Is anyone else cutting back on spending this Christmas

[LovesTimone]

My side stopped gift exchange because it was getting to expensive as the family is growing. Hubby will still buy the same gift cards for his side of the family. Hubby wants to do a gift exchange with only those that participate so each person that puts their name in gets a gift. Mother n law said no. Hubby said we can all buy for his mom and she doesn’t have to worry about buying gifts for anyone but it was still a no, so we buy for 16 people.

DD22 is an only child but never has one with an expensive Xmas wish list. She’s been non stop subbing at one site (resident sub) since August and her paychecks are pretty good. She makes more than I do and her last check was more than hubbys ( she got a raise plus retro pay)lol!

I usually buy her couple small things, socks, pajamas,gift cards, money and whatever is on her list. This year the only thing she asked for was Tree Hut body scrub from Ulta $8.99 each. I’m going to get her gift cards to Dollar tree and Target because she loves going there to buy classroom stuff.

Hubby usually picks a few things from Home Depot but said he. An buy it himself. I usually ask him for pajamas and socks and I just ordered myself some lol! I guess we cut back lol! I’m going just transfer my Xmas money into my emergency fund. Once I grandkids it will be a different story! I’ll be $$$$$

I'm curious and not being disrespectful in anyway... Why do you or your DH need his mother permission on your Christmas giving?

When we made the decision to stop all that, we just told everyone and that was that...

I will say everyone was for it, except the family that never reciprocated or participated in the gift giving, they always showed up with nothing, not one gift for anyone, and left with several nice gifts each... so they were mad when this stopped, its same family that never brought what they were suppose to for the meals either...

Oh and once the grandkiddo's arrive... the Christmas budget goes out the window... LOL

 

[dreamin_disney]

I'm curious and not being disrespectful in anyway... Why do you or your DH need his mother permission on your Christmas giving?

When we made the decision to stop all that, we just told everyone and that was that...

I will say everyone was for it, except the family that never reciprocated or participated in the gift giving, they always showed up with nothing, not one gift for anyone, and left with several nice gifts each... so they were mad when this stopped, its same family that never brought what they were suppose to for the meals either...

Oh and once the grandkiddo's arrive... the Christmas budget goes out the window... LOL

That’s just how it is. She also tells us what to bring for thanksgiving and Christmas Eve , which hubby and I always do. We bring the ham. Plus I’m the only one that on my own, cleans up and does the dishes from all 20-25 people at thanksgiving .
Christmas Eve I use to loved baking so I’d bring a big tray of homemade cookies and candy and misc sweet treats. I’d make three big trays one for my family, hubbys dads side and one for his moms side. Everyone looked forward to the dessert trays. One year she told hubby to bring the ham and his brother to bring dessert. My brother n laws wife doesn’t cook or bake so I was like . They ended up bringing basic store brought round cake and store brought cookies lol! The rest of the sibling brought what they were told. The look on their faces when they saw the desserts lol! They kept asking me where my desserts were lol! I told them their mom told us to bring the ham and their brother to bring the dessert.

After that I told hubby screw the ham on Christmas Eve I’m making whatever I want so I do. I don’t make desserts anymore. I know she hates that I bring what I want but oh well.

MIL is nice and liked by everyone but low key I see she likes to be in control. She straight out was talking bad about her other daughter n law and told me she can’t stand her and can’t stand the site of her so I know she talks about me too. Her other son is getting married and now I notice her acting different with the other soon to be daughter n law. Both daughter n laws are nice and good to her sons as I am to my husband. I just try to keep the peace for my hubby and daughter cuz once I go off things will never be the same So here I am 24 years later. Btw she has no bond with any of her 6 grandkids(ages 12-25). Basic hi and bye.

I can’t wait for my grandkid! Like you said the budget goes out the door lol! I must admit I have
1 cute elephant ballerina stuff animal
2pairs of baby batman socks
2 plastic Easter chick that hold Easter eggs
dd22 doesn’t even have a boyfriend and not thinking of kids anytime soon lol! Christmas will be so much fun when grandkids arrive

 

[disneyseniors]

About 15 years ago we cut out all the, Aunts and Uncles, Cousins, our Brother's, SiL, niece and nephews...

We did buy for my MIL when she was still with us.. We buy for my parents thankfully I still have them... We buy for our DD, SiL and grandson, and my DH's one brother with some special needs... and sometimes my very good girl friends we might exchange something small...
DH and I do little gifts, and pick somewhere to go... and that's it...

I cut back several years ago, now everyone gets a Christmas bag, a Box and a Stocking to open, for the adults... Now our grandson on the other hand is different, he gets quite bit of stuff, Legos are pretty pricey for sure..... My family loves loves loves their stockings, finding good small and useful items is always challenging... I have been gathering these up for about 4 months maybe a bit longer..

I really make use of my Coupons, Store loyalty rewards, things like Kohls's cash and coupons, Ulta points, or Old Navy dollars, JoAnn's coupons... If you plan you can get some pretty good deals and savings.. "Retail me not" is always a good source for coupons...

Hi Loves Timone: It sounds like you cut down a while ago. I love the idea of stockings with little things in them. THanks for the idea