Christmas on a Shoestring

[LiteBrite]

Is anybody else faced with an extra tight budget for Christmas this year?

We're in a sort of temporary holding pattern money wise, for now. We lost a significant portion of our income recently. It's a long, boring story, but we think things will be back to normal in a few months. In the meantime, though, we've got enough to pay the bills and that's pretty much it.

So, we're keeping Christmas as low budget as possible. Fortunately, we don't have any little kids to worry about disappointing. Our only child is 20 and understands the position we're in right now. The bulk of our gift budget is going her way, but it's going to come in under $100 total. To stretch it a bit, I'm going to make and freeze a bunch of her favorite home-cooked dinners, so she can have them in her new apartment.

Hubby and I have decided to keep our spending for each other under $20. That really just leaves my parents, and fortunately, they're easy to please. I did have to buy my dad a birthday present this morning, but I found a set of 3 Patsy Cline cds at Target for $9.99, and he was thrilled with that. He kept saying, "Wow! Patsy Cline! And 3 cds!"

So, all in all, it's not so bad. Yesterday I was feeling kind of down about our current money crunch for 20 minutes or so, but then I got over myself. My family is healthy and we all love each other and one lean Christmas isn't going to kill us.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas. I hope that things look better for you and yours soon. I've been there with the shoestring budget and it's never easy but it is doable.

 

[LiteBrite]

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas. I hope that things look better for you and yours soon. I've been there with the shoestring budget and it's never easy but it is doable.

Thanks, Tina Merry Christmas to you and Matt, too!

 

[lovetoscrap]

LB--You know the true meaning of the season, remember that baby born in Bethlehem and his humble life on a shoestring budget.

As the Grinch so wonderfully shows us, Christmas is NOT about the things. It is about the feelings, the spirit and the togetherness. Enjoy those this Christmas. I suspect you won't notice anything different from any other Christmas.


and Best Wishes for VERY Merry Christmas and for some of those miracles you have been praying for in the New Year!

 

[lynxstch]

money is still tight..and Xmas is on a very thin shoestring, but you know something?..these last 2 have been 2 of the best we have had..it puts more emphasis on the season and less on the gifts..we get small gifts for the 6 grandchildren, and hubby and I can only make the gifts we give each other..that's our rule..the older adult children have just learned to adjust..
hope you have a Merry Christmas and that things get better for you soon!

 

[gina2000]

Life is about joy and love. You have that. Things are fun to have but when push comes to shove, they're just things.

Enjoy your holiday with peace and happiness. It's more important to love and be loved.

 

[Diznotyzed]

I hope you find this one of your best and most memorable Christmases ever, for all the reasons you've already mentioned, and other reasons you've yet to discover.

 

[Aimeedyan]

2 years ago, we had to say no Christmas gifts for ANYONE. We didn't have funds to pay most of our bills, much less buy gifts.

Let me tell you, that was the most stressfree and peaceful Christmas' we've had. No shopping, no wrapping, no worrying that someone will like our gift, nothing to cart from party to party. Christmas is a religious occasion for us, so we focused on the Advent services, Christmas Eve service, telling each other what we were thankful for in front of the fire on Christmas morning, and being with family. It was the most "spiritual" Christmas I have celebrated.

It was so nice that I wish we could do it every year.

I think y'all will find that this Christmas may just be one of your very best. (though I know it's stressful intially)

 

[crazelion]

I give my mom a free message by her daughter and rave about it. when I did not have money to buy a gift. Now every year now she is asking is get a free message for the whole year. I create monster.

 

[LiteBrite]

Thanks everybody for the replies. You're all right - I do love my life, and it's true that not having to worry about buying so many presents is already making for a less stressful Christmas.

Here's to the true beauty of the season. Merry Christmas everybody!

 

[C.Ann]

One year we were in a really bad way (kids were no longer at home) and I knew my DH had been "squirreling away" a few dollars each week.. I told him I would not accept anything that didn't come from The Dollar Store and I have to tell you, it was one of the best Christmases I ever had.. (I'm a "Dollar Store Junkie" and can never get out of there without spending at least twenty bucks..)

It was easy for me to do a low budget Christmas for him as well because he had 14 brothers and sisters growing up and every Christmas was basically some socks and an orange - never any "real" treats.. He loved things like fruitcake; ribbon candy; certain candies that are usually only available at Christmas; etc., so that's pretty much what he got.. Oh - and some very inexpensive western videos I had purchased at a garage sale that fall..

It was a super Christmas - and neither of us were disappointed that we didn't have a bunch of money to spend..

 

[hentob]

To stretch it a bit, I'm going to make and freeze a bunch of her favorite home-cooked dinners, so she can have them in her new apartment.

This is a WONDERFUL idea!! YUM!