Having no $$ during the holidays rocks!

DesignerMama

And I'm being completely serious. :-)

I'm usually all stressed out by now about what I'm going to buy everyone, frantically checking web sites to make sure I get the best deal, etc.?

Well, thanks to our kick-ass economy, we're drastically scaling back Christmas this year. I bought all the kids' stuff at Target's end-of-summer toy sale. And we cut like 10 people of the list and I am going to do something homemade for everyone instead. ?

We literally have like 6 people to buy for and they are all getting pics of S and gift cards. I'll be done in one day.

I wonder if I can get away with this once the economy rebounds. I think this is actually going to be our best Christmas in a while!?

mrsterry

You most certainly CAN!  It's pretty much what I always do every year!

...except I hardly hit the end of summer sales.

Brideofranken

I am curious if this year will cause a LOT of people to re-evaluate their xmas routine...I think it is the perfect excuse to-even if you're not hurting..We are doing pretty good this year, but with the new baby coming, and everything...eh- I would like to go lower key, and I wonder if maybe we should just STAY lower key..what's the point?

 Maybe this year is bringin' x-mas back. ( go on go, 'head wit it..)

DesignerMama

I know! I've been thinking back to Christmases past and am just sick over all the excess. Who the feck needs all that stuff? It's really ridiculous.?

I'm all about bringin' Christmas back :-)?

femmegem

It's kind of nice, isn't it?

We'll be buying probably 2-3 small things for DS. I already got my niece's gift. We don't buy for my sister or her husband any more. We'll probably do pictures or a restaurant GC for my parents and a photo book for DH's parents. Um, I think that's it. DH and I likely won't even exchange gifts.

I like keeping it simple. I'd rather do something with the people I care about than get a bunch of stuff, honestly. 

eclaires

We've always been pretty low-key about Christmas.  I mean, we do it up pretty nice for Jackson and ourselves (at times - but some years we do very little).  But all in all, my list is short.  We buy for MIL and FIL on my husband's side, my parents and two younger brothers on my side, and then my niece and nephew on my side.  Oh and my one cousin who is like a sister.  We spend about $400 max on gifts for people outside of us and Jackson - and that's seriously max.  Some years it's less, some it's more.

I think it's nice - I see people with crazy long lists and I'm glad we've never had that stress.

eclaires

Oh and here's a fun thing we do w/ my side of the family - instead of exchanging gifts amongst all of us - each of us adults brings an alcoholic beverage (bottle of wine or six pack) and then we draw numbers and get a certain drink that matches that number.  Then that is ours to try/drink Christmas Eve night.

It's fun and cheap!

DesignerMama

We are buying for 6 nieces/nephews, MH's sister, and his parents. That's it.

Wanna see my old list? It'll make your head spin!

my side:

mom/dad

3 brothers, 1 sister + their s/o's?

15 nieces and nephews (yes, 15!)

gma/gpa

1 aunt + uncle

1 cousin + her family

?

MH's side:

mom + hubby

dad

sister/BIL/2 nieces

gma

2 sets of aunt/uncles?

eclaires

Wowza!  Yeah that does make my head spin!

You'll never want to go back, I know that!  It's very nice to have a low key list to shop for!

DesignerMama

And I'm actually really excited to make some stuff too! I found recipes for chocolate dipped pretzels and some yummy looking cookies that I'm dying to try, and some other cool do-it-yourself kind of stuff. Oh, and I'm giving all the women on both sides personalized notecards that I'm making.

It is really amazing how much less stress I'm feeling this year. Especially with all the added stress from everything else. But I'm totally zen about Christmas.

shouldbeworkin

I agree, it is way easier!  Very little decorating, too.  Lots of time to spend at home with the family b/c you're not running around to all of the stores trying to get the best deal. 

goodhartedmommy

That's awesome! That's all that people need anyway.