Talking to a lot of people in work and many are very concerned with oil prices and gas prices and said they were not spending a lot on Gifts. Have you cut down on Gift Spending this year. I have cut down on nieces and nephews and have spent about the same on my kids and a little more on my parents because they are so generous with my kids.

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I wish I could say that we have, but, no.......I try hard every year, but, the "cool" stuff doesn't come out until real close to XMAS, and my kids wish list changes about daily.......

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Yep. We used to do a name drawing for family gifts so we would end up buying two $50 presents (so $100) and we moved to just buying for the kids. So, we only buy for our parents,kids and siblings. DH's sister *just* got married so she doesn't need anything (her words, not mine) so we'll get them something very minimal. The holiday's aren't about gifts to me so I hate spending a lot or giving a lot.

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Yes, we have cut back alot this year, especially on my two adult DD's and their spouses. My youngest still at home (12) we did not cut back on and my 2 grandkids we did not cut back on. DH and I put a $50 limit on each other. I shop all year long for our families, in-laws, nieces, nephew, etc. so we don't really feel a money pinch at Christmas. This week I did have to pay $277 to get a new radiater in the van and last week $250 for get a new circuit box put in the house. Ouch! I'm glad we don't have Christmas bills on top of that, that is enough!

Yes, I am watching every penny spent at this point, yes I am worried about the price of oil and natural gas, we heat our house with natural gas, DH and I drive 100 miles a day between the two of us (just to and from work) more if we go other places. We also heat our pool with natural gas (about $25 a day when we heat it) we have really cut back on that, heated it one full week in October, one full week in November and will heat the week of Christmas if it's mostly sunny that week.

I wasn't cutting back specifically to save money, but yes we have. Our kids got way too much last year and they didn't need all of that, so we really limited it this year to what they really wanted and asked for plus a little extra. I think they each only have 8 gifts and nothing is really expensive. That is from Santa and mom and Dad btw.

Every year I say I am going to cut back on the rest of the relatives because we spend so much time and effort buying them really nice gifts and we get the $5 Kid Connection toys or a candle in return. I don't want to be in debt for people who can't even spend $20 on my kids. (Sounds really nasty and not in the holiday spirit, sorry!)


My whole post sounds like Scrooge wrote it!

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

Yes, I've cut down alot. I don't know why, but this year I just can't get into the holiday spirit. It bothers me because I've never felt this way before. I'm just so tired of everything being so commercialized...it's a real turn off. Also, maybe the fact that my kids are older now has something to do with it. It was alot more fun when they were little...shopping for toys...going to see Santa Claus. ~Lisa

We did the big cutback a few years ago. I think that many of the people posting have younger children??? Back then, we really did outdo ourselves for a few years and had to realize that it was not necessary to do this. For us, the joy of Christmas is in giving so we do spend a lot of time making crafts to give to extended family and doing things for charity.

Our nieces and nephews are still receiving about $20 each on average, our kids around $150 each, DH and I actually overspent on each other (yikes!)... The adults do a drawing in DH's family and I spent $30 on that gift, $50 on the inlaws, and my folks and we decided not to exchange gifts... I wish DH's family would decide the same but we have some adults who insist and resist...

Also, I will still give the teachers and our mail lady some movie tix. I appreciate them so much because they make *my* life easier, LOL.

I wish that it could be ALL about the kids but I don't say anything -- gotta keep the peace!

No but wish i could

I had planned on cutting back and I was actually doing fine with it until a few days ago. I was at Walmart and they announced over the intercom that they had just received 22 Wiis. I ended up getting one for our daughter. I had planned on holding off on getting one (mostly because I couldn't find one in stock at any of the stores), but when they said they had some......I caved. I know that is a big present for her, so I think I will pack away some of the other gifts that I already bought her and give them to her on her birthday in a few months. So, she will get a Wii for Christmas, but not much else.

yes, we (read: I) have cut back big time this year.

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"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

Yep, we've cut way back this year: it's been a very tough year financially due to medical bills.

Uh no... So far I am doing what I have done every year. I sit down with dh, we go over the kids' list and I estimate what I will spend to get them their must haves-he says great, end of that.

Then I start shopping, I get them way more than they ask for and spend more than I said I would and dh just sits there and smiles, grateful that he didn't have to do any shopping and that the kids are so happy.

I don't know if I've cut down monetarily (I can't remember what I spent last year!) but I am sticking to my plan of limiting the amount of gifts given. For our kids, I'd rather buy 3 gifts that I KNOW they will use and not tire of quickly rather than buy 8-10 each to fill under the tree.

For the adult family members in our life, I may just make cookies or something, I have not really decided yet.
I'm trying to budget in that area, while still attempting to be thoughtful.

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l/ l/ l/
Dont go through life,
GROW through life

Real eyes...realize...real lies.

I have spent way more this year than ever but a lot of it I am spending on myself and the household as the sales are too good to pass up!!!

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Actually I am nervous about this year! Everything that is bought will be paid for, no charging. That is a first! I am probably spending about 25% on my girls as I usually do. Of course, they are grown, 18 and 20. But they are still my children , and I have always liked to overdo it on Christmas. This year will probably be around $250 a piece on them , My little precious angel boy will get loaded down by everyone, I'm sure. The smaller they are the less they cost though!! My girlfriends and I are also cutting way back! I'm just broke this year! But we are enjoying it so much! We have been watching Christmas movies right and left, listening to Christmas music, the spirit is alive and well in our home!

Yes, I've cut back signficantly this year. I keep spreadsheets, so I actually know. Last year I was over $1500, this year I'm trending to be under $1000 when all is said and done.

I am looking at about $50k per year in education expenses (private high school and college) for the next 8 years, which is really unfathomable, but every little bit helps. Mostly though, it's just the realization that we don't need all this stuff.....I am so proud of my older son who did not come up with a big wish list, but instead left it to me to decide what to get him because he said that I always knew better what to get than he knew himself. Gosh, he's getting so mature....

Congratulations ballmom on not charging anything - that is awesome!! Imagine how good you'll feel come January!

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

We have cut down on the quantity but have bought better quality stuff. I dont buy my kids toys hardly ever during the year so I tend to go a little over board at Christmas. During the year they pretty much get what they need and I buy some of what they want at Christmas.

I have greatly cut down my spending this year. The utility bills are out of this world. Gas & oil is outrageous. To top it off, my husband lost his job around Thanksgiving. So this year, Christmas may look slightly bleak, but we are thankful to have a roof over out heads, food to eat, clothes to wear and able to help others in need. The rough patches shall soon pass.

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We're off to never never land

We had no choice but to cut back...if the money isn't there then we can't spend it.

peapie

The only one I have cut back on is DS, I just think I was over buying. Everyone else we spent the same as we have every other year.

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