Christmas Gifts
As many of you know, DH has been unemployed for 2.5 years. Sigh. I make enough to cover our bills, child support comes out of his savings. There isn't a lot of room for extras. Instead of a million gifts this year, we decided to do something I saw online. Each skid will get:
Something you want
Something you need
Something to wear
Something to read
I like the idea of keeping it simple....the skids, especially the younger boys, get SOOOOO much stuff! Seriously, they have hundreds and hundreds of toys, it's insane. Plus, everything we get them has to go back on a plane, so the simpler the better.
There will be a few small things from Santa (think $5-$10 in value) and little stocking stuffers and that's it. The younger kids will each have one of their things as a "big" gift. For SS8, a backyard warrior ninja rope thing ($99) that BM and Stepdad can hang up in their backyard for them to play on. I'm all for physical activity outdoors that doesn't involve the ipad or nintendo for SS. SSstb7 will likely be a larger lego set. He also wants a magic set, but those are like $20.
All SDstb18 and SD14 want are clothes, but they did pick some out with me and sent a list from Brandy Melville (aka overpriced basics for stick thin girls lol)
DH and I are not doing gifts, but instead going out to a nice dinner when we are in Chicago for a wedding in December. I got him a pair of pants from "Santa" and got myself a cute dog ornament from "Santa"
- CBCharlotte's blog
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Comments
I have done "need, want,
I have done "need, want, wear, read" for years. Makes things sooooo much simpler
Good for you for changing it up - still can't believe it's been 2.5 years.. .
That's what I'd always
That's what I'd always done... but the last few years it's been a struggle to even get the "want" outta them... this year they're getting cash. As per their request.
Yeah - it is so much easier
Yeah - it is so much easier to pull off when they are little, that's for sure
There is something that also
There is something that also ties this to religion which is where I learned about it even though I'm not religious BUT you can tie it into that if you want.
Something you want, Something you need, And something you'll treasure. It's suppose to translate to the 3 kings gifts to baby Jesus.
Of course Gold = Treasure
I'm not sure about the rest but anyways
We do our best to do this at home too.
The kids are each getting 3 individual gifts, 2 gifts together (board games), a book, pjs and slippers. Then there are Santa's gifts which are in the stockings.
It really bothered me when the oldest asked for this one toy that was going to be her whole budget and just couldn't understand why she doesn't get everything she wanted / why there was a budget. BM may decide they need loads of presents but we'd prefer a few gifts we know they will like and play with.
I will add that it was going
I will add that it was going to be only 2 gifts each plus 1 to share BUT we got very lucky and found a lot of amazing sales. Everything in total including stockings was 200 which was our budget. We spread it out over the past 3 / 4 months.
We tried this for the first
We tried this for the first time this year. Made life so much easier! My shopping was done before Thanksgiving and everything is wrapped! I am going to relax this season! I just keep deleting all the sale ad emails without even looking.
Good idea to cut down for
Good idea to cut down for Christmas. It can get expensive.
I thankfully only have my BS to buy for and I don't worry about the skids or gskids. }:)
Is your husband ILL? Being
Is your husband ILL?
Being out of work for 2.5 years seems long for a man. Friends of my one sibling worked for a heavy hitter company for years. The company required a lot of traveling AND for them to live in large cities in Europe. That should tell you how they type of money this man was making. Anyway, he lost his job and was NOT out of work for 2.5 years let along 1
Hope he is ok and not dealing with an awful illness or injury,
About the Christmas Gifts...great idea.
He still has to pay child
He still has to pay child support even though he has been out of work? Seems harsh.
The list works well for the
The list works well for the SDs.
This year though SD13(stb14) beat me to it. So she's done.
SD11 doesn't want to do a list because she doesn't see the point.
She's just not as into the whole holiday thing this year I think. I got a gift card for her instead, then added a few things for DH to think about getting her and add to that some stocking stuffers and I'm done.
Hi CB. I was hoping your DH
Hi CB. I was hoping your DH got that one job. So sorry!
I hope Santa brings your
I hope Santa brings your husband a new job - one that makes him happy and pays the bills.
I love that you incorporate something to read into your list. Not many people still read or find it important. Whether it is a book or the kindle, it is important.