Christmas and Finances

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Cindy12

Senior Member
Jan 5, 2015
243
11
18
#21
May I rant on here also? Christmas every year makes me so stressed and honestly slightly depressed because of the commercialism attachment. My husband and I have chosen that I stay home with the children until they're all in school; so we 'survive' off one income. Christmas comes and thus we usually blow our budget, and then suffer incredibly throughout the new year until about April.

Everyone around us is quite settled; and our siblings have chose no children. So we're the only young parents and no-one seems to understand our struggles. It makes me cry...okay, now I'm crying. :( I am so tired of feeling so stretched. Christmas used to be a celebration for me, and now it just becomes a dread.

I feel you; pray for you both!! <3
God bless you my sweet friend. I didn't mean to make you cry -- I've found myself doing that oftentimes around the holidays and it's due to the same thing -- commercialism. The things I enjoy the most about Christmas time is going to our churches Christmas play about Jesus, having my family come home for the holidays and the simple things. When the commercialism got tossed into it, I think it did dump a downer on many families who have small children. It does take so much out of the monthly income to afford buying children presents from Santa, and its hard to not do that when they are small because they hear so much and see so much about it on tv and from their friends.
 
M

mokie22yrold

Guest
#22
Forget gift giving this year and maybe next year you can give. I havne't read all the replies. Since you manage to pay off THEIR student loans that is a gift in itself . Like someone said they will survive without a gift once in a while. Perhaps explain to your family you're making big strides in getting out of dept and don't want to spend money on gift this year. I'm not. I'm recently divorced and trying ot pay off a dept my ex should of paid but left me with it. So other then sending some cards and getting myself a little bit of decorations i'm not buying anyone a gift.
 
Jul 16, 2015
57
1
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#23
I remember one year when I had no money to spend on my mother for her birthday and instead of buying her a gift, I made one of her favorite dishes. She was more than thrilled and I was happy too. Maybe you can make everyone some of their favorite food. Im sure they will be very happy with that :)
 

Cindy12

Senior Member
Jan 5, 2015
243
11
18
#24
Forget gift giving this year and maybe next year you can give. I havne't read all the replies. Since you manage to pay off THEIR student loans that is a gift in itself . Like someone said they will survive without a gift once in a while. Perhaps explain to your family you're making big strides in getting out of dept and don't want to spend money on gift this year. I'm not. I'm recently divorced and trying ot pay off a dept my ex should of paid but left me with it. So other then sending some cards and getting myself a little bit of decorations i'm not buying anyone a gift.
God bless you my friend -- getting out of debt is more important. The Bible says, don't be slave to the lender. I have been in the situation as well (30 yrs ago) where an ex left me with his debt because he filed bankruptcy and I was a cosigner -- so I know the feeling. Get your debts paid off and live financially free! Good for you, and thank you for your advice.