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[4nana]

We have always tried to live within our means and taught our children C'mas is about the spirit rather than the material. Like C.Ann, we really enjoy family gatherings of baking, crafting, caroling while decorating our family trees, C'mas lights peeping, our C'mas eve family party, grands school plays/musicals, etc.

Our family has been budgeting and planning for our upcoming family Disney trip for over a year, so our C'mas may be a tad bit smaller. As of late, we've also recently witnessed our 401 take big plunges and have decided to enjoy life to the fullest in spite of, while we still can, as we have no idea what tomorrow will bring.

 

[C.Ann]

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[PirateD]

Our Christmas is our trip to WDW for our big famly holiday get together. All of the adults have decided not to give presents to each other. Instead we're each picking a dinner at WDW to pay for and that will be our gifts to each other. On Christmas Day, we are exchanging cards to express appreciation and gratitude for each other.

We are going to still give small presents to the kids but will be cutting back in that department as well. We are just so excited to share the magic of Disney at the holidays for the first time.

 

[slo]

Whatever you all do - please shop local. The mom and pop shops are going to die this year. The mom and pop shops are the ones that support your little leagues, churches, schools. The mom and pop shops are the ones that go that extra mile to find just the right thing. The personal service, the sale with a smile is what holiday shopping should be all about.

Shop local - you'd be surprised at the deals and special and unique items you can find at your local gift store, toy store, etc.

Make Christmas and Chanukah special by buying for your family from a family instead of a box store or appliance giant.

Thanks from all of us shopkeepers who are trying very hard to keep it together during these horrific economic times.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post!!!!!

I am one of those local stores, and I can't thank you enough for your support. You are awesome!!!!

 

[clutter]

This will be our first christmas without my mom (who owned a collection of over 200 santas, which is indicative of how much she loved christmas!), so no matter what we do present and economy wise, it'll be a strange one.

But yes, I'll be cutting back. Not so much for the economy, but because it is the right thing to do. However, since this is the first year my dd doesn't believe in santa, I'm not running around buying 'extra' stuff.

 

[NMAmy]

We live pretty far below our means and I'm a big saver so Christmas won't be any different for us this year since we're both still employed.

However, there were many years when I was a single mom and Christmas was pretty lean. Luckily, at that time, dd was tickled with just about anything.

She actually really knows the value of a dollar so she doesn't ask for anything too over the top and doesn't pout if she doesn't get everything on her list. My step dd is 27 and gets a check and a lot of little gifts which really tickles her. Dh and I don't spend a huge amount on each other--we mostly get each other things like books, movies, etc. and our extended families aren't that large so we don't spend a fortune there, either.

 

[kydisneyfans]

The long term $$ is taking a hit, but the short term $$ is better than ever. With gas prices dropping like a rock, our disposable income has dramatically increased over the past month.

If we spend less this year, it is because we are saving more and buying stock at bargain prices. In the end though, we'll likely spend more as my wife has lost 50 pounds and needs a new wardrobe.

 

[Quiksilvr]

I imagine our Christmas expenditures will remain fairly constant. No kids, so we don't have that to worry about. However, we buy items for both my parents and siblings and for my wife's parents and siblings, plus for grandparents, etc. We have a fairly large number of people to shop for. Christmas in my family isn't a huge production where everyone needs to get myriad gifts; we usually exchange small gifts and have done with it.

My wife's family, however, gets big into Christmas and spends a lot of money on presents for everybody. I think that's partly a function of her family being smaller, but it's still something I've had to get used to. We spend on her family at least 2 to 1 (compared to my family) and she has about a third as many people to buy for. I am hoping that the state of the economy will force some sellers to have better sales so we can save some dollars that way.

I don't know what we'll buy for each other. It's very difficult for us to buy presents for each other because we live in a small place and don't have a lot of room for junk. Plus, we do well enough financially that we can oblige our urge for instant gratification when we want something, and we aren't the sort of people that spend loads of dollars on ridiculous items (e.g., shoes that cost several hundred dollars, purses that cost several hundred dollars, televisions that cost many hundreds of dollars). So, I imagine that shopping will be a major chore for us this year, but not for financial reasons.

 

[Talking Hands]

Honestly nothing will change as we don't do a big gift giving thing. Gift cards for the girls will be pretty much it. A quick trip to WDW to see Candlelight Processional and it's done.

 

[DaisyD]

I don't see us cutting back any. So far we haven't had any problems with the rising costs and economy. Santa will still be bringing the big items and we will be giving the other stuff. I am just about done my shopping. I just got my Christmas cards printed and will be addressing them this weekend! Yay me! LOL!

 

[Handbag Lady]

We have the same list of people every year:

Each other, sister, niece, parents, dad's wife, dad's wife's son (silly, we know, we've been fighting that one), best friends family, my MIL and DIL. That's it.

I am not joining secret santa this year with friends and we are not going to buy kids of our friends presents. We discussed this over the Summer and not once have we gotten a thank you (phone, email or card) from those we send gifts to in faraway places. It came up because we sent a fun gift to our best friend's son for his birthday and they had him write us a thank you. It dawned on us that with other friends, we had been sending gifts at Christmas when we don't even hear from them the rest of the year. Why bother with them?

And what are they going to do? Call us and complain?

With my small list, we are TRYING to convince my dad to let us draw names. It would be so much easier and much more fun. We are funny people and the joke gifts and real gifts we can do for each other would be high-larious if we could just buy for one person.

Oh, and husband and I are not doing real presents this year. We are buying each other an iPhone!

 

[binny]

we are cutting back a bit this year we will be making gifts for several family members. There is a great thread on the BB about homemade Christmas presents that has some fantastiic ideas. We will be making some things from that this year.

I dont know what the kids will be getting yet. No big ticket items though I know that much.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

DH and I are each getting each other the one item we each want, but not a big ticket item. My mom passed away on Aug 26, so I will NOT be in much of a mood to really celebrate, except for my cousin's children, which I am not doing alot for, because they already have alot. I will give cousin and her BF a restaurant Gift Card and her sister some cash, since teens love the green stuff, she has a birthday 2 days after Christmas, so she will get cash for that as well.

All 7 of us are going to WDW the week before Christmas, so this really is the big ticket present for us, and our Anniversary present as well, since we got married in December.

I have almost completed my shopping, because I don't want to be out amongst the crowds.

Suzanne

 

[4nana]

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I can't wait to hear all about your trip!!! I know how much you have been anticipating, planning, and itching to "get the show on the road"..

I'll be expecting to hear every single detail when you get back..
Everyone is going - correct?

Thx C.Ann, you ole' Disney pro ! I am soooo excited after the long wait, all the planning and anticipation, we're finally blessed to be celebrating Thanksgiving at Disney!!! There will be 17 of us, 3 DD's, 3 Sil's, 9 grands, DH and myself....12 by plane, 5 by train . We were hoping my Mom would join us, but she's really not up to all the traveling.

Sadly DS and family are not able to go as orginally planned. They were transferred this summer for his military training, so leave is not an option. Very disheartening indeed, but thankfully we did get to see them this summer and word has it that next year orders are closer to us!!

We have lots of fun things planned at WDW and even some surprises in store! Yes indeed, this Nana is anxious to get the show on the road, and don't worry, I won't forget to stop, rest, and smell the roses . Can't wait to discover Disney through our sweet grands!!!

 

[C.Ann]

Can't wait to discover Disney through our sweet grands!!!

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It will be the most precious memories ever!!!!!

Photos! Lots and lots and lots of pjotos!!!!!!!!!!