Anyone not buying Christmas gifts this year?

[locolala]

First off, for all of you who think that Christmas is about gifts, you have missed the reason behind the season.

We don't celebrate Christmas here, we celebrate the Solstice. Part of the traditional Solstice celebration is giving gifst and celebrating life.

 

[sasywtch]

To the OP, kudos to you for not charging what you can't afford. I have always been a big present giver until this year. My kids are all grown and I have 2 grandkids. We are not buying adult presents as we are going to DL in the beginning of December which is our Christmas presents. My grandkids are getting one toy that's about $15-20 and some stalking stuffers in their stocking (dollar store stuff). My kids and grandkids have so much stuff that Christmas has gotten to be just more stuff. We decided last year a trip was better for us.

If you feel any guilt for not buying alot of presents, make a scrap book with pictures of WDW. Make up some certificates for a cupcake, frozen banana or whatever they usually get at WDW.

My sister just called and we were discussing this. She said my parents would have told us we were getting one gift but going to WDW. If we had whined or felt slighted, my dad would have given us the one gift and cancelled WDW. That was my dad. He'd tell us how grateful we should be.

 

[ChisJo]

We didn't give gifts the last 2 years, except to my step son, and he was scaled back dramatically! My husband and me didn't really exchange gifts, instead we bought something that we both wanted for the house (one year I got a new kitchen table, and another year he chose a big screen HDTV - we did need both - old TV and broken table needed to be replaced). We didn't exchange gifts with my immediate or his immediate family. Instead, I baked some desserts and brought them with me to the family get togethers. Another thing I do is a Christmas shoe box for impoverished countries. My step son and me go and pick out all of the items we want to put in the shoe box, wrap it up with a note, and send it off. And one more thing that we do about every other year is we deliver gifts through Santas Anonymous. My step son didn't complain once last year about getting only one gift. In his stocking, we put a book, a chocolate bar, and the signature orange (didn't you get one in your stocking as a kid??? My husband and me both did!). Nothing fancy, but I figured it was better than nothing that some kids get.

We wanted to instil in my step son the importance of family and togetherness at Christmas instead of the greediness of wanting and wanting and wanting, and disappointment because you didn't get all 15 video games that you wanted. I remember when we were kids we got 1 gift from mom and dad, and it certainly was not a huge expensive gifts that some people give nowadays, and I think I turned out alright. I haven't completely eliminated the idea of exchanging this year with the immediate families, but I'm hoping that people will realize that it isn't so much the gift that counts as it is the togetherness of the family, and the celebration of the season. Why people go in debt for Christmas is completely beyond me.

A couple of years ago, my nieces were at my parents place opening the gifts that they got from grandma and grandpa. They got 3 each (thats 2 more than we got as children), and after opening them, they seriously turned to my parents and said. "that's all??" I will never forget the stunned look on my parents faces. No thank you, no I'm so happy, just a wth look because there were ONLY 3 gifts.

 

[timzagain]

We are cutting back on gifts - (number of gifts as well as the amount spent). Shopping the sales year round really helped!

I can't imagine not giving gifts at all. I'd have to put my creative skills to use to make or find nice gift ideas that won't render me bankrupt.

 

[DisneyCrafter]

We knew this year was going to be a budget year but we didn't expect some hefty car repairs so our budget slimmed down even more.

I spent last weekend making 10 potholders and spent only $14.25 on the materials. That takes care of a lot of the gifts. (my Mom, MIL, DH's Aunt, and my Grandparents) With our debit card rewards I got a $25 Amazon gift card that will take care of the boy I sit for, DH's Dad, and some of my DBIL and DSIL's gift-I also made them a calendar on snapfish.com when they were 50% off. I used leftover fleece to make a tie pillow for my cousin, and the 2 girls I sit for. I also made each of the girls I sit for a tie blanket with the fleece. About 6 weeks ago I got a bunch of Disney things at the Dollar Tree-stamp pads, puzzles, fuzzy coloring pictures, bubbles, etc. I'm also going to make candy and give it to those who we aren't giving a present to or in addition to what they are getting. We'll get my 3 younger brothers each a DVD (Black Friday), a bag of microwave popcorn, and a bag of candy from the Dollar Store.

We're spending less than $200 on Christmas. We have a $10 budget for each of us as well. I love to give gifts so I'm just being very careful with the money!

 

[IluvDonald!]

Sorry - just couldn't do it.

We are going to WDW 12/21-12/28 and DD will wake up to presents on Christmas morning. She does not know this and thinks we are celebrating on New Years with the family. Course it was hard to find things (include a small tree & ornaments & such) to fit in our suitcases for the flight, but I'm making it work! (Won't she be surprised.)

In our house, Christmas is Christmas - for both the presents and for the birth of Jesus, so we celebrate both even while at WDW.

Christmas is for the children to receive presents, as well as for us adults to do the giving, to both the children and those less-fortunate. So, I will also pick a family from our local church to help again this Christmas.

When my DD was about 5, DH & I were strapped for cash so we told her we were not exchanging presents for Mommy & Daddy. She cried and cried and cried and asked Santa if he would bring her less presents and get some for Mommy & Daddy instead. Needless to say, there are always presents to/from mom & dad and DD is now 15!

IMHO, I could not stop giving gifts just because I was going to WDW. It may not be easy financially every week, (I try to buy presents beginning in July so I don't feel the crunch in Dec.) but if I can afford to go to WDW, then I better be able to afford celebrating with family & friends like I do every other year and not use Disney as the reason they aren't getting presents.

Now, however, if the extended family (parents, inlaws, nieces, nephews, sisters, brothers etc) want to stop exchanging, I am ALL for that.

Yes, I agree Christmas presents have gotten out of hand, but that's a whole other topic.

 

[Malibustyle23]

OP your July trip was your 2010 trip and your March trip will be your 2011 trip, so you are not really taking two trips in a year.
QUOTE]


Although it is not a calendar year, 12 months in a row still constitutes a year. So yes the OP is doing two trips in a year.

OP do what you want and what makes you and your family emotionally and financially happy. The world is getting way too materialistic nowadays anyways. Buying tons of stuff for everyone. How many people really know more than 3 things they received last year for the holidays? Just adds to the piles of junk.

Have fun enjoy your vacation and the quality time you get to create and really acknowledge without the unecessary burden of the gifts getting in the way this year.

 

[cm8]

First off, for all of you who think that Christmas is about gifts, you have missed the reason behind the season. That being said, I gave my DS, 12, the choice of having presents or money to spend on our trip. He said he wanted the money because he is wanting a high priced item in the parks. This is teaching how to save his money and not expecting me to be an ATM machine.

If you really want to have that opening Christmas present experience, why not find pictures of the Christmas nativity and unwrap the story together and talk about the ultimate gift that God gave us.

Another idea is to take special items from your child's past (or your past), write the story associated with it and then wrap it. Christmas morning then becomes a story sharing time. Your kids can even do this for your gift. And the kids will really get into telling the story.

 

[Planogirl]

I will always give gifts even it's just small things because I love surprising people. It's my favorite gift to myself.

 

[kayrosek]

I am a gift giver and cannot imagine not giving gifts, that said, for several years we have included a memory making activity as a gift. That activity usually occurs before Christmas and is always taken out of our Christmas budget. Usually it's something like a concert or special night out individually with mom or dad. Last year it was WDW and a Cruise over Thanksgiving. We warned the kids that it would definatley take a tole on what there Christmas would look like. We bought them each one normal thing from thier gift list ($25-$30) and one smaller thing ($10 range). In addition I decided to remind them of the special time we had had. They each got one small souvineer they had seen and wanted at WDW ($10- $15). Also hidden in a box of school/art supplies from the dollar store (notepad, construction paper, colored pencils) were a few reminders as well (pen with the carnival logo and key chain full of sand from the bahamas to use as a zipper pull on thier back packs. I also wrapped small Mickey photo albums from the dollar store with a few pics of them with favorite characters. All in all they were thrilled with thier Christmas and I got to surprise them. This year we will be at Great Wolf Lodge over Christmas so they will get gift cards and rolls of quarters to spend while we are there as part of there presents. I think if I were planning a WDW trip for later in the year but counting it as a Christmas gift I would wrap up little things for them to take with them like maybe, glowsticks, homemade autograph or passport book, roll of quarters for the resort arcade, wallet for the spending money they save, small tolietry kit. Just little things I would probably do for them closer to our departure anyway but this way it would be something to unwrap on Christmas; however this is just me.

 

[DeniseinNS]

Personally can't imagine that, sorry. I definitely think it's important to teach your kids about saving for what they want, but I don't think Christmas is the time for it. Growing up, Christmas was getting gifts from Mom and Dad and being appreciate of what they did for me and my brother, no matter how tight things may be one year.
Also, don't you feel like your other DS might be slighted? The reason he's not getting anything for Christmas is partially because of his brother's marching trip. I don't think you can substitute ONE child's SCHOOL trip as Christmas present-- just for me personally. It's just not something I would do. (**Just re-read-- are both of them in the same marching band? I still don't think that qualifies as an Xmas present, but at least they'd be equal)
I would definitely let them know ahead of time, as well.

I totally agree with this.
There's no way I would sacrifice my kids christmas, even for a trip to Disney.

 

[Mimi1965]

We are scaling back and are only buying present (i.e. present that are under the tree) for the two youngest kids. The youngest two got pretty expensive trips to Disney the past two years so their presents will be minimal. The older two are getting a trip to Disney in January with me and the one in high school got a very expensive class ring that counts as his Christmas present even though he is already wearing it.

I dont count vacations to Disney as a "Christmas Present"-or a class ring

Sorry-no matter how tight things are-my kid will have something to unwrap-even a new sweatshirt

 

[livie1205]

we are not doing gifts this year...we decided a few yrs ago to vacation at christmas (and yes that is what the kids like) and have their bday as THEIR gift day.We let the kids pick a trip (wdw) and even let then choose the resort and extra things to do...they picked AKL CL!! lol They love AKL and they think they are getting something with the whole CL thing (lots of free choc milk lol) so that is what we did for them...they get 9 days of vacation VS a bunch of gifts they will not mess with again after a month.We also let them get more things from the gift shops during a christmas trip, they love it.
The only person getting any gifts is my dd4...its her b day! We do not mix her b day and christmas..we also dont do our trip months later,if it is a christmas gift we go at christmas.

 

[allison443]

First off, for all of you who think that Christmas is about gifts, you have missed the reason behind the season. That being said, I gave my DS, 12, the choice of having presents or money to spend on our trip. He said he wanted the money because he is wanting a high priced item in the parks. This is teaching how to save his money and not expecting me to be an ATM machine.

If you really want to have that opening Christmas present experience, why not find pictures of the Christmas nativity and unwrap the story together and talk about the ultimate gift that God gave us.

Another idea is to take special items from your child's past (or your past), write the story associated with it and then wrap it. Christmas morning then becomes a story sharing time. Your kids can even do this for your gift. And the kids will really get into telling the story.

Where are "all" the people that "think Christmas is about gifts"? Most people on this thread said they are cutting back...

That said, you are giving gifts, in the form of money because that's what your kid chose. Does that mean you think "Christmas is about gifts"? Of course not. It's possible to give gifts and still appreciate/celebrate the real meaning of Christmas.

 

[allison443]

we are not doing gifts this year...we decided a few yrs ago to vacation at christmas (and yes that is what the kids like) and have their bday as THEIR gift day.We let the kids pick a trip (wdw) and even let then choose the resort and extra things to do...they picked AKL CL!! lol They love AKL and they think they are getting something with the whole CL thing (lots of free choc milk lol) so that is what we did for them...they get 9 days of vacation VS a bunch of gifts they will not mess with again after a month.We also let them get more things from the gift shops during a christmas trip, they love it.
The only person getting any gifts is my dd4...its her b day! We do not mix her b day and christmas..we also dont do our trip months later,if it is a christmas gift we go at christmas.

Does your 4 year old not believe in Santa Claus? I know many people don't, but mine did and I don't think they would have understood why they didn't get anything from Santa (since you said the kids picked the trip, planned the resort/activities, she would know that isn't from Santa).

It must be hard with the b-day/Christmas coinciding! My bff growing up had a birthday 3 days before Christmas and I know her parents always tried to keep it separate. My friend used to get upset if her birthday presents were wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper instead of birthday paper, lol.

Your trip sounds great! Enjoy!

 

[terri01p]

 

[twooley2]

I dont count vacations to Disney as a "Christmas Present"-or a class ring

Sorry-no matter how tight things are-my kid will have something to unwrap-even a new sweatshirt

so just being curious, where do you draw the limit? Is there one?

 

[MzDiz]

This Christmas is going to be pretty simple. I've been on disability since March and I'm hoping to get back to work soon, but it certainly won't be in time to catch up with my bills *and* have a big, fancy holiday.

Last year I completely skipped it. I opted out. The only thing I did was have dinner with the family. My life was in such turmoil last year at this time that setting up a tree and making merry just seemed ludicrous. The kids managed to live through it.

 

[livie1205]

Does your 4 year old not believe in Santa Claus? I know many people don't, but mine did and I don't think they would have understood why they didn't get anything from Santa (since you said the kids picked the trip, planned the resort/activities, she would know that isn't from Santa).

It must be hard with the b-day/Christmas coinciding! My bff growing up had a birthday 3 days before Christmas and I know her parents always tried to keep it separate. My friend used to get upset if her birthday presents were wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper instead of birthday paper, lol.

Your trip sounds great! Enjoy!

lol yeh she thinks there is a santa But she said she will see santa at wdw (dtd) instead of our house this year...she knows whats up and we let her take part in planning the trip...all the kids said they want vacation and just want to have gifts at b day time....we take a sm tree with us and everything...we get them things through out the year so gifts on one day are not really importent to them This makes for a nice holiday..

 

[HeyMickeyUSoFine]

I don't think anythings wrong with that. We're cutting wayyyyy back simply because I'm starting to question the purpose of giving my child sooo much stuff for Christmas. I LOVE Christmas, but all those gifts are not necessary. IMO