If Christmas costs so much, why spend so much money on it if you can’t afford it anyway? Not trying to be smug; i genuinely don’t get it and would be grateful for an explanation.
My solution is to buy through the year, taking advantage of sales, but to really personalize, I offer my services (babysitting, yard work, a meal, transportation, etc.) in the form of a coupon that can be used when needed.
Their Christmas bill is light compared to what my wife and I spent for it and it is still costing us money and will for about 7 or 8 years but it was what she wanted ! ! !
Years ago, I gave up playing credit card roulette. If I can’t afford it , I don’t buy it. It is as simple as that ! I pay cash or use my bank’s Visa/ Debits cards to pay for everything. Yes, I have a credit card for emergencies but have never had to use it.
No more waking up at 4am worrying about how I’m going to juggle payments.
My Christmas is bought and paid for – No more January Bills Blues for me ! I ain’t singin’ that song !
We do “Secret Santa”. Everyone buys for only 1 person, with a $50 limit. Put names in a hat (actually a computer program this year) and everyone draw one. We used a program to send text messages with the random assignments this time, because all the kids have jobs now, and we couldn’t meet earlier for the literal hat.
When our kids got older we joined sister/hubby and parents to draw names. We write several suggestions though gift cards work fine, place in a cap and each one gets their name of $25 limit. We do not spend what is shown on strip.To us we go by Merry CHRIST mas as Thursday is CHIRST mas Eve. For us we go to candlelight serve not at midnight hours early. 4:30pm we will go to as I have no job second one is 6pm.
In my husband’s family, gifts are either handmade or home cooked, because anyone who is employed can buy their own gadgets, accessories and whatever else whenever they please. Anyone who isn’t employed is expected to put what little money they have toward living expenses. Even the kids make gifts for the adults and each other. Store bought items are seen as insincere and patronizing. Asking for a specific gift or mentioning a wish list is extremely rude.
On my side of the family, everyone is expected to maintain an up-to-date amazon wish list. It needs to be at least two pages long and have a wide range of price points, so anyone wanting to buy gifts (but no more than 2 per person or you’re being a braggart!) has plenty of options. Shopping “off list” or hand making something that isn’t specifically requested to be hand made, is viewed as rude and trying to force your personal tastes on someone else.
My credit card co. pays me to use their money! I have a rewards card and I only charge what I can pay off every month. BUT YOU MUST PAY IT OFF EVERY MONTH! When you pay it off each month there are no interest charges AND you accumulate the rewards – airline miles, gift cards, or even cash back. Once or twice a year you “cash in” your rewards. Bingo – they just paid you for using their money each month! The more you can afford to charge AND PAY OFF each month, the faster or larger your reward will be – at their expense! Merry Christmas!
The fifth thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to meFIVE MONTHS OF BILLS!Sending Christmas cardsHangoversRigging up the lightsAnd finding a Christmas Tree.
Those who quip “he’s a dentist” have the attitude that on Day 1 John set up a shop, hung out a tile that said “DENTIST” and on Day 2 was mobbed with customers. They seem to forget (or conveniently overlook) like many self-employed professionals such as doctors and funeral directors, John had to work years to build up a reputation, not to mention hunting down nonpaying customers!
HJBoehm over 8 years ago
Pretty much sums us my household right now :)
Templo S.U.D. over 8 years ago
I would hate to know what was the most expensive thing for Christmas was spent on in the Pattersons’ account. (Hopefully not the tree.)
krys723 over 8 years ago
They’ve spent $581 alone this year
Katsuro Premium Member over 8 years ago
If Christmas costs so much, why spend so much money on it if you can’t afford it anyway? Not trying to be smug; i genuinely don’t get it and would be grateful for an explanation.
Thechildinme over 8 years ago
My solution is to buy through the year, taking advantage of sales, but to really personalize, I offer my services (babysitting, yard work, a meal, transportation, etc.) in the form of a coupon that can be used when needed.
IndyMan over 8 years ago
Their Christmas bill is light compared to what my wife and I spent for it and it is still costing us money and will for about 7 or 8 years but it was what she wanted ! ! !
Linguist over 8 years ago
In God we trust…all others, pay cash !
Years ago, I gave up playing credit card roulette. If I can’t afford it , I don’t buy it. It is as simple as that ! I pay cash or use my bank’s Visa/ Debits cards to pay for everything. Yes, I have a credit card for emergencies but have never had to use it.
No more waking up at 4am worrying about how I’m going to juggle payments.
My Christmas is bought and paid for – No more January Bills Blues for me ! I ain’t singin’ that song !
stuart over 8 years ago
We do “Secret Santa”. Everyone buys for only 1 person, with a $50 limit. Put names in a hat (actually a computer program this year) and everyone draw one. We used a program to send text messages with the random assignments this time, because all the kids have jobs now, and we couldn’t meet earlier for the literal hat.
kab2rb over 8 years ago
When our kids got older we joined sister/hubby and parents to draw names. We write several suggestions though gift cards work fine, place in a cap and each one gets their name of $25 limit. We do not spend what is shown on strip.To us we go by Merry CHRIST mas as Thursday is CHIRST mas Eve. For us we go to candlelight serve not at midnight hours early. 4:30pm we will go to as I have no job second one is 6pm.
nickel_penny over 8 years ago
In my husband’s family, gifts are either handmade or home cooked, because anyone who is employed can buy their own gadgets, accessories and whatever else whenever they please. Anyone who isn’t employed is expected to put what little money they have toward living expenses. Even the kids make gifts for the adults and each other. Store bought items are seen as insincere and patronizing. Asking for a specific gift or mentioning a wish list is extremely rude.
On my side of the family, everyone is expected to maintain an up-to-date amazon wish list. It needs to be at least two pages long and have a wide range of price points, so anyone wanting to buy gifts (but no more than 2 per person or you’re being a braggart!) has plenty of options. Shopping “off list” or hand making something that isn’t specifically requested to be hand made, is viewed as rude and trying to force your personal tastes on someone else.
Vicki Corwin Premium Member over 8 years ago
he’s a dentist, give me a break
rekam Premium Member over 8 years ago
It was so much easier when the bank(s) had Christmas Clubs. You’d pay into them so much a month and get a check before Christmas to buy the gifts.
sawduster3 over 8 years ago
My credit card co. pays me to use their money! I have a rewards card and I only charge what I can pay off every month. BUT YOU MUST PAY IT OFF EVERY MONTH! When you pay it off each month there are no interest charges AND you accumulate the rewards – airline miles, gift cards, or even cash back. Once or twice a year you “cash in” your rewards. Bingo – they just paid you for using their money each month! The more you can afford to charge AND PAY OFF each month, the faster or larger your reward will be – at their expense! Merry Christmas!
falcon_370f over 8 years ago
The fifth thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to meFIVE MONTHS OF BILLS!Sending Christmas cardsHangoversRigging up the lightsAnd finding a Christmas Tree.
USN1977 over 8 years ago
Those who quip “he’s a dentist” have the attitude that on Day 1 John set up a shop, hung out a tile that said “DENTIST” and on Day 2 was mobbed with customers. They seem to forget (or conveniently overlook) like many self-employed professionals such as doctors and funeral directors, John had to work years to build up a reputation, not to mention hunting down nonpaying customers!