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Archive through October 22, 2008

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Oct. 2008 - Dec. 2008: Free Expressions: Holiday Shopping: Archive through October 22, 2008 users admin

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Kimsue
Member

07-08-2005

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 12:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kimsue a private message Print Post    
This year the Holiday Season will be a more budgeted in our house. There will be less splurging on incidental gifts for kids and neighbors. I admit that I feel like a "poop head" for having to make this decision. My kids have been spoiled in the past but due to the economy and poor decisions I've made over the past few years, things are tight!
How do you tell your kids not to expect so much this year and what can I do to make things not so disappointing on the day of present opening.

I've begun quilts for both my kids out of old jeans they have outgrown. I even embroidered some stuff on some of the squares. Messages of inspiration and designs. I intend on purchasing something small for them too. But there will be no new video game system or Ipods or new Tech stuff. It will just be simple and low budget.

Do any of you have idea's on how to prepare the kids. In the past We have refrained from talking about our financial matters in front of the kids. They are not ignorant about what things cost but we have never discussed how much we make or were it all goes with them.

Any suggestions would be very appreciated.

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 12:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Maybe you could top up their wonderful homemade gifts from the heart, with a few fun nicknack stocking-stuffers from a dollar store. We have tons of dollar stores around here with great bargains. They don't need to know where the stuff was purchased.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 1:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Kimsue.. there may be something on either (or both) Oprah's site and Dr Phil's.. they have both done a few shows on the economy and effects and I am pretty sure it was a guest on Dr Phil, or maybe Phil, talking about sitting down with kids before Christmas.


My SIL's family, years ago, pledged for one Christmas that all gives would be "Make it or Bake it" and they came up with some pretty creative things. They also cut off family members at a certain age, I think 21.

Kimsue
Member

07-08-2005

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 1:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kimsue a private message Print Post    
Thank you both. I will look into those things.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 1:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
How old are the kids, Kimsue?

For young kids, I wouldn't tell them anything. They're usually happy with anything (including the empty boxes, lol.)

Sounds like yours are older though, so I'd tell them the truth and answer their questions in age appropriate ways. Explain that this year its just not possible to buy everything or most of everything they want. And then point out Christmas isn't about the gifts but spending time with your family and loved ones. Remind them how lucky they are that they'll get as much as they do. Of course, kids are gonna be kids and it will still be hard to understand.

And then go out of your way to show them that the holidays can be fun without spending a ton of money on presents. Spend a weekend decorating or baking Christmas goodies, sing caroles, make crafts together, go looking at Christmas lights and watch a lot of Christmas movies.

Don't feel like a poop head, a lot of people are having to make the same choice this year. That's ok though cuz Christmas is about so much more than spending money.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 1:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Oh, and Kimsue, I wanted to say what a wonderful idea the quilts are! It's so creative and fun.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 1:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
How old are your kids Kimsue? If young then they probably won't notice and blame it on Santa lol. If older then I agree with what War said.

Kimsue
Member

07-08-2005

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 1:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kimsue a private message Print Post    
The kids are
girl 12
Boy 16 will be 17 early in January.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 1:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
Maybe make this Christmas more about giving to those less fortunate. Get them involved in something like feeding the homeless by either making stuff to drop off at homeless shelters or helping to serve dinner at shelters. Ask the kids to give 1 thing of their's that they no longer play with to give to a kid that has nothing. Your kids will feel so good about themselves that I don't think they will mind going without all the bells and whistles this year.

Cinnamongirl
Member

01-10-2001

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 1:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cinnamongirl a private message Print Post    
Thats a great idea Twinkie. My neice and nephew did that one year cuz they were getting out of hand with the spending and wanting... it made a huge impact!!

also, my g/f, when we were growing up...gave half of all Halloween candy collected to the childrens ward at the hospital... not that all the kids can eat a bunch of candy while in the hospital but it really made them happy and proud to do it.

Kimsue
Member

07-08-2005

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 2:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kimsue a private message Print Post    
Thanks everyone!
All good stuff.
I like the giving time to the less fortunate idea.
Maybe this would reaffirm to them that things aren't as bad in our home as they feel like it is.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 4:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Kimsue!! Just saw the promo.. Oprah has Suze Ormann on tomorrow to talk about talking to kids about finances and such (it is billed as talking to spoiled kids, but should work just as well for unspoiled ones as well)

Beckie03
Member

07-05-2007

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 4:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Beckie03 a private message Print Post    
i'm not sure what they have showed else where...but on tv there have been many commercials about k-mart having holiday layaway, so that you can put a little towards the payments each month and eventually get it for Christmas.

i'm not saying this is something that needs to happen or will work for everyone...but i think that is the smartest thing a store can do right now...it would help out during this time.

when i was younger, i do know that my mom sat my sister and i down and told us we would be having a small christmas and that was okay for us. it was the first year we were having christmas with just my mom...and it was really tough. and she did get us a few presents...and we were fine with them. she did buy us DVDs, and she made breakfast and we just sat around watching DVDs all day and then had dinner together.

Christy358
Member

07-10-2007

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 11:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Christy358 a private message Print Post    
Kids know when money is tight even if you do not tell them. Just sit them down and tell them the "Family" plan for tough times. A Family pulls together, has a common goal, and knows "THINGS" are not so important.

Csnog
Member

07-18-2002

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 6:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Csnog a private message Print Post    
The answers all are good. One fun gift would be good for each child. From the begining we did 3 gifts. One small, one med. and one large.

Gas gift card for the 17 yr. old was appreciated by mine. Just a gift in what their interested in helps, write a letter to your child about your pride in them and tuck it into your gift.

We baked a birthday cake each Christmas as it is a birthdsy.

We started a stock fund for grandchildren when they were young and added a share or two each event in their life. They get their statement with both their name and now mine in trust and are interested in the market. It's gone down but they know more about the economy.

The young grandchildren are given a roll of dimes and asked to drop one in each pot of the Salvation army so they dont have to pass because they gave all at once to one and feel bad about the others. They remind me if they are in the car. "don't forget the dime". Taking your child to a food bank and helping out gives knowlege of where their donations go.

Seeing your values is important and they will treasure your quilt, if not now, they will down the road. the fact that your making that quilt tells me your children are on track already

If they give gifts to teachers make it supplies instead of perfume or useless items. Many teachers buy supplies out of their own pocket.

In our house, if a clothing item is brought in, one item goes in the donation pile. Keeps the closet mess down. lol

Great thread Kimsue!

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 6:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
They were talking about this same issue on Good Morning America this morning. The expert said basically just tell kids why Christmas may be tight this year.

I'm telling mine the North Pole is closed.

Zgoodgirl
Member

08-22-2003

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 7:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Zgoodgirl a private message Print Post    
I have no kids, but our family it very close. We have been telling my nieces (4 and 15) that Christmas will be a little light this year. The 4 yo is getting to the point where she wants everything she sees, but the 14 yo knows the deal and is pretty OK with it. We all might pitch in and get her Rock Band 2 which she has been eyeing, but not asking for and some very small stuff. Either way, kids know more and understand more then some may think. I remember some times when things were tough when I was a kid and how it really never bothered me. IMO I think it just basically depends how you were raised if you take it better than some. You just gotta tell them straight up. The 4 yo sometimes asks why her cousin can eat out everyday and they can't, or why someone at school has something and she doesn't. But I think she is getting the idea of what money is, and how you need it to get the things you want. Thank God she doesn't pitch a fit when she asks for something and is told no. But anything new to a young kid is great in their eyes. They don't know the value of some things compared to the other.

K-Mart has started doing layaway again, though we do not have one close by us. I hear on the news that other stores will probably follow, though Wal-Mart really doesn't want to do it, I at least hope Target does.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 8:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
The 4 yo is getting to the point where she wants everything she sees

*sigh* welcome to my world with a 5 year old and an almost 3 year old, both girls, who want everything under the sun!

Pippin04
Member

10-26-2007

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 9:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Pippin04 a private message Print Post    
One Christmas when finances were very low I bought old fashoned board games. You can get new and updated versions on monopoly and others. Over the holidays we all played as a family. It was a Christmas we all remember because we spent all of our time together. We still take out the games and play as often as we can.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 9:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
We are building our kid's gift this year. They want a horse barn for their toy horses and we looked at them and they were really expensive to buy ($100 plus for a crappy one) well, my mom has a wood shop and Dh is pretty handy at stuff like that, so we are going to build them a custom horse barn for Christmas. DH will build it, I will paint it.

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 11:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Escapee that sounds AWESOME! And the kids will have it to hand down to their kids and it will be in the family forever! I LOVE these types of gifts/stories.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 11:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
Now I am trying to search for plans or wondering if we should "wing" it. We want it to be quite large.

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 1:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
I would search for plans and then do your own variation but at least you can use the original plans as a guideline. :-)

Grumpy
Member

02-08-2004

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 4:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grumpy a private message Print Post    
I recently got into crafts and stuff. Like painting and making stuff since I made KTBB a SNOOPY treasure chest box. This is what I gave her the other night... It was fun making these.

Grumpy
Member

02-08-2004

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 4:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grumpy a private message Print Post    
They were supposed to be a Christmas gift, but I had to give them to her the other night so we can clean off the candy counter.