Holiday Spending Debate - Rogersville, TN

Things cost more, cost-of-living raises aren't keeping up. Despite what they say about little or no inflation, I have to wonder if that figure isn't arrived at by an average. Because prices of electronics have gone down, they cover the fact that staples like food, gas and electricity have gone up. So while overall inflation doesn't appear to have risen much, the fact is that is has specifically for necessities. There is less and less money "left over" at the end of every month. Because of inflation - and a .25% cost-of-living increase - I will be spending LESS at Christmas. There's simply no choice.

So for I will not be spending a thing, to many bills, But my kids understand that I have lots of love to give to them which I give to them everyday. And they know when I do have extra cash and see something they can use I get it for them no matter what time of year it is.

So For wrote:

So for I will not be spending a thing, to many bills, But my kids understand that I have lots of love to give to them which I give to them everyday. And they know when I do have extra cash and see something they can use I get it for them no matter what time of year it is.

You are exactly right. When we see something that we want, well, no matter what time of year it is we get it. When we were little you made a wish list by looking at the Sear's Catalog. Of course, we wished for everything we saw and got very little.How many times did we get what we did not want for Christmas? More than once. But, we did not complain. There was no taking it back.We got what we got and we at least acted like we were pleased.Our children now days want for nothing including mine.We as adults want for next to nothing.Back in the dark ages when we were young, our parents did not have credit cards and nothing was bought on credit.The credit card companies just in the year 2010 will gather fees (late fees) of 20 million dollars. I had a stylist one time that was still paying for her last year's Christmas when the next rolled around. That is BS and BS again.The only way to have a credit card at all is to pay off the balance at the end of each month in total. Period.With the debit card, you know you have to have it to slide it. That is the best route to go. With over gifting our kids we are doing them no favors. We sure ain't doing ourselves any favors by doing so. We have taken the gift of giving by buying all year long. Bottom line.

I have my grandkids here now, while my daughter run to the Black Friday sales (like a Nut...lol), and everything my grand daughter has seen on tv, she says she wants. I feel she don't even know what most of that stuff is, she's only 4...lol. And yes, I can remember many times when I asked for things, I didn't get it and was so thankful for what I did get. My husband asked me what I wanted this year, I said, just my eyes checked and glasses, I need my eyes more then anything stores sell, so I can see these lovely grandkids of mine and read bedtime stories to them when they come to visit.

I can't spend what I don't have. The grand kids are getting older and the gifts they want are costing more. I try to get them to tell me "what one specific thing do you really, really want?" The whole family doesn't give gifts to adults for Christmas only the kids get gifts.

So For wrote:

I have my grandkids here now, while my daughter run to the Black Friday sales (like a Nut...lol), and everything my grand daughter has seen on tv, she says she wants. I feel she don't even know what most of that stuff is, she's only 4...lol. And yes, I can remember many times when I asked for things, I didn't get it and was so thankful for what I did get. My husband asked me what I wanted this year, I said, just my eyes checked and glasses, I need my eyes more then anything stores sell, so I can see these lovely grandkids of mine and read bedtime stories to them when they come to visit.

Total mess on this Black Friday. Had not been shopping on this day in over 25 years and today showed me what I have NOT been missing.These people were crazy as all get outs. There were lines to pay for merchandise that was over 5 glory filled hours. Yes.% glory filled hours. My son went to Target and said that the line to pay went from the front door to all 4 corners of the store just to pay.From the end to the registers would be over 6 hours at least is what her guesstimated.What in the name of anything sacred would anyone want to stand that long and some women had very young children with them. Torture for them to say the least. That would be like being abused in time out for nearly 6 hours.He turned and walked out as well. I wonder how many did the same as he and I did?There is NOTHING that is worth that much of my day for no amount of savings.This stuff will be on sale over and over again before Christmas.I had quoted in an earlier post on this same topic that 20 million dollars was still not paid by credit card users from last season 2009.The exact amount is 13.6 million is yet not paid.Who gets this picture besides me. How much of this shit that was stood in line for for the better part of the day will be taken back by some ungrateful teen that we have? The figures would make you sick. So, what did these people gain? I wonder how much smaller the line would have been if it were not for the glorious credit card companies? You could zoom through a check out in 2.3 seconds.My other son stood and was talking to someone he knew and a lady walked up to who he was talking to and took a Christmas tree straight out of her buggy because the clerk said that she had taken the last one. She politely walked up and took this dang tree out of the lady's buggy. It didn't take her but about 5 seconds to put it right back in there. There were more of others standing there than she was and she gladly put it back.Nothing is worth your sanity. Not even a sale that will continue on right through the Holidays and much beyond.After Christmas madness will be just as vicious.Happy shopping.

circumstance change

China loves the USA this time of year!

Last year I was unemployed but, this year I have my job back. I have already spent twice as much than last year. Last year I could barely aford to eat.

So For wrote:

So for I will not be spending a thing, to many bills, But my kids understand that I have lots of love to give to them which I give to them everyday. And they know when I do have extra cash and see something they can use I get it for them no matter what time of year it is.

AMEN,GOOD MOTHER...May God shine his eye's on you and your family this Holy Holiday season...

Source wrote:

Last year I was unemployed but, this year I have my job back. I have already spent twice as much than last year. Last year I could barely aford to eat.

May God Bless and keep you... and may things turn better for you and ALL people that are in a hard situation...

Big Dog wrote:

China loves the USA this time of year!

USA NEEDS those jobs BACK,DOG!!!..BUY USA MADE GOODS ONLY!!!!!!

Why wait until Christmas to buy what you want. If you can afford it on August 27th, buy it then. Avoid the hassles!

My husband and I have no children, so this year we have decided to forego presents for each other. It's not even a money issue as much as we have all that we want or need. We know that we are blessed. Instead we will make one item each for the other. While I find this challenging, I know it will take much more thought and planning.

We will buy for other people's children who actually have a need. This gives us both greater satisfaction.

When Holiday spending comes up in conversation this year. I am finding more are spending less. Far less.Instead of a bunch of little things they are buying one nice thing and callin it quits and the "nice thing" is not expensive.Considering the cost of living rising and the decrease in the job market,people are left with no choice. I elect that my family spend time together. Eat and have a blast together and focus on the little ones. As stated earlier in a post I had written we have Christmas all year around. We see something we like then we buy it.I guess in a sense we have eliminated the element of surprise for Christmas by doing so.My husband and I are considering sending our adult children on a vacation.It is something different.It is something they would not do for themselves. So, why not? Somewhere that is warm and come back here and freeze their a@@ off!!You as a parent can't buy your adult children something that they don't already have. I thought about this and thought about it. I think it is a good idea.It will give me more time with my girls and they more time with me. That is a gift all in itself to me.Merry Christmas.

Money and Parents (80) years are very sick and it's just myself taking care of both. It wont be much if any Christmas this year' Merry Christmas anyway., and God Bless to all.

Better Days wrote:

Money and Parents (80) years are very sick and it's just myself taking care of both. It wont be much if any Christmas this year' Merry Christmas anyway., and God Bless to all.

I have a lot of clients who are caring for aging parents.If you are an only child it makes the care needed for the parents almost impossible.Now the flip side to this coin is:you can be one of four children and the only one "stepping up to the plate". It is like being the only child.Merry Christmas and may God bless and keep you and your family this Holiday Season.

Thanks Bridges this is K Carpenters Brother. He now live in Gree, SC and has a 15 yr girl and works 7 days week. Last time he was here was Dec.09 when Mom was in ICU with Heart Failure, Strokes and more. Mom and Dad are almost 80 now and both are not doing well at all. Dad too an early retirement when Mom got Breast Cancer 16 yr's ago.
I moved back home in Aug. 09 to help take care of Mom and now Dad isn't doing well either. I know Keith would love to see Norman and Eddie Wil./Linda and all but he/she(she mostly) wants him to work 24/7, well 18/7 He retired form Eastman after 26 yr's and has been working for BMW sice for many yr's and we never hardly ever get to see him and we all three are no longer able (health wise) to take trips to visit. But anyway Tell eveyone, Hello and before I forget Celo and Wife have stopped and begged Dad and us to let their nephew do the mowing and yard work, but if you know Dad he'd rather be doing it if he was able. Ask Norm does he remember Dad coaching the Ball Teams for all Persia Teams and many more. I truly miss those days and memorys and I'm sure the young and older teens (KIDS THEN) remember those days. Perisa Ball Feild. Anyway Bridget, Thanks for your reply, not even knowing who it was.
Take Care and have a Very Merry Christmas.

No offense to anyone! I love Christmas, and I love giving gifts to my kids just as much as the next person. I just think that all have lost the true reason for Christmas. We are celebrating the birth of Christ, not the giving and receiving of gifts. Yes, I have already finished wish my Christmas shopping and I am thankful that God as allowed me to do so. I was talking to a friend the other day and I told them, for next year I thought about having only homemade gifts. When I was a kid my grandmother used to crochet or sew each of us something and I have more memories of those things than the one people actually purchased in the stores! I hope all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and please don't forget why we are celebrating! God bless you all!

BeterDaysKCarpentersBro wrote:

Thanks Bridges this is K Carpenters Brother. He now live in Gree, SC and has a 15 yr girl and works 7 days week. Last time he was here was Dec.09 when Mom was in ICU with Heart Failure, Strokes and more. Mom and Dad are almost 80 now and both are not doing well at all. Dad too an early retirement when Mom got Breast Cancer 16 yr's ago.
I moved back home in Aug. 09 to help take care of Mom and now Dad isn't doing well either. I know Keith would love to see Norman and Eddie Wil./Linda and all but he/she(she mostly) wants him to work 24/7, well 18/7 He retired form Eastman after 26 yr's and has been working for BMW sice for many yr's and we never hardly ever get to see him and we all three are no longer able (health wise) to take trips to visit. But anyway Tell eveyone, Hello and before I forget Celo and Wife have stopped and begged Dad and us to let their nephew do the mowing and yard work, but if you know Dad he'd rather be doing it if he was able. Ask Norm does he remember Dad coaching the Ball Teams for all Persia Teams and many more. I truly miss those days and memorys and I'm sure the young and older teens (KIDS THEN) remember those days. Perisa Ball Feild. Anyway Bridget, Thanks for your reply, not even knowing who it was.
Take Care and have a Very Merry Christmas.

Sorry I am just now responding to your post.Been very busy with the holidays. I sure will ask Norman about your dad and team. Norman is doing great and we have two little granddaughters that hung the moon and every star in the sky.They are our life and then some. Oh! Forgot, we have two sons that are grown.Get too excited when it comes to these little girls we have.Com e and see us. Norman still lives where he did when you were growing up here. Still "on the farm".You are welcome here anytime. You guys have a Merry Christmas as well and do drop in.He would love to see you. How time does pass. God Bless You and Your's.Bridget