Affording Christmas

Christmas should be a joyful time of celebration, getting together with loved ones and relaxation. It should be a time where we remember how much we have to be thankful for, and to appreciate one another.

I was reading the Tightwad Gazette, and it was referring to how there comes a certain price/amount of gift/level beyond where gifts become meaningless, and it is different for every person and family.

My two oldest children have disabilities, so when they were younger, my husband and I spent a lot of money on them, to "compensate" them for any lack they had. I am sad to say one Christmas they got horribly disgusted when they were given pyjamas by some relatives. I am now teaching my children about appreciation while they are still young enough to accept my advice (LOL).

A sign I made now hangs on my wall, it reads:

(Info available at www.elefantz.com, also Handmade magazine, Volume 30, number 7, Express Media Group 2012)

"Thank God for dirty dishes - they have a tale to tell - while other folks go hungry, we're eating very well. With home and health and happiness, we surely shouldn't fuss, for by this stack of evidence God's been good to us."

My husband and I are going to be putting on a meal for my brother, his wife and their family. That is our gift. On top of that, we have agreed that we can give the children a gift that is either (1) free, (2) handmade (3) from a second hand source or (4) under $5-$10.

When you start looking at items, and seeing them in terms of "how many hours is it going to take me to work to pay for that thing," when really your children want time with you, and that is completely priceless - it brings new meaning to the gifting selection!!!

Different families may be on different levels of income, and whatever that threshold may be will be different - apparently in the royal family they give very, very simple understated gifts - like pairs of socks. If royalty can give a pair of socks, there is no shame in undies and socks!!!!

For sources of gifts this year, I have started looking now. The local supermarket has been a good source, when I have hunted down the back on the clearance rack, I have scored some really good buys that are end of line products. I thought they would make excellent gifts. Some of these end of line purchases I am going to combine together in a basket for the receiver (in my husband's family) so that the value is worth a lot more than the set budget.

It is the time and the selection and the thought that goes into it that matters, not the material wealth behind it.

This year, for Christmas and the time of celebration, I am going to go to bed that night, knowing that I haven't maxed out a credit card and I will sleep well. That is going to be a gift to myself!!!