A scaled-down Christmas?

[Aluminum Cloud]

How many of you are scaling down the gift-giving this Christmas? Even for the kids? I was wrapping gifts yesterday, and realized that DD's really aren't getting that much this year.

From DH and me they are each getting a new 4-in-1 winter jacket, new pj's, and a new outfit (jeans and a top).

From Santa they are getting a sweat-outfit, slipper socks, an art set, and stocking stuffers (stickers, candy, hair stuff, new toothbrushes, etc).

We also bought a Wii for the family. Not sure if it will be from us or from Santa.

I've never really gone all-out for Christmas but this year seems to be a lot more pared down. Everyone at work keeps asking "so what are the girls getting for Christmas?" and they want to hear what the big ticket item is. Well, there isn't one. Except for the Wii, which I just bought last week, it wasn't really planned but it was on Amazon for a good price so I nabbed it.

I was just curious if this Christmas everyone will be giving less gifts than normal.

[brit83]

Yes, we are scaling back too. We definitely spent more last year. Things are just so tight.

[adoptiondream]

Yes, but not because of finances.

Because we want Christmas for our son to be about memories, crafts, family time, food, and sharing. Not about stuff.

[raisinggracie]

Mine is scaled back as far as effort goes because our family pet (one of the two) died two weeks ago and I haven't been in the holiday spirit. I waited until the last minute on everything (in fact, I just now ordered my Christmas cards), I didn't finished decorating my house the way I would have wanted (didn't even put out DD's Christmas village), didn't do any baking or anything.

As far as gifts go, we probably went overboard but I had a guilt complex going on and am in the mindset that this may be the last year DD "believes", so I tried to get everything on her list. I also bought all of our treats so at least she'd have some christmas goodies to enjoy.

[Missy]

Nope. It's been a bit odd for us. We are more financially stable than we have been in over 5 years, yet the economy sucks right now and everyone we know is struggling. My DH wanted to "make up" for the last few Christmas so our kids are getting quite a bit.

That being said - we've also done more charity giving this year than ever before. Toys for Tots donations, each of the kids did an Angel Tree child, and we've donated money and food to the Salvation Army this year.

[JMac]

We haven't cut back for money sake, however, one side of the fam decided not to do gifts, so we are cutting back there. I'm not complaining!

[Jenny]

The kids won't be getting a large number of gifts, but what they will get costs more than things they've asked for in previous years. I haven't kept track, but I bet we spend as much or more this year as we have in previous years. I'd say we're splurging more on higher ticket items rather than buying a whole lot of less expensive "stuff". I have no doubt this will be DD's last year believing. I think I'm overcompensating because of that.

Jen

[Adean]

We definetly spent less. All our kids are older and not asking for as much either. All they did ask for they did get. We just haven't been in the "Christmas Mood" either!!

[Cathleen]

We cut back like last year I spent 100 bucks on my little brother, this year, he is getting a 30 dollar toy I got for free.

Last year MIL got about 100 dollars worth of stuff...this year 20.

[designermom]

Nope. It's been a bit odd for us. We are more financially stable than we have been in over 5 years, yet the economy sucks right now and everyone we know is struggling. My DH wanted to "make up" for the last few Christmas so our kids are getting quite a bit.

That being said - we've also done more charity giving this year than ever before. Toys for Tots donations, each of the kids did an Angel Tree child, and we've donated money and food to the Salvation Army this year.

Same for us. 3 years ago we were starting to digg out of our finanicial mess and I refused to put anything on the cc. So DD (who was 5) all she got was a pixel chic and some clothes and DS was 2, so he was happy with any toy we got him. DH and I did not get gifts. We are in a much better place. Now, Grammy is suppling the Wii, I am getting the accessories and games and DH is getting an ipod. I already got my roomba. DD is getting books (that she asked for from Santa and Ds is getting a bike.)

We are very blessed this year. :D

[Megmul]

We are cutting back, but not because of our finances. I was just sick of all the crazy, mostly meaningless, gift-giving.

[pipercat]

Not really. We've always kept a pretty tight reign on our gift spending, though, so I guess we're still pretty low key.

[Kitter Kat]

We probably got just as many gifts for the kids as in the past, but spent a lot less money this year. I started buying gifts at Target's clearance after Xmas in Jan and at the end of the summer and saved a ton of money. Plus I got some freebies on amazon a month or two ago. I think the only things I paid full price for were the 3 toys DS4 asked Santa for, and the items DS15 wanted (mini fridge and a video game). The best part though was that we were able to adopt an angel tree boy this year, which we have not been able to do in the past, so that felt especially good. And most of those items I was able to get free or paid minimally for, which is even better. I definitely plan on doing the same in 2009!

[Aluminum Cloud]

We are cutting back, but not because of our finances. I was just sick of all the crazy, mostly meaningless, gift-giving.

I'm with you there. I have a friend who sent out 80 Christmas cards (she said). I got one, and it had two hand-written words in it. Why even bother? But she sure is proud that that she got 80 cards sent out!

I gave each person I share an office with a $1 box of chocolates after lunch on Thursday. Besides that, I didn't do any gift-giving outside of very close family (sister, niece, in-laws, kids, DH).

Instead we sponsored a mother and her children at the battered women's shelter in Dallas. We bought things for the mom she wouldn't normally buy for herself, and toys/clothes/shoes for her kids, who were very young (2 and 13 months, I think). To think about what that woman is going through, especially at this time of year, just breaks my heart. It's something I will do every year.

[Alli~cat]

My kids have a lot more stuff this year, but I probably spent about the same b/c there aren't any big ticket items like usual. My siblings and I drew names this year, but other than that we're still giving to everyone like normal. It really helped us that DH got a Christmas bonus, which he's never gotten before.

[Fourboys]

we have never really gone overboard on giving gifts. we're probably over budget of any other year since this year the Santa gift is a Wii and several games. Other than stocking stuffers we get our kids 3 gifts. I know my FIL spent less this year. he always sends us a check and this year it was half. it was a rough year for them

[Admin jengirl]

Yup. We've cut back, too. We also managed to do better planning throughout the year, which helps with the organization and spending.

[Admin Randy's Wife]

We definitely cut back this year on everyone....we only bought for about 15 people vs the usual 40ish. And my girls are not getting near as much as they normally do.

Hopefully next year, things will get back to normal!

[msbeam]

We decided to cut back a few years ago as DH has 4 brothers and we all buy for each others kids so we only get our kids a few things because it's all so crazy with the amount of stuff they get. I do think we might have spent a little less than normal though and I know it has affected my grandparents and DH's grandparents as they both usually send checks and this year they did not. Which is fine with us but I feel bad that things have gotten tighter for them because of the economy.

[2boys]

Oh yeah, we cut back, but last yr we did too, because we were in the middle of moving and needed things for the house.

They are getting more than I thought they were. About 6 outfits each, but I got them CHEAP. A nice pair of skater style shoes each, 1 new ps2 game, and 4 used from gamestop, nerf air tage set, and the bball hoop/ball. and then little things for the stockings.

[MickiB]

We've never really gone hog wild for our kids at Christmas, certainly nothing like what their friends get. This year will be half as much as last year, and DH and I aren't buying for each other at all. We're waiting for some guy to cough up the money he owes us, and he really needs to hurry up because I should have mailed packages to my relatives on Friday. If he doesn't pay up, Santa ain't coming at all.

[STACEY IN CALIF]

Yep, we decided to buy just for the nieces and nephews. Have we done it? Nope...We were trucked out of our house with a 4wd yesterday and I don't think we will make it back in with all the snow and then the rain that will make it all a mess this coming week.

So, without a home to go home to, a broken camera that isn't gonna be fixed before baby and Christmas, and not feeling like putting on clothes, I don't think anyone will get anything.

[MickiB]

{{{{hugs}}}} Stacey. I wouldn't even worry about it. You've got a baby on the way and crazy weather.

[QMomof3]

Stacy- I hope the weather clears for you soon. I wouldn't worry about gifts right now either.

We planned on cutting down and did on the family. I spent a good bit less on everyone else. I went a little more than usual for our kids. This was the first year that we paid cash for everything. We have always played it really tight for Christmas.

[STACEY IN CALIF]

I wasn't really worried about the gifts. But, being at my mom's with all her decor and spirit I have a feeling I may be bummed about the gifts. Don't get me wrong, the kids have plenty...Oh well, sis thinks I'm going to deliver on Christmas anyway lol! And, the baby's arrival will be enough for them since that's all they talk about :)

[girlysoxfan]

We ended up probably spending about the same this year as in the past, but w/ fewer gifts as they are each getting a higher priced gift to begin w/.

[Michiana Mom]

I HT'd my way out of overspending, but we did buy more this year. DS had a lot of big toys - he plays with them but they take up a lot of room, so I wanted to avoid adding to the clutter in his room. End result is a lot of video games and crafty stuff. I did get him a globe which is going to take up what little flat space remains on his dresser, but a lot of his presents are small so I kept finding "one more thing."

[halo776]

We didn't really scale-down our Christmas this year. DD is getting fewer presents, but the presents are more expensive this year. We spent about the same amount of money. I just wanted to make each gift more meaningful this year. Like raisinggracie, we're also concerned that this may be the last year DD8 believs in Santa, so we wanted it to be a very special Christmas.

[Admin shilton]

We did not scale down this year. Really we have scaled up the last three years, because we have been far more able to afford Chrismas. Next year may be a different thing, because we are not sure about DHs job.

[jenjenjen]

We bought more people gifts than usual this year. We planned all year though and saved money and used a lot of the HT's here to do so though. We vowed not to put anything on the credit card and we didn't. DH told me that as long as we didn't have to put things on credit that he didn't really care who I purchased for or what I got them. DS is getting a few rather big ticket items. At age 10 we aren't sure if he really "believes" anymore, but last year we told him as he gets older Santa won't be bringing him as much anymore because Santa is really for younger kids. He thought that was cool and was ok that Santa only brought him Heelys. This year Santa is bringing a bigger size of Heelys that I found a sweet deal on through the message boards. Otherwise he wouldn't have gotten them this year. I refuse to give up the "Santa" tradition though til he tells me to stop. I think its fun.

[Deb]

We are spending less and very aware of how much is going out right now. The best present we have this year is that the husband is going to be back working after 5 months of looking.

We are splitting one big gift with the ex, another drum set.... please send ear plugs.