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What are your plans for Christmas gifts this year? (VANITY)
11/4/09 | Self

Posted on 11/05/2009 5:22:26 AM PST by Crusher138

With the economy in sad shape I have heard reports of people changing their gift giving habits this year. As the owner of a company that produces custom gifts, I would like to hear from Freepers what plans they have for gifts - both personal and business - this season. Are you planning on giving more, less, or the same? Are you cutting back on who you are giving to or are you giving to the same number of people, but changing the value of the gifts? Are you planning on giving more "home made" gifts? If so, what kind?


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: christmas; gifts
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To: defendingright

MMG - made me google


21 posted on 11/05/2009 5:47:45 AM PST by listenhillary (A "cult of personality" arises when a leader uses mass media creating idealized/heroic public image)
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To: Crusher138

We’ve always kept CHRISTmas low key. Usually just a couple gifts for each of the kids. I spent half of this year unemployed and will start a new job living out of state and apart from the family in two weeks, so I’ll be driving home just in time to celebrate.


22 posted on 11/05/2009 5:48:13 AM PST by cyclotic (Boy Scouts-Developing Leaders in a World of Followers.)
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To: jennyjenny
IMHO, Christmas has been changing over the lat few years.

We buy all year long now. Years ago, Christmas was a rejuvination of a wardrobe and that one special gift.

The theme was always "It's for the kids" and it is...some parents are starting to come to their senses about spending hundreds for the kids.

23 posted on 11/05/2009 5:48:13 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: Crusher138

Cash for the daughters for new business suits (It constantly amazes me what a womans professional business suit costs). Small gifts for my nieces and nephews (normally some tech item as I am on the bleeding edge of technology ;-))not to exceed $100 each. Food for the extended family get together (Out of the 4 kids in the extended family - only two of us have “real” jobs)and lastly some last minute panic item for my wife (I have a friend that makes very special cutting boards out of “end grain”).

Get correct views of life, and learn to see the world in its true light. It will enable you to live pleasantly, to do good, and, when summoned away, to leave without regret. - Robert E. Lee


24 posted on 11/05/2009 5:49:14 AM PST by Patrsup (To stubborn to change now)
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To: mom4melody
The little kids and grandbabies are getting some toys, PJ’s and books.

This economy is going to be the hardest on the little kids. Adults understand what's going on, but the kids don't.
Little kids like security things, even though they don't seem to get overly excited about them at first. Eventually, the security items will become their favorites.
Home made quilts are great. They don't have to be fancy. Just make them with the kids old clothing. They'll relate to it. They'll feel safe with it.
Kids like candy. It's not that good for them, but it's temporary for the holiday anyway.
To a kid, quantity seems more important than quality. Small dollar store items in Christmas stockings will fool them every time.

25 posted on 11/05/2009 5:52:10 AM PST by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal")
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To: Crusher138

My plans are to enjoy being home again for the first time in a while, without the threat of leaving (unless I find a job that isn’t telecommuting.)
Gifts to be gotten:
My Father: He’s will be happy enough with the fact that I’ll hopefully graduated college, and he gets a raise :D. And a pair of homemade pajamas pants.
Mother: Slippers
Brother: A new pair of homemade pajama pants.
Grandmother: Slippers


26 posted on 11/05/2009 5:52:33 AM PST by Toki
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To: Crusher138

We’ve changed our gift-giving big time over the last couple of years and this year will be the same. I have a very large Irish Catholic extended family. Tons of siblings, aunts uncles, cousins, etc. We draw names out of a hat and buy one gift(under $50) for one member of the family. The only people getting multiple gifts are my own kids.

We’ll do a big pot-luck dinner the day after Christmas, exchange gifts and drink some holiday cheer.


27 posted on 11/05/2009 5:52:49 AM PST by strider44
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To: strider44

We have had slimmer CHristmases the last three years.

But we get sort of a theme. One year it was “homemade”, one year it was warm apparel. One year handbags for ladies/sweaters for men.

THis year I am thinking either kitchen or things you need but can’t make yourself buy that are cheap,,ahah.

I need better bathtowels, like two big ones and can’t bring myself to shell out. An extra set of king sheets. A new electric toothbrush. Socks!! That kind of stuff.

It is our “the economy is crashing Christmas”


28 posted on 11/05/2009 5:56:32 AM PST by cajungirl (no)
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To: HighlyOpinionated

Oh my, what a great idea! To start giving away my stuff that I know my kids want.

I have a big collection of ivory handmade scrimshaw jewelry, just gorgeous from antiquie ivory and set silver, pendants, pins. Cats of all kinds on ivory and the kids drool over them. I have given away pieces to special people over the years but the girls mightlove those. I am giving away my silver to one daughter and have so much that another will get it.

And crystal,,I don’t use the damned stuff anymore and the prices are out of the sky. I hate to handwash it and use it once a year,,maybe this year I will wrap it up and china!!

All the things we routinely got as brides and now the kids cannot afford. And I don’t use and why wait to die, rather see them love it now.

And my grandfather’s tools, old 18th century stuff,,the grandsons might love, they love carpentry. ANd great great granny’s bonnet and my grandmothers only silver spoon left, she lost her husband and saved one spoon, a big serving spoon. I use it every CHristmas and think of her and tell her story to the children.

You have opened up a great world for me!!!! And what fun to tell the stories and know they will pass on to the next generation.

My grandson who is 14 saw hubbys turntable from when we got married. He spent what was a huge amount of money on it and he didn’t know what it was!!! Surely some kid would love a turntable and a good collection of records.

They all have kindles so I am afraid the book collecting may end this generation.

THanksFor the idea!!!


29 posted on 11/05/2009 6:06:04 AM PST by cajungirl (no)
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To: Crusher138

I plan on wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah.

We have already decided there is no money for presents for us or anyone though we will make our annual donation (though much smaller) to a local charity.

Please, wish Mr. G good luck on his job interview this morning.


30 posted on 11/05/2009 6:07:46 AM PST by bgill (The framers of the US Constitution established an entire federal government in 18 pages.)
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To: cajungirl
It is our “the economy is crashing Christmas”

Exactly. My entire family comes to our house for Christmas dinner. I usually serve a large ham. Not this year. It's going to be turkey I find on sale after Thanksgiving.
We grow just about everything else (fruits, vegetables), so that's free. All it takes is a little elbow grease. We even grow our own nuts (hickory, and black walnut for baking). We froze our extra eggs already.
I do have to by flour for pies and cookies, though. This year, I'm going to wait to buy it on sale somewhere ( a penny saved is a penny earned).

31 posted on 11/05/2009 6:08:01 AM PST by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal")
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To: Crusher138

Gift limits lowered. Sewing gifts, especially for the kids. Coupons, sales, rewards, really watching for bargains. Might try e-bay. The adults and some of the older children on one side of the family have drawn names for awhile anyway.

Since we’re on a fixed income, with no children, I’d like to get out of giving gifts to in-laws kids. Husband insists not only on gifts, but that we “not be cheap.” Sigh.


32 posted on 11/05/2009 6:08:57 AM PST by madison10
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To: Crusher138

I make DVDs of all the pictures we take throughout the year of family gatherings and set them to music. We have given these to our siblings, parents, nieces, and nephews for a few years now and everyone looks forward to them. It doesn’t cost a lot of money but does take some time to put them together. It’s a labor of love and at our Christmas get together we put a copy in and let everyone watch on the big TV. It’s fun to relive the events of the past year as a family.


33 posted on 11/05/2009 6:13:17 AM PST by morans14
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To: Crusher138

Probably donate to Operation Call Home for the troops.

http://www.590klbj.com/community/OperationCallHome.aspx


34 posted on 11/05/2009 6:15:58 AM PST by Arrowhead1952 (Jimmy Carter - now the second worst POTUS ever. BHO [the LIAR] has #1 spot in his sights.)
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To: cajungirl

Your great-great grandmother must have a heck of a story.

why not write down what you know of it, maybe with some Xeroxes of relevant documents (if any survived) and make a little book of it (several copies) and give that for presents?

With photoshop and self-printing you can do a nice cover.


35 posted on 11/05/2009 6:17:36 AM PST by squarebarb
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To: cajungirl; HighlyOpinionated
What a great idea!

CG, you are most fortunate your children have expressed an interest in your family treasures. I refer to the kids of today as the "throw-a-way" generation. They tire of stuff easily.

I think passing things on before we are gone is a great idea because we can feel the joy they get from receiving it especially from someone they love.

Maybe you can find a special person who would so appreciate your turn table and albums?

sw

36 posted on 11/05/2009 6:22:16 AM PST by spectre (Spectre's wife ) (O no you can't)
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To: cajungirl
ANd great great granny’s bonnet

I have a picture of my great-granny carrying a cane fishing pole down by the river. You can't see her face at all for her bonnet but the bonnet is how I remember her. Thanks, I needed that memory this morning.

37 posted on 11/05/2009 6:23:15 AM PST by bgill (The framers of the US Constitution established an entire federal government in 18 pages.)
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To: Migraine

I do it all the time - senior moments.

;-)


38 posted on 11/05/2009 6:24:35 AM PST by tgusa (Gun control: deep breath, sight alignment, squeeze the trigger ....)
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To: concerned about politics
It's going to be turkey I find on sale after Thanksgiving.

Why wait? Yesterday, I was in our local Wal*Mart Supercenter and they had Riverside Turkey on sale for 40 cents a pound. (Limit 2) My 14 pd Turkey cost $5.60!

sw

39 posted on 11/05/2009 6:29:11 AM PST by spectre (Spectre's wife ) (O no you can't)
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To: bgill

They had some serious bonnets,,went down the back of the neck, cotton, about 200 years old. Guess that is why they had great skin. My mother had skin like a 20 year old when she died at 84,,never in the sun at all, wore hats, before days of good sunscreen too.

I love those old stories. wish I had the gun my grandfather shot a man with, on Main street, killed him and everyone applauded. He had threatened him one too many times. This was rural south when you didn’t shoot off your mouth about killing peopld and there were none of the crap you have to do here now when people threaten you. Dont know where the gun went but it was a shotgun.


40 posted on 11/05/2009 6:35:13 AM PST by cajungirl (no)
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