Good Old Christmas... Stress? (How Many People Do You Give Gifts To & How Much Do You Plan to Spend?)

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How Many People Will You Give Gifts To? And How Much Will You Spend?

  • I won't be giving any gifts.

    Votes: 1 7.7%
  • 0-4 people.

    Votes: 4 30.8%
  • 5-10 people.

    Votes: 4 30.8%
  • 11 or more people.

    Votes: 3 23.1%
  • I won't be spending any money on Christmas gifts.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • $1-$25 total.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • $26-$50 total.

    Votes: 1 7.7%
  • $51-$100 total.

    Votes: 1 7.7%
  • Over $100.

    Votes: 9 69.2%
  • I will be making/repurposing gifts and it will cost me about ______.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    13

laughingheart

Senior Member
Sep 21, 2016
1,709
1,668
113
#21
I will only give food or cash gifts this Christmas. I don't want to give or receive gifts that would just become unuseful and possible clutter at home. I am trying to be a minimalist.
You are wise. I know when my mom gives away almond cakes or spices nuts, people are always happy. A jar of jam as a hostess gift is always well received. I've also never heard someone object to cash lol.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,799
8,103
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#22
Oh yeah, I forgot about the bread!

I bake sourdough bread, and I almost live on the stuff. I bake 30-ish loaves at a time and freeze it. Most of the year I bake bread maybe once every three months or so.

Somewhere around the first of December I bake bread twice. I give a loaf to everybody at church who has expressed they like my bread. I give a loaf to certain coworkers I respect. And there are other places where bread goes: Last year a friend commissioned 14 loaves to give to her friends (she paid me for them) and another friend wanted 10 loaves as a donation for a fundraiser. I wound up giving out about 60-ish loaves last December (counting the 14 I got paid for.) Then I had to make more bread for me to eat for the next couple months.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,799
8,103
113
#23
Actually the 14 that lady bought almost paid for the flour for all the bread I baked last December... $3 a loaf is standard price when I donate bread for a bake sale.
 

cinder

Senior Member
Mar 26, 2014
4,327
2,359
113
#24
I've purchased everything I'm getting my parents. Have a few thoughts for my brother, but he says all he wants is help with food and bills. As for his stepkids (teens and preteens) well they can't keep track of money or gift cards so they may just get homemade printouts that say I'll take them shopping (or maybe I'll combine presents so that my brother's present is being able to get stuff for his stepkids, dunno yet).

I won't go into debt for christmas so I set aside a bit of money each month and set a per person budget based on that.
 
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,972
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#25
one is either 'in or out', no straddling in this pagan ceremonial, self-gratifying involvement -
knowing or un-knowing or learning, time will always be the 'tell' on each of our actions and why...
 

melita916

Senior Member
Aug 12, 2011
10,415
2,659
113
#26
I usually get one gift per family member and try my best to spend equal dollar amount for each gift lol or it could be multiple small gifts to match that dollar amount.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,799
8,103
113
#27
one is either 'in or out', no straddling in this pagan ceremonial, self-gratifying involvement -
knowing or un-knowing or learning, time will always be the 'tell' on each of our actions and why...
We have a different thread for ranting about how holidays are pagan. I started it before Halloween.
 
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,972
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#28
Good on you Lynx...
guess we have different takes on the meaning of 'ranting'???
 

Ghoti2

Well-known member
Nov 8, 2019
469
283
63
#29
I had to chuckle at your $ choices. Who spends that little?
 
M

morefaithrequired

Guest
#31
This thread makes me feel like Ebenezer Scrooge. Because we are similar.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,940
4,581
113
#32
I had to chuckle at your $ choices. Who spends that little?
The old CC system allowed 40 answers.

The new system allows the number of answers you see and I maxed it out. Do you write polls here? I hope you will. I really want to see how others work within the limitations.

Also, as you get to know the community here, you'll also come to realize that many on the forum are working with limited finances, and $100 is actually a lot of money to many people here.
 

Ghoti2

Well-known member
Nov 8, 2019
469
283
63
#33
The old CC system allowed 40 answers.

The new system allows the number of answers you see and I maxed it out. Do you write polls here? I hope you will. I really want to see how others work within the limitations.

Also, as you get to know the community here, you'll also come to realize that many on the forum are working with limited finances, and $100 is actually a lot of money to many people here.
It's not really that much when you consider what they spent on the electronic devices they are typing on.
 

BrotherMike

Be Still and Know
Jan 8, 2018
1,617
1,670
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#34
Gifts are 0 on my love language. I tell everyone I don’t need anything and I don’t go shopping for gifts other than my kids. I’m already done with my shopping this year! Very little stress :)
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,940
4,581
113
#35
It's not really that much when you consider what they spent on the electronic devices they are typing on.
I do understand what you're saying, Ghoti.

In fact, I think you've inspired a new thread.

Don't worry, I'll give you the credit. :)

As for myself, I spend less than $100 on Christmas but I had several other years where I spent much more.

I'm trying to be more minimal now, but that's just me, and cutting back on Christmas gifts was also part of my budget for paying off my car.
 

BrotherMike

Be Still and Know
Jan 8, 2018
1,617
1,670
113
#36
I will only give food or cash gifts this Christmas. I don't want to give or receive gifts that would just become unuseful and possible clutter at home. I am trying to be a minimalist.
I LOVE the idea of being minimalist or simplicity. The more stuff we own the more we have to take care of lol. The more simple my life is the more peace I get.
 

Ghoti2

Well-known member
Nov 8, 2019
469
283
63
#37
We usually start at about $1,000 through the church for just the shoebox ministry and the under-privileged families. Then we continue on to our own families. For just Sue and me, it isn't very much...… less than a C-note, combined.
 

BrotherMike

Be Still and Know
Jan 8, 2018
1,617
1,670
113
#38
I think of the song Mariah Carey... all I want for Christmas is you.... that’s really all I want too and Jesus of course :)
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,940
4,581
113
#39
We usually start at about $1,000 through the church for just the shoebox ministry and the under-privileged families. Then we continue on to our own families. For just Sue and me, it isn't very much...… less than a C-note, combined.
Well dang it all, the new poll I posted isn't going to be very helpful either, seeing as the range ends with about $1000...

Still, I do understand what you're saying, Ghoti.

It'll be interesting to see how people answer. :)
 

Tinkerbell725

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2014
4,216
1,179
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Philippines Age 40
#40
I LOVE the idea of being minimalist or simplicity. The more stuff we own the more we have to take care of lol. The more simple my life is the more peace I get.
I agree. We should travel light in this journey called life, since we can't bring anything if we depart anyway. Living simply and minimally gives you more peace because you won't be keeping up with the joneses anymore. It is very stressful, I don't get why people keep doing it to themselves.