I haven’t begun my Christmas shopping yet this year. No, I don’t know what I am waiting for either. Divine intervention? A humungous sale? Several extra days, preferably weeks, to spring up between now and then?
I am beginning to see a positive though with waiting this long. Whatever I buy will be it. There will not be any running back to the store for one more thing. Or trying to even out the piles. It will just be what it is. It has also made me start thinking about the one thing that the kids really want.
And you know what I have discovered? That I have a bunch of spoiled children who really want for nothing. They honestly do not have any ideas about things they want. Other than cell phones, which they are not getting.
Before anyone feels too sorry for my children, we did just return from a family trip to Florida and Disney World, which we told them was going to be their big present. They will still get their stockings and a couple of inexpensive presents, but nothing spectacularly grand.
What sort of presents are you buying this year? I hear that people across the country are cutting back and buying less this year, but then when I am in stores and see the buying frenzy I wonder if this is really true. Have you cut back on your purchases this year?
I did all my shopping on Monday in less than ten minutes – at the bank. The envelopes will be a little lighter this year.
Comment by Kathy from NJ — December 19, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
Teenagers get gift cards, my family gets home-baked goods, but the grandparents actually got an expensive gift this year: we got a portrait painted of our little one, with some professional prints for them (we keep the original). And we don’t have to worry about HER, as the only grand-daughter and little kid on both sides of the family, she is spoiled rotten.
The mall down here was empty earlier this month, maybe it varies by region.
Comment by Brigitte — December 20, 2008 @ 8:33 am
Actually, my kids are getting one home made gift. Each child is getting a heart felt gift that is taking me hours to do…but with every hour I spend on all of my children I do it remembering how much I love them.
My kids love the home made gifts only because they know that no one else in the world will have the same gift.
I tried the store bought stuff one year and was in tears realizing that things broke “too soon”, ended up being recalled, or cost an arm and a leg with the battery consumption.
We’ve also decided to spread our idea by making gifts for all our friends. It’s a simple idea that has made the kids have a new appreciation for eggs. Yes, eggs. We empty out the shell and use the egg in our cooking with the good old fashioned two small holes at each end and blow. The egg shells get rinsed out and dried. Then we take old nail polish and “paint” the eggs. We attach a ribbon on the top. Home made ornament. Yes, it’s very fragile like glass….but if it breaks no glass shards going into anyone’s feet.
I say we take back the true meaning of “gift giving” and have the retail stores, banks, and everyone we love that it really is the thought and the love we put into each item….not the cost.
Just my two cents….Merry Christmas!
Comment by Jaime — December 21, 2008 @ 10:20 pm
This year I am not able to buy much my kids have had lots in the past. Too many toys as my family tell me and they do not appreciate. So this year I had them pick out presents for those kids who really do not have anything and donate. My children will be getting clothes and things that they need instead of toys that they think they want but do not play with or even pay attention as soon as they open. This year is definitely less and giving some good lessons so they can remember its better to give than receive. Happy Holidays
Comment by Anabel Mikolay — December 22, 2008 @ 5:39 am