Most of my posts I'm talking to myself as much if not more than you all. This is one of those. Even for those of us fortunate enough to not had our lives disrupted harshly by the volatile economy or job loss are feeling the pinch. Choices are being made for value and values when we spend. I have cut back spending this Christmas in a variety of ways. No more mound of gifts just to open them. I've found nice, useful, hopefully appreciated items for my kids, but I know they each could use money more. I won't even push the narrative that they should use the money to treat themselves with a purchase. They're adults and will apply or save as needed. We splurged on the main gift for my MIL, but I walked back on just two items from us alone, both nice, but again practical.
I'm not making fudge this year, so little was eaten last year. I didn't buy M&Ms for cookies. Likely just pretzel/ Rolo, treats, peanut blossoms, and Oreo truffles, no Nutter Butter ones, will leave my kitchen. I'll freeze a container of treats for DD2 to take to school, and one for when she and DS are home. I'll make small loaves of pumpkin bread- I can get 8 loaves from a doubled recipe and these will go to neighbors who have been so helpful this year. I'm shocked at prices for baking and the treats. Cutting back quantities is needed, but also right. No one needs too many, and I had waste last year. I'm looking for the best price on the Christmas Eve ham and for Christmas day, making delicious, but budget friendly sides.
I haven't bought new decorations except for the cute sign for my daughter and pup. There's only one first Christmas in her first home that she owns, and with her first dog, and I purchased it at a farmhouse gift shop run by an old childhood friend's family. Wait, I did buy a wreath from my Boy Scout nephew. The only wrapping materials I bought are scotch tape and four sweater boxes. $4 total. I'm trying to get to January unscathed with lingering bills. It's not worth it to my family to be paying for expenses from a month before.
I hope everyone feels license to scale back, spend only what fits your true budget. If that's much less than other years, know it's perfectly fine. Family and friends shouldn't expect anything that brings hardship the other 364 days. Chances are they'd appreciate feeling free to do the same. Even with inflation, I might have chipped a few dollars from our last five year average. It all comes down to the ham. How are you spending or cutting back this year?
Hola, Sam! Just enjoying a catch up. We loved Jonathan the tortoise, too - wasn't he a cutie?
ReplyDeleteWe never spend much at Xmas, we don't buy any more food than usual and if I have an inclination to decorate the house it's a matter of popping outside and cutting down some holly, laurel and ivy. I realised today that I've missed the last day of posting before Xmas so I won't be sending any cards this year! xxx
I'd love to bring the outdoors in. I'm looking for potted evergreens after Christmas to keep year round on my porch. I have another small stack of cards to get in the mail tomorrow.
DeleteI am seriously considering not mailing out greeting cards next year. Between the cost of cards and postage, it's quite a big expense and each year I get fewer in return. Just fyi, I got your addy in the blogger card exchange and sent my card in a little package. Tracking shows it's been stuck in the Hastings distribution center since Dec 9th. I hope it finds its way to you.
ReplyDeleteI got the beautiful card, and it will be featured in my post tomorrow. I didn't have your name, but I sent a card to you as well. Even on sake, the cards I bought were pricey, and yes, postage is a lot. I've had delivered many.
DeleteOh, I'm glad it showed up!
DeleteIt's a beautiful card!
DeleteI hadn't planned on over-spending this year and since I get most of my shopping done early anyway I rarely notice the cost of Christmas. That being said, when my DIL mentioned how my son would love a Milwaukee self-heating jacket but he'd have to wait until they could afford it (he's working at 1,600 metres) I went ahead and bought that and the batteries for him. You just can't say no to some gifts!
ReplyDeleteThat's a value driven gift if I ever heard! He'll appreciate it for years. While practical, it says love, doesn't it?
DeleteI never considered myself a big Christmas spender, but this year is even more modest than most. I am not baking as many treats. Gifts, as always, were limited to one request each, and the main thing they wanted were really nice socks, or gift cards, which I bought at a place which gives me fuel points. Girl may be here for Christmas Eve/morning..DD has yet to nail it down. Boy-With-a-Plan wrapped a few things that I had in our gift stash, (including said gift card, a pair of cute, Darn Tough socks, and trendy, cruelty free makeup I bought on clearance earlier in the year) and left the tags off so I would be ready either way. If I spent $500 on the whole lot of them combined, I would be surprised. I might splurge on the beef roast for dinnner. As for economic plans, January is a no spend month, February low spend. If I manage through February, no spending/low spending becomes second nature. One area we have really cut back on is D.H's taking kids out to eat. First off, it had been difficult during his recovery. Secondly, he has been aghast at the surge in cost. Saturday, after taking Youngest to an appointment, they stopped at a favorite place for lunch. Youngest was mortified that soda cost $4.50!! As for others, Boy-With-a-Plan and I like to go grocery shopping together. He balks at the price of, say, a jar of his favorite mayonnaise (with lime), and will refuse to add it to the cart! On the other hand, he will scour the clearance section, and toss in $0.75 dented cans of pumpkin. As for me, I am no longer enjoying a nightly glass of merlot. I sleep better without it, and my budget thanks me. I will save it for special meals.
ReplyDeleteThe kid's sure have learned valuable lessons from you. I'm sorry your DH hasn't been able to enjoy his eating out with the kids, but I'm guessing they are doing other things that have more meaning. Your boy made me smile. Ah, to learn to look at clearance shelves and racks!
DeleteI'm spending about the same, though dh said I wasn't to get him any gifts this year, since he got his expensive snow plow. So, I'm just spending it on dd, sil and my mom. I'm making a couple of different cookies and will share some with the 2 neighbor families.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to share baked goods with others. The young couple next door are so nice, and the woman that helped with our tree, and just the friendly ones, will get some treats.
DeleteWe're doing pretty much like we do every year. I like gifting and receiving practical gifts, consumable items (foods, candles, perfume, etc) or experiences. I've never been one that wanted a lot of 'stuff' and I don't like buying something just so they have a gift. I want it to be more personal and know they will use and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI want less stuff, so following suite with more consumables. I made another batch of jam to supplement gifts and am pretty sure they'll be winners.
DeleteI'm definitely cutting back on a lot of the little things. I don't do any baking and reduced by gift-buying by about a third from previous years.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to cut further next year too. I do like the treat making, but doing only the favorites.
DeleteI enjoy reading your plans. I think it will be a only a nice Christmas breakfast and dinner. Prizes are postponed until Epiphany - how European of us to do this!
ReplyDeleteTalking to a friend today and she told me that her sister had hosted a Christmas decoration exchange in November. Her late MIL had been a real Christmas decorator and when she passed left years of decorations, crockery and general festive stuff. Her husband was really pleased that his mothers belongings got spread out into their social group and not just dumped. I thought it was a nice idea.
ReplyDeleteMegan.
That's a lovely way to share and honor his mother. My MIL downsized her ornaments and other decor and my daughter has a lot of it.
DeleteI have always (as an adult) been amazed by the amount of consumption at Xmas. Most of my family just isn't into buying like crazy. My gift to my sisters has been making them dumplings that our grandmother made, we all love them. It took me all of Thanksgiving weekend to make a batch (frozen in multiple small containers). I don't want for anything. When each of us siblings moved into our own homes, mother gave each about ten of her tree ornaments, thus eventually reducing hers so she could downsize her tree. It meant so much to us to get those! I'd love to make some cookies that my mother always made, but my baking skills are atrocious!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could say the same. We need simpler, back to basics, but I'm trying not to rock the boat.
DeleteI am only giving gifts to 4 grandchildren (Amazon egift cards), Tommy (flashlight and headlamp), and to 92-yr-old friend and Lynda. I will give my Pink Purse Project purses to women in need and cash to a fast food employee who needs it. Buying on credit and paying interest is not something I do. I may put it on a debit or credit card, but pay it off, maybe even that week. I got a card in the mail today.
ReplyDeleteYour friend and Tommy will like their gifts. We never carry a cc balance, but the month closes on the 10th, so I wanted all purchases prior to December 10, so we'd pay it off before month end. It's sad to think of people feeling they have to go in debt for gift giving.
Delete