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 Post subject: Christmas Budget?
PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:41 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 7:14 pm
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I was surfing the net this afternoon, and saw an article on "inexpensive" Christmas gifts. Only to find out their idea of inexpensive is *under $200* - which to me is astronomical.

When we were growing up, we might have gotten one or two BIG gifts in a LIFETIME. (I remember a noteworthy year when my sister got a pricey 35mm camera, and another year when we were very small and had LOTS of modest gifts - which to us seemed a great treasure!) But, most years, we had 2 or three modest gifts.

What do you see as a normal year, and what do you see as extravagant?

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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Budget?
PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:57 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 3:05 pm
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Location: Central TX
I've easily spent more than $200 for Christmas, when we had that money to spend. When I was working, I overdid it big time and the kids were spoiled. We usually got them each one big thing and a bunch of smaller things. We have downsized and last Christmas was the cheapest and we only got them a few small things from the dollar store. I try to get them each two new outfits (pretty much the only new clothes they get for the year), a game or two and a few other small things. I'm not sure what our budget will be this year. Dh is going to use a little bit of the money he gets from his bonus for Christmas. It is easy to spend a lot these days, though, because stuff is so expensive. I don't think $200 is outrageous for at least 2 kids. The things I like to get the kids are more expensive because I usually have to order them from special websites because most of the toys they sell in stores is useless junk.

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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Budget?
PostPosted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:55 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 2:58 pm
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We don't set a budget really. We consider what the kids most want, and then choose 1 or 2 things that we know we have money for. Each year is a little different.

In years past, my first MIL would easily spend $200 per person. My dh's sister used to spend around $500 per child (she has 3). We don't come close to either, in fact, with 5 kids we might have spent $500 one year when we bought a trampoline as a family gift and then a couple small gifts per child.


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Budget?
PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 12:41 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:19 pm
Posts: 4143
Location: NE Central Texas
DD is 18 now, she does not have a job.
I told her we would get her new jeans and new shoes that are comfortable for her to walk across campus in.
She does not need anything else.
If she wants makeup she buys it out of her allowance.
We do not see other side of family so it is just us and that is it.
DH and I may get a movie or two for us to watch.
do not need anything.

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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Budget?
PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 1:40 am 
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We pretty much don't make a big deal out of Christmas presents. It's been pretty lean around her for many years. I found a TV to replace our almost 25 yo set at a yard sale this past weekend, and wound up surprising my husband, loaded him in the car and he checked out the TV to make sure it was one he liked. His present is already taken care of. :)

I am continuing in my theme of keeping things simple and really placing an emphasis on the Advent season. My son is the only other child at home. He will probably get a Lego set of some sort. I picked up a drawing table on our local facebook yard sale page for one of my dd's for real cheap, and will probably give my other dd and her dh a gift certificate for the grocery store, as he's been out of work for a few months, and just started back this month.
We don't need anything. God has been faithful to meet our needs.

Another goal I have is clutterless gifts...My goal this year is to continue getting in good shape physically, so if anyone is going to get me something, I'd like something like $ toward good running shoes, workout pants, and the like to keep me on track with my fitness goals.

I'm trying to convince my family to commit to working at the Navajo Mission this Christmas, taking the emphasis off ourselves and placing it on others less fortunate, and gaining a heart of servitude toward others.


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Budget?
PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:00 pm 
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Cindy, going to the Navajo Mission would be a great way to spend Christmas. In years past, when all the kids were home we often worked at community meals, serving, cleaning, cooking for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then many people started volunteering and they had more help than they could accomodate so we stepped back and haven't helped in probably 5 years. Our town is small, so not many places to be of service like that. Hoping once we get to a bigger city we can spend the last few years of having our youngest two at home doing things like that again. It was always a wonderful time for all!!


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Budget?
PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:11 pm 
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Cindy - I like your idea of a grocery gift card! So many families have expenses for family feasts during the holiday season, and a gift like that can give them a much more joyful Christmas without being something that will collect dust on the shelf.

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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Budget?
PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:35 pm 
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Well, I can tell you that many people use their tithes and offerings for Christmas. :\ For whatever reasons, - buying presents or feast foods or even giving to other charities like Salvation Army or Samaritan's Purse - my experience as a member of the finance committee shows that people don't give as much to the church in Dec.

Way back when we were newlyweds our bank had a Christmas account. You got a payment book just like with any other "loan" payment and each week you "paid" into your Christmas account along with one of the "receipt" tabs. You couldn't get it out (without a hassle) until November. It was a wonderful lesson for me as a young bride.


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 Post subject: Re: Christmas Budget?
PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:57 pm 
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"Well, I can tell you that many people use their tithes and offerings for Christmas. :\ For whatever reasons, - buying presents or feast foods or even giving to other charities like Salvation Army or Samaritan's Purse - my experience as a member of the finance committee shows that people don't give as much to the church in Dec."

Generally, when I have been on such committees we see an uptick at the end of the year - usually from people who want to finish up their pledge for the year, or those who need to schedule their giving to get the tax deduction for that year.

BUT, if you're following an Old Testament model of Tithing, and you believe in the Protestant view of "Invisible Church" (which is to say, the Church is everywhere where True Christians are, but no where that they are not) - then giving to Salvation Army or Samaritan's Purse IS Tithing.

In the Old Testament, there was even a mandate to spend part of your Tithe on holiday feasting - so I don't see a real problem with that application either (not to say it's MY view- just an understandable one)

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