I’m Cutting Back This Year
December 16, 2008 by Karen Weideman
Filed under Christmas
Each year I spend hours and hours decorating the Christmas tree, buying and wrapping presents, and getting Christmas cards made. I get the kids dressed up and have hubby take pictures of them in front of the tree so that I can take the photo to Sam’s to have cards made.
I used to buy presents for ALL of the family members. This included all of the aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, etc. Over the past few years, I have cut back quite a bit and only buy for the immediate family and the children in the extended family. This year I am cutting back even more.
We just moved to a new area last week. I’m still busy cleaning, unpacking, and organizing our home. In addition to this, our previous home hasn’t sold. As you can imagine, this is a big financial strain. Because of the stresses of moving, as well as our financial situation, I am making some big changes.
We won’t be home for Christmas so I have decided NOT to put up a tree. This was a huge decision for me because I really enjoy having a tree. I like to look through the ornaments and reminisce as I hang them. I also know that my kids enjoy having a tree. This decision won’t change, unless I find a good deal on a small 3 foot tree.
I have also decided not to send out Christmas cards. I’ve been sending out cards for about 14 or 15 years. I’ve gone back and forth on this decision and I’ve just decided that it’s too much.
I can help but to feel a bit guilty for these cut backs, but I feel that they are necessary. How about you . . . Are you cutting back any this year?
We only get presents for our son and his first cousins.We also didn’t put up a tree this year,we used our two new kittens as an excuse:)
I use email for most cards and only write to those that don’t have email.
Its tough but we will finish our mortgage in april 2010 if we can stay like this.
Last year was our first year with a kitten. Good thing we had an artificial tree or she certainly would have knocked over a real one.
I’ll be emailing out our Christmas wishes this year too. Perhaps I can send out a snapshot of the kids too.
Congratulations on your mortgage. That’s awesome!
I think it’s OK to not send out cards for one year. You can always do an email update with a cute photo. Do what you need to do. I think people are cutting back on XMas cards this year. So far I’ve only received one XMas card whereas in past years by this time I usually had a dozen or so. I decided to send out cards this year but set my budget limit at $60 for postage and cards. But I’m definitely cutting back in other areas. Gifts mainly, as I’m doing all handmade knit items, canning (jams and mustards,) peanut brittle and fudge. Most things I buy I’m trying to do handmade. I’ve found some amazing things at etsy.com.
I was nodding my head while reading your post, because we’ve decided to scale it back on Christmas this year as well.
Last year was the first year we didn’t send out Christmas cards (mainly because we hated our family photo that was supposed to go on the front!), but we decided not to send cards again this year because it saved all the time and work. I’ll just email out cards.
We’re also not putting up a tree for the first time- no room, no time, and a toddler with grabby hands. *sigh*
In a way it feels good to cut back, just to not feel the pressure of getting things done, but I don’t think we’ll do it every year.
Homemaker Barbi (Danelle Ice)
I think it’s okay not to tear yourself up over Christmas – it’s about time with your loved ones. Of course, having a tree is nice, decorating it is fun – but maybe you can help decorating it at the place you are spending Christmas at? It won’t be YOUR ornaments, but still…
Don’t feel bad – look at orgjunkie.com, Laura has gone through the same thinking. I think it’s a great idea to cut back and concentrate onto yourself! Have a wonderful Christmas!
Don’t feel bad!!! I buy boxes of cards from the $ tree…and well, I love love love sending & receiving cards, and my father, uncle, aunt & other uncle ALL work at the post office (the ‘other’ uncle works at night in the mail room-the rest are mail carriers)-and i’ve seen the punishments the postal service gets for everyone doing everything (paying bills!) online. This year, my father in law gave me a cataline (i think that’s what they’re called) coupon from a local grocery store-for a free set of photo cards from snapfish.com (my favorite site! haha)–so i used that, then used coupon codes to pay 1/2 price for the second set I needed, and that was it! …as for the tree…we gave away our artificial tree to a family that didn’t have a tree, and we paid $25.00 for a decent sized tree from a local nursery. I make ornaments, so that cuts those type of costs-I also give a ton of them away for presents. We’ve cut back on our christmas spending-but mainly b/c i’ve been catching all the great deals since July. It’s tough to do, so congrats to you for being so brave & holding to it!!