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#71472 - 10/25/04 10:35 PM
Re: Christmas?
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Member
Registered: 01/06/03
Posts: 2196
Loc: Tampa, FL
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Last year was the first Christmas that we didn't go into debt (charging gifts on credit cards) and we're so much better for it. Since we live away from family, we don't buy for anyone except the kids. Actually, we give them each a check. For hubby and I, we decide throughout the year, what our one purchase is going to be for "us". We send cards out to everyone (I have a big card budget!) We don't have a set budget for gifts, but whatever we spend has to be "cash"... no gifts on credit card. In one more year we'll be "debt" free (except our mortgage) and that is the best gift we could ever give ourselves.
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#71473 - 10/26/04 12:04 AM
Re: Christmas?
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Member
Registered: 10/18/04
Posts: 53
Loc: Orange County, CA
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I am into geneology, and for Christmas this year, I'm making a booklet of family history to give to each of the families. This will be instead of individual gifts to everyone. I've done a lot of generational research, back to 1600's, which is quite interesting. I even found that GW Bush is a cousin, about 8 generations removed! So I will put in a family tree, copies of letters that generations ago have written on their trek to Calif., and all sorts of tidbits I could find on interesting ancestors. Also will add pictures. Hopefully this will be a gift that lasts!
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#71474 - 10/26/04 05:33 PM
Re: Christmas?
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Founder
Registered: 07/09/08
Posts: 23647
Loc: Maryland
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What great ideas. You are so creative. I need to rethink this Christmas. We've blown it out of proportion because our parents did the same when we were little. Blame it on them! Urg...what have we created? The season is my favorite, and I love to give gifts. It's just the money involved can get out of hand. Limits. I must set limits!
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#71478 - 10/27/04 05:44 AM
Re: Christmas?
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Member
Registered: 01/01/04
Posts: 678
Loc: Tazewell County, VA, USA
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Funny...I just wrote my Mom, Dad and sibs a letter this morning asking if we could forego buying and giving gifts this year. I suggested we pass a hat and everyone slip in whatever $ they could afford and we'd give it to my brother's Mexico missions trips. He gets together a group of people every year and goes to Mexico to build schools, clinics, etc.
Every one in my family has all of their needs met...in abundance. All we have are our wants and I think it's time we focused on meeting the needs of others before getting all our wants met.
I suggested we bring food - home made or bought goodies - and make this Christmas memorable because of joyful abandon, glorious love, peace and calm and the overriding knowlege we are so loved...by each other and by God.
My gifts to friends are all going to be hand made and full of prayers tucked into each stitch. I'm knitting hats, shawls & headbands. When I'm tired of knitting, I'll weave shawls and when I'm tired of weaving, I'll felt wall hangings. I want to return to the knowlege that hand made equaled hand crafted and people were grateful you spent the gift of time because they know how precious a gift time is. I want to give a piece of me, while there's still some of me to give.
I'm asking my friends to give to their favorite charity in lieu of giving me "stuff". I'm suggesting any shelter for women and children. Did you know the average age for the homeless in this country is NINE!?! That's outrageous!
I'm past middle age. It's time to focus and focus narrowly. It's time to put life in perspective. I believe the Holy Spirit is gently talking; I'm trying to listen intently.
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#71479 - 10/29/04 03:00 AM
Re: Christmas?
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Member
Registered: 01/01/04
Posts: 678
Loc: Tazewell County, VA, USA
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I talked with my sister yesterday and she said, "No Way!" So...looks like we're going to buy and give gifts this year. I'm still going to try and knit or weave something for my sister. She walks in winter so maybe a wool hat to keep her warm. She said she was going to give gift certificates -ours will have to be WalMart as that's the ONLY store around here that she also has access to 280 miles away-
I dunno. Maybe I was being a grinch and didn't realize it. Then again, I can't remember a lot of what my family gave me last year but Dave struck a home run last year.
Oh well. better get busy knitting and weaving.
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#71480 - 10/29/04 04:09 AM
Re: Christmas?
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Member
Registered: 03/18/03
Posts: 332
Loc: Australia
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I've had a constant headache since my extended family met and discussed Christmas last week. (I was nominated hostess)Why are families so difficult?? (And that was without the in-laws) Anyone got room and board (and an airline ticket) over the yule tide? House swap anyone?
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#71483 - 10/30/04 03:39 AM
Re: Christmas?
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Member
Registered: 10/08/04
Posts: 1274
Loc: MD
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You know the saying from Grinch . Christmas will come whether we want it to or not. So, we have to make the best of it.
Julie , I have never been to Australia . We will come and cook Dianne France should be pretty for the Holidays . I coming with you all. Ha!just kidding.
There will only be four of us for dinner . Anyone want to come. We don't have any family here. Just a thought. You have to bring some rolls to eat.Bread that is. Nancy [ October 29, 2004, 08:41 PM: Message edited by: Nancy50 ]
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#71484 - 10/30/04 05:46 PM
Re: Christmas?
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Member
Registered: 08/09/04
Posts: 242
Loc: Midwest
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Hi ya'll, As some of you know, I have a site dedicated to having Christmas on the cheap. It's called Frugal Christmas and I have several pages of Christmas freebies that are nice to stick on stockings, etc.. Actually, if any of you have some good freebie information, I sure would appreciate it if you'd post it here so I can put it on the site. Whatever your frugal Christmas ideas are, I'm always looking for new ones. As always, I'll give you credit and post a link to your site if you have one. Ho Ho Ho!
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#71486 - 10/31/04 12:37 AM
Re: Christmas?
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Member
Registered: 01/01/04
Posts: 678
Loc: Tazewell County, VA, USA
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Thank you Queen, your words mean a great deal.
We have "open table" on Christmas Day. Dave and I decided years ago we would stay home Christmas Day and have a place where friends could come. We celebrate Christmas with our family early in December and then we're free to stay home Christmas Day...what joy and peace to not be on the road that day!
There are a number of friends who haven't family anywhere near so we always do a buffet and give an open invitation to come share Christmas cheer. Dave likes to have a smoked salmon so we have little cracker sandwiches -which I adore- and I make a lot of baked goodies...lots of fun and we always seem to have people who enjoy each other's company. One year I baked all the crackers to go with the smoked salmon, cheese and other things that needed a cracker. Those crackers were a huge hit; no one had *ever* had homemade crackers before -grin-.
The Frugal Christmas site is great; thanks for telling us about it! I can see I"m going to spend a lot of time there -grin-.
I'm looking forward to a memorable, in a great way, Christ season this year.
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#71487 - 11/01/04 04:52 PM
Re: Christmas?
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Founder
Registered: 07/09/08
Posts: 23647
Loc: Maryland
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Julie, what are you serving for dinner? Wnat some of our recipes? Dian, France, what a lovely Christmas gift. I also like the check idea for the older grandkids. No one needs a darn thing anyway. Thistle, now that sounds like Christmas to me. We also stay home. Whoever wants to come by is welcome. It's the only day of the year we don't get in our cars and take off. I love it!
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#71488 - 11/06/04 01:11 AM
Re: Christmas?
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Writer
Registered: 02/24/04
Posts: 20267
Loc: Nevada
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Every year I would charge up the credit cards with too many, too expensive Christmas gifts but since last year I have cut them all up and if I can't pay cash, I don't buy it. This will be the first Christmas ever I will not be in debt all year afterwards. I decided that since everyone loved the cooking creations I make I would make them all something they personally love. Like Sausge & cheese breakfast cups, my peanut dip, Sun dried Tomato & cheese dip, Mini Spinach & cheese cups, Salmon balls and Italian Spinach Pie and last but not least Creamy Italian pudding. I sent out a note asking if they could have anything I could make what would it be. These are the answers so I will make and deliver each one their favorite with a gourmet coffee and some cookies. I always take goodies to the Nursing home but this year I will go there the night before Christmas Eve and cook up a few things for them for Christmas. I always collect and distribute treats, blankets, bowls, and money for the local "no kill" animal shelters here as well, plus I know it's silly but we put up a little tree too for them. Thats my christmas and I will go to my sons home for Christmas dinner. I always buy Jason something, he's 13 and a clothes horse. He loves sweaters and my friend knitted him one that is beautiful and she's taking my special Cheesy Artichoke recipe and Nutty Summer Squash with Asigo Cheese hor dourves as payment. Nice huh? Happy Holidays it shall be....
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#71489 - 11/07/04 10:01 PM
Re: Christmas?
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Founder
Registered: 07/09/08
Posts: 23647
Loc: Maryland
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Chatty, I love your idea of cooking for everyone. My problem is time. When the kids were younger we always baked for our neighbors. We made all kinds of cookies and Baby Jesus cupcakes. I'd buy pretty glass plates at the dollar store and we'd fill them with cookies and place the Baby Jesus cupcakes in the middle. On Christmas Eve my husband and kids still load up the car and take something to our neighbors, but I have to admit that last year it was been store bought! It's a great opportunity for the kids to give and NOT receive. We've also made great centerpieces. Use the old Clementine crates and fill them with evergreens, a couple ornaments from the dollar store and some candies/candy canes. Oh, we spray painted them first. The kids loved doing that part. They also piked the greens in and added the candy so they were involved Last year it wasn't the same. I felt like I did it all and the kids delivered with Ross. I need to get back to having them involved. Ah, another thing to delegate! Gift cards are great for out-of-towners. They are also tax free.
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#71491 - 11/08/04 01:44 AM
Re: Christmas?
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Member
Registered: 09/24/04
Posts: 17
Loc: Pasadena, Texas
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Chatty, last year at Christmas, my boss and best friend Bren, and I went to the local city shelter to take treats and blankets to the animals. This shelter, in Deer Park, doesn't have much funding, no frills, just a pound. But we know some of the people there, they have hearts too, paying out of pocket for things they need and the city does not provide. We went to hand out a little kindness to the creatures, cookies and blankets for the cages and runs. I came home with a little tiny kitten, pewter colored, I call her Jingle Bell. I didn't intend to, but when I looked in the cage of mewing kittens, she was in the back, quietly looking at me. Our eyes locked, and I was in love again. When I asked if I could hold her, they put her in my arms, and her tiny purr trobbed in my ear. I asked what the fee would be to adopt her, and the attendant said,"Just take her, but have her spayed!" No problem there. She rode around in the bib of my overalls most of that day, as we completed our errands.I went home and prepared myself for the "we can't afford another!" speech, but my hubby just looked and sighed. That was last Dec., she is quite the lady cat now, races around with the little dog, bullies the guinea pig, and generally makes it lively here. Oh yeah, she is strickly indoors, our first all indoor cat.
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