Comments on: How I lowered Stress and Costs at Christmas

By: Four Pillars

Four Pillars — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:23:46 +0000

FM – that sounds good to me!

By: Finance Matters

Finance Matters — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:25:52 +0000

I liked MDJ’s idea of giving to someones favorite charity as a gift (for adults anyway). For the kids I say give a small gift and make a donation to their RESP (they will thank you later).

By: Entertainment Return on Investment

Entertainment Return on Investment — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 10:56:19 +0000

[...] Christmas to everyone who celebrates that sort of thing! Mike did an excellent Christmas post, so today’s post will only be slightly related to the [...]

By: SavingDiva

SavingDiva — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 17:05:34 +0000

I really love Christmas presents! I know that it’s not very frugal of me, but I can’t help it! It’s so fun to get presents for my family that I know they’ll enjoy….

By: Mr. Cheap

Mr. Cheap — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:52:30 +0000

Marko: I’m with you, I hate that.

By: marko

marko — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:03:38 +0000

I personally hate it. I wasn’t born in Canada so we never had this silly custom (other then kids getting presentes for New years) so it never makes sense to me. Somehow, a few years ago someone started and it’s now a given. The worst part of all is that gifts are most often stupid and meaningless (gift certificates) or “well what ya want?” presents.

By: FourPillars

FourPillars — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:59:48 +0000

CTR – those kind of gifts sounds nice.

Nobleea – maybe I should start buying non-alcohol wine?

Nancy – nothing wrong with giving gifts as long as everyone is into it. As Mr. Cheap says, it doesn’t work that well if you get dragged into it.

Preet – way too much consumerism. Congrats on the new girl!…

By: WhereDoesAllMyMoneyGo.com

WhereDoesAllMyMoneyGo.com — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:26:54 +0000

Hi Nancy, yes giving (and receiving) can feel great, no question about it.

I can’t speak for everyone here, but for me I very much like finding stuff as I happen upon it (could be August 3rd) and if I see something and think – hey, that would be great for so and so – I’ll buy it.

Or if I feel I should go out and get something for someone for a certain reason – i.e. they helped me out with something, or what have you, then I will certainly try to find something that requires thought and get it for them.

BUT – when it comes to Christmas time, I don’t subscribe to the consumerism of it all in such a big way. I think a lot of people feel that way too. If Christmas wasn’t so consumerism focused there wouldn’t be “guides on the etiquette of re-gifting” on Oprah and Ellen and the such. Our society’s focus on the material things has really clouded what is truly important.

I think the first word that comes to mind when you mention Christmas should be “family”, and not “presents”.

Not to say I’m a scrooge at Christmas or think people who do the gift thing are crazy. Far from it. In fact, if my family didn’t think along my lines then I would certainly buy gifts, put effort into it and be fine with it.

It just happens to be our family thinking – more my parents influence rather than my own too.

I should note that I certainly do buy presents for people outside the family during Christmas. It’s more of a formality though – if I know someone is getting me something, I’ll do something for them: it can be a gift, having them over for dinner, etc. Also I’m in a relatively new relationship with a wonderful girl so the jewelery has been bought! I may be cheap, but I ain’t stupid!

So, to re-iterate: I’m not against gift giving at all. I just like it being more on “my” terms…

By: nancy (aka money coach)

nancy (aka money coach) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:35:59 +0000

wow, ok, I guess I’m the contrarian here — I love giving gifts. I love receiving gifts. I think my family and small circle of close friends exchange in a pretty modest way – not piles and piles of Stuff, but a select group of gifts, most of which, on my end anyways, are genuinely appreciated. Some of the nicest things in my home are gifts and periodically i scan the room and feel … well, appreciative, and connected to the giver (of course, connected by other means as well). An antique fan that works, and I use every summer. A small, classy tv able I use daily. The best bracelet, ever. Just parts of my every day life that are from people I love, and most of them received at Christmas.

By: Mr. Cheap

Mr. Cheap — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:56:09 +0000

I’m with you 100% There’s always one “happy Santa” in the family who fights any attempt to pull back to a reasonable level of consumption and calls everyone who suggests change “Scrooges” (at least there is in my family, his response to any changes is “there are place in life to cut back, Christmas isn’t one of them”).

I’d *LOVE* to celebrate a giftless Christmas!