Are you scaling back for the holidays?

[Meld256]

Carolina,

I like your attitude.  Go somewhere and let them cook and clean! I like the traditions you've subscribed to over the years.  And I love giving a child a book or learning tool-type of toy.

I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers through this season. It can be a sad time for so many, for many reasons. 

Irish,
Yep, I think we may be a lot alike.  Your DIL also has my respect for the way she handles the Christmas season.  I commend her for having the kids clean out and give things away.

One of the best learning experiences was when I was a Girl-Scout leader for my daughter's troup. Every year, 1/2 the money we made from cookie sales went to short trips the girls enjoyed.  The other 1/2 went to children less fortunate. 

We took baskets of toiletries, socks and blankets to our local homeless shelter.  We took food to the pantry. We visited and took books, clothes and toys to children living at a home for abused children. 

The girls in our group really saw how other children live.  The children's home was wonderfully run, and yet broke my heart.  One year, a little girl who was 9 gave me a little Bible she owned because she wanted to thank us.  I cried all the way home.  That was 14 years ago, and I still have it; probably the best gift I've ever received. 

Makes me realize I haven't done a lot of this kind of giving lately. I really need to get back at it, starting this year and make it year-long, not just for the Christmas season.

[Madison Granny]

We scaled back on Christmas when our son left to be on his own.  Now he, his wife and daughter spend Christmas with her family.  The five of us get together and watch our Grandaughter open our presents to her later around New Year's.  As for the day, my husband and I just enjoy be together since he's a truck driver and is gone allot.  This Thanksgiving his sister wants us to come to her new house that day.  It will be fun since all that I have to cook is a green salad and a pumpkin pie.  My mother is waiting to have hers until her birthday the end of January.

[Bucky]

I've been scaling back more or less since I realized I was baking cookies at 2 am that no one really wanted that much, because it was 'tradition'.....my mother's tradition.

I had read a story once about a gal that always cut off the end of her meatloaf when cooking it.  She never knew why she did that - that's what her mother did - as did her grandmother.  She finally asked her grandmother why she did that.  Come to find out, the meatloaf wouldn't fit into her grandmothers pan, so she cut the ends off so it would fit.  A tradition that was passed down from generation to generation.   

It's nice to have family traditions - but, some through the years, are dropped or replaced with something more relevant to current times.  Back in our grandparents or gt. grandparents times, they didn't have a lot of the things we do today - modes of transportation (cars,planes, buses, etc.), modern conveniences (electric refrigerators, electric or gas stoves, furnaces, air conditioning, electricity, etc.).  They made do with the things they had at the time - they survived - they were fed, had housing, and didn't have as many "material" belongings that we do today.

They would get together with neighbors and have quite a spread of food.  Sacrificing a cow, pig, or chicken for a meal was a big deal back then.  Maybe, if you were a guest you would bring a loaf of homemade bread, or a jar of homemade jelly, or a homemade pie.  You didn't go out and "buy" a gift - you made it.

Homemade gifts are my favorite to receive.     (I have an afghan that was given to me for my high school graduation from a neighbor lady.  I have used that afghan daily for the last 35+ years!!).  If you go into my bedroom right now, you will see it folded at the end of my bed - it will be used tonight.   

Toys for children through the years have changed and gotten so expensive.  Look at any store sales ad for toys - most run $25 and higher.  It's hard as a parent not to be able to give your child the "latest and greatest" gadget that is current trend at the moment.  We have always told our son that we wished we could afford to give them _________ (fill in the blank) like Tommy got - he understands.

I have always shopped yearlong - watching for sales - and squirreling away gift items for my family (IF I could only remember where they were in hiding when I needed them!!  ).  As our son has gotten older - it's not as easy to do.  I don't think a board game and some Hotwheels and underwear and socks would suffice an almost 16 yr. old!! 

You know, I had heard from my SIL, that the "family" was all going to be eating out for Thanksgiving this year.  I was disappointed - I really didn't want to eat out.  (I know, some of you are saying . . . "what?  Are you crazy?!").  The place they were going to eat at has a buffet - it would cost $427.46 for the 16 of us to eat (including tip).  Ridiculous!!  Do you know how much food we could buy for $427.46??  Plus, if there is a huge display of food - we'll eat waaaay more than we need to.  After all, you would want to eat your moneys worth at $24.95 per person! 

Since then, I have heard we are NOT going out to eat, but one of the nieces is having family Thanksgiving at her house.  Yay!!  She's got a huge house, so we can all easily fit in.  I'll bring several dishes to share and go over to help get things ready.  Even though the "other" way would be a whole lot simpler - I like the more family oriented, at home, kind of celebration.  That's how I roll.   

Here's a "tradition" I read about in a magazine you might want to try.  Whenever you have a family (or friends) get-together, but especially at the holidays - buy a white or light colored fabric tablecloth for the dining table.  Get a pen that will write on fabric and have each person present sign their name and date it (and they could leave a little note if they wanted to).  It could become a family heirloom that is passed down from generation to generation.  Just a thought.

Cricket - I hope you get some help in the kitchen - that's a lot of work!

Bucky

[Narablueeyes]

Meld, I sooooo agree with you.  Buy for Dusty and fuhgit about iiittttttt!   . That's supposed to be my new joisey mobster imitation. 

Significant other and I are doing Cornish hens for thanksgiving probably one of those huge roasting hens for Christmas.  Lots of new recipes for side dishes and desserts. 

Just me and him.  A few presents for each other.  If he wants to go back home and see his mom, he usually takes his son. 

Alls quiet on my front.  What he decides to do on his sideline is his call.   

[bloodless]

Scaling back here too! Mother Hubbard's cupboard is bare! And her wallet is looking pretty similar. I have a bad habit of buying ornaments. Every year I say I'm not buying any more, but somehow end up doing so. Not this time. I'm even seriously considering getting a fake tree and avoid tree shopping and especially putting on the lights. UGH! I really hate that. I have no idea what I'll put under it since money is so tight. I may just buy for my two grandchildren.

Cricket, I feel for you. I've had the same problem. I've been trying as of last year to scale back the cooking. I'm going to ask others to bring some food this year if I even do the dinner thing. It's just too  much. I just got through the agony of doing the wedding cake for my daughter's wedding. I was popping the hydracodone on that one!

[GeorgiaGirl]

Bloodless, I have an ornament addiction, too.   

[engy]

We have scaled back more & more every year & it makes the holidays much more enjoyable! We only buy for the children & spend very little. Most of them want gift cards which are easy & they get what they want.

We spend the most on my only child but buy a lot of necessities like clothes.  She has her list of must haves & it is reasonable.

For the first year I am not doing Christmas dinner & I'm so relieved!! However I am doing all of Thanksgiving (& all gluten free).

I feel good about cutting back  . Carie

[Bucky]

Here's an idea I posted a couple years ago that you might find "unique" in reference to some "homemade" ornaments. 

Take the mason regular jar lids (the flat ones) and find pictures to either glue or decoupage onto them, punch a hole in the top with a hole punch and put some pretty ribbon through it.  Turn it over and say who is in the picture and the date.

You can use pictures of pets, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, parents, grandparents, friends . . . pictures of anything.  It could be a fun project for the little ones to help with.  It might become a family tradition.   

You could make a "family tree" using all these pictures.

Bucky

[Cricket]

Well, wouldn't it be great if we all could get together for the holidays and meet one another!!

You are all invited for Christmas dinner - nothing to throwing in another roast or two!!!! lol

[Carebear]

What a nice idea, Cricket!     I'll bring the gluten free biscuits and gravy!

[Bucky]

With the ever rising utility costs - have any of you scaled back and NOT put up Christmas lights on the outside of your home?

I've gone to the trouble of putting lights up a couple of times - then we hardly turned them on - so now I feel, "why bother?" - so we don't.  Nobody wants to go outside to plug in/unplug the lights. We could get a timer, but I don't want to spend money on that.  Bah humbug!   

Bucky

[Joe S.]

I put up LED lights two years ago and left them up.

[A66eyroad]

I told my daughter (age 31) that I wasn't putting up a tree this year and she got very upset with me. I told her, if you want a tree, you'll have to come home and put it up for me. (She's a three hour drive away)

So she's coming home the first weekend of December!

Who knew it was that easy to get her home for a weekend?!?   

[harrigan]

I think I will be scaling back as I will be having my 1st infusions of Rituximab on 7/12 and 21/12.  I will definitely need some help for Christmas!  xx Ailsa

[Meld256]

harrigan,

I'll be thinking of you with your infusions. Yes, go ahead and do some delegating for the help you need. 

A66ey,
That was and easy way to get her home!  Hey, that gives me a thought...our daughter is coming for a long weekend Thanksgiving visit.  My husband doesn't get into putting up the tree, soooo maybe she and I can do it.    Hmmnn....maybe between my aches and her morning sickness we can eventually get it done; what a pair!