The Santa Claus Parade is Today!!
Well, it's officially the holiday season. Halloween is over - which is pretty much the key determinant for Christmas season kick-off in Canada - the malls are playing carols and Santa Claus is coming to my town.....this afternoon. This also means that Christmas shopping is upon me.
I've got to be honest, I used to love shopping for presents for my family because I knew that they would enjoy receiving gifts picked especially for them. It was fun to dip into the stores with the money I had earned from my part-time job between Charlie Brown's Christmas special and the large-scale production put on by my church. The shopping took a backseat to baby Jesus and family time and was joy-filled. Nowadays, however, that joy is gone. My family is huge (and growing) and my income is no longer 100% disposable. Christmas shopping seems to be one of the largest hassles of the holidays and a major financial headache. I've got bills to pay and kids (ok, kid) to feed!! Here's the shopping list:
2 parents 3 brothers
2 sisters-in-law
7 nieces and nephews (ages 1-13)
1 son (he's 7)
1 for my son's dad (a gift from lil' man)
2 of Lil' man's godparents
2 Secret Santas with different groups of friends plus one at work
and a partridge in a pear tree....
Phew!!!!
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to (a) enjoy the holiday season without getting caught up in the stress of shopping (b) give gifts to everyone without breaking the bank and (c) find a way to balance gift-giving with the true meaning of the season? I'll be grinning through the parade as I contemplate a second mortgage to make it through to January....
~gg~
Play Six Word Saturday along with Cate at Show My Face. The premise: Describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. Sounds easy, right? It is....and fun, too!! Click on the button to see what other six words people are putting together.
Since my divorce, my Christmas gift list has lessened tremendously! Now it's my 3 kids (all grown), their significant others and my own significant other and that's it!
ReplyDeleteSomeone told me once that she gives 3 gifts each...something for body, mind and soul. Just little gifts like something to wear or to eat, a book or a game, and a music cd to lift their spirit. I thought that was a good idea.
ReplyDeleteOf course that would be for the closest people to you. Then just one thing for the others. Which could be something small.
Oh man... I totally feel you... Christmas with the gift giving turns the holidays into such a level of stress that sucks all the fun out of it! :( We are really cutting back on the gift giving... those who love us wont mind - right?
ReplyDeleteTrying to keep JESUS the center of the Holiday... not gifts... FAMILY over FINANCES! Good luck... let me know if you get any great ideas or tips!
We have three little girls in our home, and they wouldn't allow us to forget that the Day is Jesus' birthday!! I let them place the Nativity underneath the tree, and all the figurines are in place. Of course, the animals and those shepherds go traveling all the time! I never know who is gonna be in the cradle.........
ReplyDeleteI totally love love love Christmas!!
I can't believe how many are posting about Christmas! Let me survive Thanksgiving first. Then finals. I'll be ready to think about Christmas on the 23rd of December at this rate. Eek!
ReplyDeleteHomemade gifts. Cookies. Stationery, ideas are endless.
ReplyDelete