like shirts, shoes, jeans, etc. I will NOT be the uncle giving socks and underwear - this year or ever!

          My folks are a problem. They seem to have everything. They are retired, so their day is mostly watching TV and eating. So I have no idea. Most of the stuff I buy them ends up in their storage unit. Gadgets cause them alot of consternation, so anything electronic is usually a waste of money.

          my brother in law is another tough case. his favorite pastime is sitting on his butt in front of a football game. he also likes internet porn, as I discovered last weekend trying to "fix" his computer that was totaled from viruses and spyware. he might get coal in his stocking this year.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by wincrasher View Post
            My folks are a problem. They seem to have everything... Most of the stuff I buy them ends up in their storage unit.
            So don't give them stuff. Give an experience instead. Give them a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant. Buy them show tickets. Take a trip with them to a favorite destination. Give a gift card to the supermarket they shop at.

            My mom is 80. She doesn't need anything and doesn't have anywhere to put it anyway. This year, we are taking her along to the Disney on Ice show as her Chanukah present. She was very happy with that and is looking forward to going.
            Steve

            * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
            * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
            * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

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            • #7
              I think another good gift is tickets to the movie theatres. One of my sons gave us tickets bought from Fandango and we loved it. Another son gave us a certificate to one of my husband's favorite restaurants. You can always buy Barnes & Nobles or Borders certificates. I really do appreciate the gift cards. They usually include a small personal object for each of us.

              As for the nephews, you could give them Best Buy certificates so they can buy what they want including music. We gave our nephews Best Buy gift cards and they loved them. A stocking stuffer that my husband likes is a gift card from itunes that he uses for his ipod.

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              • #8
                You can also do Homemade Gifts! I have a ton listed on my website.

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