I lived with my grandmother growing up, seven of us, father killed in a car accident, mother too freaked out to stay. We never had a lot, but every Christmas, my Nan-na would go into hock to give us a huge day. The sun room off the living room held the tree and on Christmas morning it was filled to the brim with presents.
Of course, I never knew until I was older that she put everything on a credit card and then spent the whole next year paying it off. Every year I think of her and have tried to do the same for mine. But, this year the oldest is taking an MCAT prep course at UCLA for $1,600 and my daughter is a senior so we were out for her ring, senior stuff and homecoming etc...
This year I have to stick to it, my poor husband is stressed enough. So, my Christmas to him will be a smaller bill come January.
My Mom never bought on credit (or at least not credit as we know today). My Dad did and that caused some debates in our house, lol.
I don’t buy on credit (other than major appliances or car repairs).
Oh gosh. I know that feeling. My oldest is a senior now and even though most colleges have waived the application fee, all these things cost money. And now junior is taking the SATS, more money, and yearbook money is due ($100), etc.
Last year, my junior (then a soph) had to buy her ring. I paid the deposit but the rest was due early December so I borrowed it from my senior (then a junior). I was planning on paying her back but she said “don’t worry about it, you don’t have to pay me back.” So my oldest basically bought her sister her ring. My husband was adamant about paying her back but I said no...she offered and what a great gift the sisters shared. Oldest treated her littlest sister to the movies and lunch today. I think it’s wonderful. These are the things the kids will really cherish.
Congrats on the MCAT prep course, too. These are the things that are really important.
Funny thing, my husband is such a softie when it comes to this stuff. I’m usually the rigid one, counting pennies. But he also doesn’t know girls and all their accessories, etc. Anyway, he was at a lunch...at Prospectors(sp) - a bar/restaurant in this area, paid for by their client Verizon. So I call him, not knowing this, asking if I could order this gift and he’s “oh sure, just get it” so I immediately knew he had a couple. I call him on it and he tells me if there’s anything else I want to buy to do it now, lol. It was hilarious.
Joking aside, we really do have to cut back more so than we already do. We live within our means and it’s getting more difficult to do so.
That is just a touching and sweet story, thank you for sharing that. Your Grandmother sounds like one of a kind!