Comments on: The Holiday Finances

By: Want A Free Flip Video Camcorder? | nice day

Want A Free Flip Video Camcorder? | nice day — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:59:36 +0000

[...] Gather Little By Little: The Holiday Finances [...]

By: crazyliblady

crazyliblady — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:59:54 +0000

Have you considered getting all the family members together and each person drawing a name of a person to buy a present for out of a hat. It would definitely result in less money being spent on gifts, so your budget doesn’t suffer. Or how about your present being getting together for a potluck meal and watching a movie or playing card games? Why does Christmas have to be a big, expensive production?

Another option is to go to your bank and set up a Christmas Savings Account. Decide on an amount, even if it’s only $5.00, to deposit each month or whatever. I used to do this with the property tax on our car when we had a new car and could not afford to come up with $300 or something on short notice.

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:54:10 +0000

I have read a book about Gov’t Grants and I hope it could help those who are having problems financially or those who want to put up a business in the future. It’s very helpful. It’s called:
How to start or grow business using government grant money – Directory of grant funding programs

By: Want A Free Flip Video Camcorder?

Want A Free Flip Video Camcorder? — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:06:22 +0000

[...] Gather Little By Little: The Holiday Finances [...]

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:31:41 +0000

Neighbors and acquaintances? You don’t even call them friends, why would you get a gift for these people. It’s time to say no. Who cares if you look cheap, like you said they don’t pay your bills. If these people are your friends they’ll understand, and if they’re not why do you care what they think. As far as pitching in gifts for employers, supervisors, and employees just say you’re not going to this year, and don’t sign the card. Make it known that you won’t and so you don’t expect anything this year. If they still choose to give you a gift then accept it and say thank you. Just remember it’s their choice and you gave them fair warning that you won’t be exchanging gifts with them. If that’s how they choose to spend their money it’s their choice.

By: dramon

dramon — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:46:20 +0000

I think you might be pleasantly surprised if you suggest dropping gifts for most adults. We tell our friends, spending time with them is enough for us. They are happy as well not to shop, wrap, etc! Each year we drop more gift buying that way.

Or if you have a large circle of friends, each draw a name.

White Elephant exchanges can be fun as well.

Now I just need a cut off age for neices and nephews! I guess I have some sympathy for poor college students versus someone on their own working (although the age can be the same).

By: Gina

Gina — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:38:24 +0000

We are like you and Mrs. Stew … I am the social butterfly and my husband is not. And we have changed our giving this year too: limited cash gifts to $25 or less and included more ‘homemade’ gifts (cookies, pictures my daughter painted). I have never tipped the garbage man or postal worker (should I?).

When I am out of debt (in 2 yrs) I will be able to ‘give like no one else’.

By: Susie G

Susie G — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:37:54 +0000

I agree with the above! I also just don’t reciprocate wherever possible. People I don’t want to escalate to exchanging gifts with give me one, I say thank you with gracious surprise, and move on. Either they quit, or I keep saying thank you, graciously surprised, year in and year out :-)

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:02:34 +0000

Totally agree with “Funny.” Also, if you shop with cash, and the cash runs out, you’re done Christmas shopping. No going over the budget that way.
We fill our kids stocking from the big guy, and each kid gets one present (approximately $20 each, although this year they were $15, $15, and free) from mom and dad, and they are totally satisfied with this. If things are so tight, you and your wife can agree to not buy for each other, and try to get the family to babysit one night while you’re visiting. You may enjoy that more than another thing anyway.

By: Funny about Money

Funny about Money — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:50:39 +0000

Gasp! Not enough to contribute to savings but you’re feeling pressured to buy junk for everyone in sight? Time to sit down with the family for a frank conversation.

If you’re feeling that way, there’s a good chance others are, too. They might be open to the idea of reducing spending on holiday gifts. Some families limit gift-giving to small children. And some people substitute some meaningful activity — a family party or a big communal outing, for example — for the gifting frenzy.

You’re not required to give money to everyone in sight. Just quietly “forget” to donate. I don’t carry cash, so when someone comes to me with their hand out, I can honestly smile and say I don’t have any money on me but I’ll bring a check. Then I forget the check. Interestingly, when you do give those kinds of folks a check, they often don’t cash it!

The mailman and the trash collectors are not going to stop delivering mail and picking up the garbage if they don’t get a year-end bonus from you. Chances are they earn more than you, and as government employees, they’re getting a retirement plan that evidently beats yours hands-down.

It’s unethical for an employer or supervisor to expect to get gifts from the slaves…what on earth does THAT say? Neighbors and coworkers can expect to get a plate of homemade cookies wrapped in cellophane and a red ribbon, and that’s about it. Thank you very much. As for the office gift exchange? Contrive to be sick on that day. Or just quietly, without saying anything, don’t contribute…I’ve never contributed to one of those things. The only consequence is that the people who don’t contribute don’t get to draw a gift. Sob!