Predictions on the Holiday Season?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Predictions on the Holiday Season?
13
Sat, 11-01-2008 - 9:39am
I'm curious if you have given any though to what your holiday season will be this year in terms of spending.

All my best,
Danni

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2007
Sat, 11-01-2008 - 10:31am

Great topic!


We are definitely cutting back.

Avatar for sullengurl
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Registered: 02-16-2004
Sat, 11-01-2008 - 12:53pm

This is the very first year that dh and I have spending cash set aside for Christmas!! I am super excited about that because it is usually a fight abrewing due to Dh's love for spending on gifts and me trying to keep the credit card down.


Last year right after Christmas our card was at just below $10,000. That was when I said, "ENOUGH!". Now the card is below $1000 for the first time in what seems forever, and if murphy stays far away it will be paid off in two weeks.


So we have a set amount of cash in our savings for Christmas and we will only spend what is in there. I feel like this Christmas will be refreshing for that reason. I was able to do it by setting aside an extra lump sum during the two months that DH got paid 3 times (biweekly paycheck). I was able to see it visually using the Crown Mvelopes program.


 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2007
Sat, 11-01-2008 - 1:07pm

I think that spending will be way down this year. People are scared and there is a

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-01-2008
Sat, 11-01-2008 - 4:37pm

I hope people are going to be sensible this Christmas about spending for gifts. I've told my family and friends that I can't afford big gifts this year, but that they would be getting things that they can use.

My son just moved out of state with his fiancee. Instead of buying them a few gifts, I'm going to give them each of them a nice, crisp $50 bill in a card. They can put it toward their wedding (or eat it) -- I don't care. I won't have to pay shipping on their gifts either.

My daughter, her almost-fiance, my mother, and two aunts are getting Christmas stockings stuffed with small bottles of hand sanitizer, knee-highs (not for the young man!), chapstick, purse-sized kleenex packets, pens, gum, etc., that I've been buying a little at a time. I also bought my daughter the review books she needs to study for her nursing boards in the spring.

For my daughter, one brother, and three of my friends, I bought Entertainment coupon books. They are normally $25 each, but I get them from a credit union for 2/$25. This is the third year that I've done this. I got one for myself, too. They have coupons for oil changes, stores, restaurants, museums, etc. Use two or three coupons and the book has paid for itself!

I don't buy for my other brother and his wife, but in the past I've spent $20 each on their three kids. They have too much already (they have their own cell phones and iPods), so I'm going to buy a share of a goat in their name from Heifer International. I also have a godson to whom I will send $10. I actually have cash saved up for this Christmas, so I'm in good shape! Usually I end up charging... NOT THIS YEAR!!

Mary Jo


iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2008
Sat, 11-01-2008 - 5:08pm
I have bought things a little along throughout the year. I got a bunch of Christmas coffee mugs last year after Christmas 25 cents each. I plan to make some goodies and put in them for teachers, grandparents, etc. That will take care of most of the small gifts. My own three children will get several gifts but all will be cashflowed to the tune of the "Christmas bonus" that their father receives. We figure it will probably be around $1,000.
I think that should pretty much take care of it. My hubby is a "volunteer" firefighter and our county issues reimbursement checks in December for $15 per fire call and meeting that they attend so this comes in handy and helps us not to break the bank at Christmas.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2003
Sat, 11-01-2008 - 6:05pm

The current economic climate will not really affect Christmas for me as my family decided a few years ago to not buy gifts for each other instead opting to just enjoy the holidays together and looking forward to a delicious meal...we just appreciate it that those who travel from afar or if we end up travelling to them...that our presence is gift in of itself.

Keep in mind though that we have no young children left in the family...all are in their late teens and older and hold down part-time jobs etc...

As for my friends, we also don't exchange gifts, just christmas cards expressing our appreciation for the other.

It took me many years to get off the holiday consumer band wagon but I am soooooooooo glad I did it!

Kassandra


"It is said that life has its peaks and valleys.

Kassandra

"It is said that life has its peaks and valleys.  The challenge is to accept them equally and experience them

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-15-2008
Sat, 11-01-2008 - 6:35pm

We have made a strict budget and plan on sticking to it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2006
Sat, 11-01-2008 - 9:10pm

I think that I am spending about the same on my kids, $100 for the two of them. Parents, spouse, and siblings are getting things that I know they will need and appreciate, about $10-15 per person. Everyone else gets a "Merry Christmas" and maybe a card.

The biggest difference this year is that I am being very choosy about what I purchase. I have gotten every possible discount, and really considered the value of the money being spent. Also, I have made at least half of the gifts for this year. I haven't done that for awhile!

Overall, I think that people will be more cautious because there isn't that feeling of "oh, I can pay it off later." I think people are seeing more of the consequences of debt, IMHO.

Marissa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Sat, 11-01-2008 - 11:10pm

Total for Christmas 2008 is

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-1999
Sat, 11-01-2008 - 11:30pm
I am going to buy a few things for my mum ($200 max) and that is pretty much it. I was going to take myself away somewhere tropical but I know I won't enjoy it. I am trying to cope emotionally with the fact that my only sibling (who is younger) is an alcoholic and addict and no amount of material things will ease that pain or sense of helplessness, so I am not going to buy things for other people. My mum's partner and his adult children are all fairly self-centered and that makes the situation with my brother worse. I am really dreading it all, because I would like Christmas to be like Martha Stewart meets Mary Englebright, but I know it won't. To answer the original question though I think the economic aspect of Christmas is going to be a disaster.

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