? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

Since you are spending less this year because of wedding expenses, do you seem to have less holiday spirit. I do.

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

well i am trying to think positive .... i know its rough right now but i am trying my best ... believe me i know how you feel .. all i keep thinking is it has to get better after the wedding .... please get better

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

I do and I dont like it......

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

I am sending less but still feel in the holiday spirit. It's not about the gifts for me.

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

I don't feel the holiday spirit b/c I spent more than I did last year on x-mas gifts!!

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

my budget for everyone was like $50 for kids and like $40 for adults. that didn't work out tho. i started by buying my neice $80 boots!! and i couldn't just give her boots!! my nephew i just kept shopping for and everyone else i just keep buying and buying. so i guess you could say i was in a holiday funk but that just made me buy more and more. however, i didn't make my quota for the wedding fund last month

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

ME 2 I NOTICED THE OTHER DAY WHEN I WAS DECORATING... SO WASN'T INTO IT...

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

i don't know, I'm having a good time!

I set budgets for each gift, and I'm having a lot of fun trying to find things that people would love in that budget! Its kind of like a scavenger hunt for me

Ohh - we also switched things up in my house this year.
My 2 younger siblings both have a bf/gf, so the past few years, I've spend over $300 on them alone. This year, we put all the names in a hat, and everyone drew one. Everyone couple now buys only 2 gifts, $50 each. That saved $200!

And FH and I set a $100 limit on ourselves. I got a ton of stuff for him for that $100!
casual Timberland shoes
a shirt and tie
a button down 'going out shirt'
a tommy hoodie and matching long sleeved tee
a keychain
a superman ornament
a buzz lightyear ornament

I also cut parental gifts a bit. Last year, we spend over $200 on each set. This year, we spent $200 total.

Don't worry - it'll be OK!

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

I'm spending ALOT less on my brothers and my sister. Probably the same amount for mommy though. This year we decided to make it about the children in our family, and of course our 2 boys. Not for nothing, we are sooooooooooooo freakin over budget, it's crazy. So my theory....You get what you get, and you don't get upset

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

I dont think my holiday mood is lessened by the amount of money I am spending this year, I think its lessened by all the last minute things I need to do for the wedding in the next month.

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

noooo not at all! I actually bought just my immediate family gifts, Me & FH are stuffing stockings for each other- we said a max of $100. and for all my girlfriends Im making tree ornaments! So even though im not out shopping left and right, im still watchin xmas movies, went to my nephews holiday concert at school lsat night Its the little things that make the holidays special, not the gifts!!! Cheer up!

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

Oh Yea! I am ususally one of those mental patience that are done Xams shopping by October but I've only bought FH and my mom one gift so far.

Holiday shopping on a strict budget has really stripped me of my usual holiday spirit! Bah Humbug

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

Here is an idea that I came up with for my siblings kids. The kids are ages 4months to 4 years. I got each child a small gift so they have something to open and i am getting each a savings bond. This way they get a present for now and they have a bond to put towards their college (and i save over $25 a kid ). I can't bring myself to buy $75 worth of toys for each kid and then have the toys sit in the playroom untouched since they have so many. I am also thinking of making a small donation in the names of my siblings to St. Jude Childrens Hospital. I feel these gifts are are really showing xmas spirit. I feel more christmasy (i know not a real word) this year then I have in a while. Remember christmas is not about money

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

Haven't lost the Christmas spirit, but sure wish I could spend more on everyone...... My FI and I aren't even buying gifts for each other this year. Our wedding is a gift ........ and a VERY expensive one at that!!!!!!!

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

I am trying to be more creative with the gifts I buy for FH. Since we set a budget, I am trying to find cute and useful little things so that FH will have a lot to open up. I am pretty festive right now but ask again in a few weeks!

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

i feel like the grich!!! I cant do it since my wedding is in a month...id love too but i feel like if i cant get a good gift for the ppl we love then why bother doing it this yr!! SURE hope next year is better for us!!! So this yr its about our daughter and neice! Then we are doing the secret santa so we will do that on 12-24

Re: ? for those of you who are spending less on the Holidays.

i definately have less xmas spirit this year...