Comments on: A Less Expensive, More Meaningful Christmas http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas Encouraging you in creating a saner, simpler life Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:39:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Beth http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/comment-page-1#comment-94579 Beth Sun, 19 Dec 2010 16:07:12 +0000 http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/2008/10/23/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/#comment-94579 These are great - thanks Duster! These are great – thanks Duster!

]]> By: Duster http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/comment-page-1#comment-94412 Duster Sun, 19 Dec 2010 07:50:39 +0000 http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/2008/10/23/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/#comment-94412 Loved the article! This year we decided to have Christmas Eve breakfast instead of a huge dinner for the extended family gathering.{no desserts} We redeemed some airline miles that we weren't going to use and converted them into gift cards {Walmart, Lowes, & Target} In the past we have done this for restaurant gift cards, but these are more practical. We gave some $50 cards to our adult children for 'fun money" since they are having a tough time financially this year. My folks finally agreed to STOP exchanging gifts among adults in our family. This happened due to health issues which prevented them from shopping. An amazing thing happened-the brothers and sisters started coming home around Christmas, now that the pressure to provide gifts for everyone was gone. Everyone still gives the children presents though. You can always buy yourself something with all that money you aren't spending giving people stuff they don't want or need. Something we did with extended family one year was the "Bad Santa" game which requires each person to bring a wrapped gift {$10 limit}. It is a trading game and it was great fun playing it. My husband and I have birthdays and an anniversary around Christmas. This year we found a piece of previously owned piece of furniture we liked and bought it for each other as our "everything rolled into one" present. Loved the article!

This year we decided to have Christmas Eve breakfast instead of a huge dinner for the extended family gathering.{no desserts}

We redeemed some airline miles that we weren’t going to use and converted them into gift cards {Walmart, Lowes, & Target} In the past we have done this for restaurant gift cards, but these are more practical. We gave some $50 cards to our adult children for ‘fun money” since they are having a tough time financially this year.

My folks finally agreed to STOP exchanging gifts among adults in our family. This happened due to health issues which prevented them from shopping. An amazing thing happened-the brothers and sisters started coming home around Christmas, now that the pressure to provide gifts for everyone was gone. Everyone still gives the children presents though. You can always buy yourself something with all that money you aren’t spending giving people stuff they don’t want or need.

Something we did with extended family one year was the “Bad Santa” game which requires each person to bring a wrapped gift {$10 limit}. It is a trading game and it was great fun playing it.

My husband and I have birthdays and an anniversary around Christmas. This year we found a piece of previously owned piece of furniture we liked and bought it for each other as our “everything rolled into one” present.

]]> By: Karla http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/comment-page-1#comment-92839 Karla Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:10:10 +0000 http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/2008/10/23/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/#comment-92839 Hi Beth, Great tips, thanks! Rather than pay for a tree this year my husband and five year old son cut down one from our woods. It's a little Charlie Brownish, but we all love it just the same. We're also having fondue for Christmas dinner, which will be fun and much less expensive than buying a turkey or a ham. Hi Beth,

Great tips, thanks!

Rather than pay for a tree this year my husband and five year old son cut down one from our woods. It’s a little Charlie Brownish, but we all love it just the same.

We’re also having fondue for Christmas dinner, which will be fun and much less expensive than buying a turkey or a ham.

]]> By: Mary@SimplyForties http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/comment-page-1#comment-31690 Mary@SimplyForties Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:34:20 +0000 http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/2008/10/23/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/#comment-31690 You came up with some good ideas. I especially like the idea of buying a family gift of a game or movie for a little Christmas togetherness. I find the best gift ideas I have come in the years when I have to scrimp! You came up with some good ideas. I especially like the idea of buying a family gift of a game or movie for a little Christmas togetherness. I find the best gift ideas I have come in the years when I have to scrimp!

]]> By: Beth http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/comment-page-1#comment-30865 Beth Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:41:56 +0000 http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/2008/10/23/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/#comment-30865 Thanks for all the helpful tips on the holidays! Thanks for all the helpful tips on the holidays!

]]> By: Joey http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/comment-page-1#comment-30675 Joey Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:31:13 +0000 http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/2008/10/23/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/#comment-30675 Great article! Personally, I've been using Swaptree to save money on books and DVDs for the kids - I've been getting some brand new stuff too, so I'll probably save it for Christmas. Join up and friend me - username jpaterson - www.Swaptree.com Great article! Personally, I’ve been using Swaptree to save money on books and DVDs for the kids – I’ve been getting some brand new stuff too, so I’ll probably save it for Christmas. Join up and friend me – username jpaterson – http://www.Swaptree.com

]]> By: Snowflake http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/comment-page-1#comment-30623 Snowflake Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:54:24 +0000 http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/2008/10/23/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/#comment-30623 You can print your own gift wrap at http://www.papergiftwrap.com - perfect for stocking stuffers and small presents. Lots of selections. You can print your own gift wrap at http://www.papergiftwrap.com – perfect for stocking stuffers and small presents. Lots of selections.

]]> By: Robin http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/comment-page-1#comment-30212 Robin Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:37:39 +0000 http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/2008/10/23/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/#comment-30212 My husband had to change jobs last year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The place he worked for went bankrupt. Prior to that we had some on-going legal expenses and some unexpected other expenses. It was so bad we had to take money out of his retirement to pay bills. So we made the decision to tell our four adult children and grandchildren that we did not have the money to buy them Christmas gifts. My husband was able to come up with $100 cash and we each got $50 to spend on each other. It was such fun to stick to our plan and our budget. Christmases past, I could not have told you three days later what I had gotten from him or what I had given him. Almost a year later I can tell you exactly what I gave and got. And we still have, use and treasure the items. Because we had so little to spend, we put a lot of thought into it and gave meaningful gifts. We plan to do the same thing again this year. And there were no credit card bills hanging around for months afterward. One word of caution when you cut down and cut back, be prepared for negative feedback and repercussions from family and friends who #1. Don't understand the true meaning of Christmas and #2. Equate love with the amount of money spent on them. And one of my nicest memories is that our oldest son went to church with us on Christmas Eve. I have saved the voice mail he left telling us he was looking forward to going to church with us. Just a reminder that the best gift can't be bought - it's a memory made. My husband had to change jobs last year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The place he worked for went bankrupt. Prior to that we had some on-going legal expenses and some unexpected other expenses. It was so bad we had to take money out of his retirement to pay bills. So we made the decision to tell our four adult children and grandchildren that we did not have the money to buy them Christmas gifts. My husband was able to come up with $100 cash and we each got $50 to spend on each other. It was such fun to stick to our plan and our budget. Christmases past, I could not have told you three days later what I had gotten from him or what I had given him. Almost a year later I can tell you exactly what I gave and got. And we still have, use and treasure the items. Because we had so little to spend, we put a lot of thought into it and gave meaningful gifts. We plan to do the same thing again this year. And there were no credit card bills hanging around for months afterward. One word of caution when you cut down and cut back, be prepared for negative feedback and repercussions from family and friends who #1. Don’t understand the true meaning of Christmas and #2. Equate love with the amount of money spent on them. And one of my nicest memories is that our oldest son went to church with us on Christmas Eve. I have saved the voice mail he left telling us he was looking forward to going to church with us. Just a reminder that the best gift can’t be bought – it’s a memory made.

]]> By: niki http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/comment-page-1#comment-30155 niki Sat, 25 Oct 2008 03:54:03 +0000 http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/2008/10/23/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/#comment-30155 Great list! Earlier today I was brainstorming on how I save money on holidays. We're on the same wavelength today. :) Our family really enjoys focusing more on spending time together and creating traditions and experiences rather than putting all the focus on gift giving. Last year we strived to do 2-3 festive activities per week in December to get into the spirit. We did a little research and found many, many activities and events in our area that were free or very cheap. It was the most meaningful holiday we'd had in years! Thanks for the Link Love, too. Great list!

Earlier today I was brainstorming on how I save money on holidays. We’re on the same wavelength today.

:)

Our family really enjoys focusing more on spending time together and creating traditions and experiences rather than putting all the focus on gift giving. Last year we strived to do 2-3 festive activities per week in December to get into the spirit. We did a little research and found many, many activities and events in our area that were free or very cheap. It was the most meaningful holiday we’d had in years!

Thanks for the Link Love, too.

]]> By: Libby http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/comment-page-1#comment-30141 Libby Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:19:42 +0000 http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/2008/10/23/a-less-expensive-more-meaningful-christmas/#comment-30141 What a great post. I'm going to keep this one for reference and inspiration. For the first year ever my family is doing a secret santa this year which I think is great. Mind you it's going to cost me more money as I usually only do baking for the family :-). Libby What a great post. I’m going to keep this one for reference and inspiration. For the first year ever my family is doing a secret santa this year which I think is great. Mind you it’s going to cost me more money as I usually only do baking for the family :-) .

Libby

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