Holiday Spending

[gathermewool]

For some of us times are a little tougher than years past. What are you giving up or spending less money on this year?

My normally patient-as-a-saint wife is currently threatening to cancel all of Christmas because I objected to $40+ gifts for her mom and members of both of our families; as an example, she wants to send a $100 Target GC to my brother and his three kids which I just found out about. My argument is that we’ve had a tough last few years and need to recover our lost savings nest egg.

Furthermore, we‘re all adults and can ensure our own necessities are purchased and paid for outside of gifts. I don’t want to concern myself with buying emergency lighting for her mom, for instance, who literally had zero lights available during their last power outage. She complained and complained, but is still in the same situation as she was months ago! She has been working from home with no lost income.

With all of that said, I’ve definitely spent money on small things I’ve wanted while under quarantine, like $5 Blu-ray’s (wants) and some essential tools and gear. I haven’t spent extra money on too many other wants, however.

Anyone else feel like the grinch this year?

 

[aquariuscsm]

I think the years I worked retail has made me hate Christmas. Christmas should be about celebrating the birth of Christ,not opening up your wallet at the mall and spending all your money.

 

[Malo83]

We are gonna take a pass this year, giving to the local food banks and toys for tots.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I try to help friends and family where I can. Emphasis is on what they need.
It's all good.

 

[gathermewool]

We are gonna take a pass this year, giving to the local food banks and toys for tots.

We‘re adopting a family this year and that’s perfectly fine with me. I did not make a single comment about the money we spent on them.

 

[gathermewool]

We suspended secret Santa this year for the same exact reasons I posted, but I feel my wife is compensating and wanting to spend more than we have in the past on other family members.

 

[Quattro Pete]

I'll probably end up spending more money on Chrismas gifts this year than years prior - just trying to help those who may need it.

 

[PimTac]

We haven’t bought gifts in years. The concentration was on the kids in the family but they are all grown and out now. Our joy was just getting together and eating but that’s not feasible this year.

 

[JC1]

Usually end up buying myself a few things since the deals are so good. Today I bought a DeWalt atomic sawzall since it was on sale. Don't need it right now, but I will at some point in the future and don't want to pay full price.

I'm lucky to be working and not impacted by the current situation. No more house payment or car payments, so I can buy a few other things.

I'll just give my kids money and small gifts. Wife buys them other things like clothing. This year we should appreciate our families and be lucky for what we have.

 

[AutoMechanic]

We are doing the same thing we always do buying gifts for everyone wrapping them and opening them on Christmas morning lol. My mom has already told me she has gotten me lots of the tools I asked for she didn’t specify which ones but I am excited. Heck my parents give me money to buy them stuff with and tell me to save my money lol so I am thankful for that. I spend my own money on my niece and two nephews that I have and my sister and her husband I spend my own money on.

 

[Skippy722]

We don’t go crazy. I think she spent ~$200 at ollies, but we have another $100 to pick up. But we have 2 kids, I have 2 siblings, she has 2 siblings, both of my parents, her dad plus her mom and stepdad.

All I want is a Magnaflow muffler for my truck, to which my wife said “that’s a stupid gift, you need something to open up on Christmas!” to which I responded with “Yeah, I’ll open up the throttle on my v8 and let it sing its glorious song!”

 

[gathermewool]

When I objected to spending so much on others she responded by unplugging the Christmas tree and another ornamental tree and professing that I was canceling Christmas this year. I laugh at first, until I realized she was serious. I plugged everything back in and told her to knock it off, that this and gifts for our kids were fine, but $100 GCs for family (my family, too, mind you) was too much!

I even texted my brother, who works two jobs and still doesn’t make what I do with one job, to let him know that all we wanted was a nice holiday pic of his family and to know he was doing OK. His response: “**** pic just for you [gathermewool]...love you too sizzle chest” Yeah, he’s that kind of brother...

 

[daves87rs]

Trying to keep it a little lighter this year. We’ve kept the spending down all year thanks to all the crazy this year. I’m down at the moment to 1 of my two jobs (my main is on temp layoff) but w have been able to put money away for a while now. Being smart this year has kept money in the bank, and extra work at the 2nd job.

I’ve done a little extra for my family, as they have been through a lot this year. Her side and mine will still do presents, just on a smaller budget.

I am just thankful for my family, friends, and health this year. I have already lost 4 friends this year.....just want to be thankful for what I have......

 

[Duffyjr]

We have never been the type to spend a lot of money on gifts for each other or family members. We use to donate our time delivering compete meals to the less fortunate but a few years back we stopped because some of the people were ungrateful, complaining about what was given to them and saying things like "that's it" or the topper was one lady complained about it being generic brand

The one exception is my wife's birthday is on Christmas day so I always make it a point to get her something and make sure it's wrapped in birthday paper and not Christmas paper, learned that one early on.

I just hope by this time next year things will be better for all of us.

 

[FT92]

I think the years I worked retail has made me hate Christmas. Christmas should be about celebrating the birth of Christ,not opening up your wallet at the mall and spending all your money.

i agree 100%..as far as myself and wife we're spending a lot less this year...I gave most of what I was going to spend to a local homeless shelter

 

[Dave Hess]

I always thought the videos of people stampeding into a Walmart or shopping mall and fist fighting over some cheap Chinese made crap was sad.

 

[Astro14]

No cut backs here. We give generously and enjoy doing it.

 

[gathermewool]

Now that I’ve had a chance to process her anger and read a bit, I think her wanting to have an extra nice Christmas (despite this horrible year) makes a little more sense.

The good news: she didn’t take down any decorations while I slept.

 

[GMFan]

I’m actually spending more money this year. Less on family than usual but more on various charity. A lot of folks are hurting out there and I’m lucky enough to be an essential worker with a stable job. Makes me happier than buying gifts anyway.

 

[alarmguy]

Christmas our favorite time of year. We buy each other anything we want for Christmas. We make a wish list for each other.
Its that time of year to buy each other something (actually all the things) we may have felt guilty about buying for ourselves during the year.
Normally electronics, apple products, robotic vacuums, watches, expensive clocks, audio equipment... ya da ya day.
You only live once and never know if you will be on the earth the following Christmas. Same goes for family, if it makes my wife happy (or me) to get an extra something in a particular year for a family member, well, its that time of year to do it and we never discount what one might want to give as a present to a family member, its about the Holidays and feeling good about giving.

The world and life on this planet has never been more easy to mankind, turn off the entertainment news, live your lives, this truly is the best of times, hiccups happen, this year was one of them, make the most of it, you dont know what will be tomorrow and yesterday may look easy.

With that all said, when all the BILLS come in the following month, we pay them in full. Give what you can afford, dont borrow money, be thoughtful and sincere in your gift, make the world a better place ...
Peace ...

(crap. Astro said it better and with 100 less words a few posts up)