.
Yeah, no one ever sees that one comin'.
That’s the sad truth.
One last party before striking the iceberg?
Perhaps not the best financial decision, but that is a decision based upon optimism which is very much a Pro-Trump feeling.
I’m 82...We kinda over indulge our kids. I went to Dollar Store for my grandchildren...they never knew.
I live in NY State. We aren’t having our Christmas until Saturday, and I only give money and gift cards to my two sons. They are 59 and 54. I stopped buying presents for them many years ago.
More NYC gift spending...
Even physical volume books such as the popular Little Red Book by Mao and Das Kapital gift books. We aren’t going to recognize Manhattan soon.
How much spending for Kwanzaa?
December 26-Jan.1st. But everyone knew that.
New Yorkers are greatly and enthusiastically looking forward to these in 2026:
Ramadan (Month of Fasting)
Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
Islamic New Year (Muharram 1)
Ashura (Day of Atonement)
After Eid al-Adha ...Arbaeen.
Eid Milad un Nabi (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday).
.
“Christmas” for family here is Jan 24th....Dinner out for 13 and only small gifts, but then a family activity later in the summer that we pay for, ie Mariners game, white water rafting, etc.,
Christmas isn’t about spending or gifts.
The gifts the magi brought to Christ weren’t toys, they were the fragrant resins and materials used for His burial preparations.
for the family get together, there is so many we have a pool... everyone brings one gift and we pile them up in the center of the room White Elephant style...
Being a bachelor, I accumulate two pocket change piles-one on the kitchen counter, the other on the bathroom counter. I filled a box 10”x10”x10”. no clue how much the total was, but my niece’s kid was happy as a pig in sh*t when he opened that box!!
My whole family has a deal that all the gifts are to come from a thrift store. It’s great. I mean really. If we wanted something we would just buy it. Who ever said, “I really want a scented candle for Christmas.”
I have to confess though... this year almost everyone got a chihuahua because someone down the road just rescued a bunch from a puppy mill.
Well we did a vacation the week prior to Christmas. Paid for months ago. I felt kind of shitty in the lack of gifts this year, but it’s been an extremely challenging year for us and our business this year. We still have it better than a lot of folks.
To be fair we didn’t even put up decorations this year. We only had threes days before Christmas to do it. Said next year.
Yeah, wait until they see what Mamdani is going to charge them...especially if they live in the “Whiter” parts of town.
A lump of coal can be very inexpensive, especially if you buy in bulk. A couple hundred bucks will get you a lifetime supply for a large family.
AND heat your home if the Natural Gas and Electricity are shut off.
We are in NY- i always spend a lot on Christmas but i have plenty of savings and $$$ before i start....we also due the traditional Christmas Eve seven fishes dinner- which i’ve referred to as “the $1000 dinner” as its gotten so expensive...
This year??? I was less than $800...jonas crab claws, which are always a hit, have not increased $1 per pound in two years, we got great deals on shrimp and i have enough lobster left over to feed me for the next week...
My wife was also surprised when i came back from the local fish market on Tuesday how low the bill was comparatively...
We have four kids, one is married, another engaged. All adults.
I doubt we spent $350 on gifts.
We also took them and some of their friends and grandma out to dinner. Even that, our group of ten was just over $200.
We’re all packed into grandma’s house so it’s kind of tight.
They live in several states and have a great time with each other. That’s the good part. It’s usually the only time of the year we’re all together.
That's only 50 parents per state! I.e., this data is WORTHLESS BS without any statistical significance.
Our family stopped exchanging Christmans gifts several years ago and celebrating has never been better.
Not only do we save a ton of money every year, but the holiday is much less stressful.