My Christmas Plans…

I said it last year and I will say it this year. H and I do not exchange Christmas gifts. * gasp *

H and I celebrate Christmas. We do.

We have turkey dinner, we decorate our condo with Christmas decorations that were purchased second hand, we drive around and look at all the done out Christmas lights, we go to the Christmas parade, we eat way too many baked goods and we play Christmas carols all of December!

But we don’t believe in the gift giving for the sake of gift giving.

We save our gift giving for birthdays. And even then, we always buy practical gifts. Things the other person actually needs or really wants but would never buy for themselves.

Like for my birthday H bought me $100 Merrell sandals that he knows I would NEVER think of buying myself, and they will probably last for years to come. He also bought me a tripod; I would never drop that kind of money on myself at one time. For H’s birthday, I bought him $100 work shoes and a brand new book, when we usually buy our books used.

I would rather spend TIME with H, making memories and taking pictures. Of course once we add children to our family, things will change.

If our families were closer to us, I am sure we would take them out for a nice dinner or something as our Christmas gift to them.

But that’s not the case, so here is what we are sending our parents…

H’s dad and step mom:

An 8X10 updated picture of H and I, which they can hang on their wall. Framed. And a handmade card.
Budget: $50

My mom and dad:

The same picture we’re sending to H’s parents, we will be sending to mine. I am also including a framed picture that I took of them and a handmade card. (I can’t wait to show you my handmade cards!)
Budget: $80

We will be sending handmade cards to friends and other family members. And my two close friends who live in the same town as myself, I will be taking either out for a lunch or dinner.

Yes those gifts may be cheaper than a kitchen appliance, but I think they have more meaning.

I had talked about taking a greyhound out to Saskatchewan in December to spend Christmas with my parents, but that’s not happening anymore. My mom is coming out to stay with us next week! I just saw my dad a few weeks ago and we will be seeing them in the New Year.

We all (parents included) decided that we have been so lucky to see each other many times this year – and saving the money for our wedding was a wiser decision.

What about you, what are your Christmas plans? Do you and your partner exchange gifts?

Frugal Dreamer on November 20, 2009 | Filed Under Family, Frugal Living, Gifts, Planning, Relationship, Shopping, Thrifting, Wedding

17 Comments

This Thrifted Life on November 20th, 2009

Jason and I used to buy each other a few small gifts, usually around $150-200 total. But last year we decided to save our money and just do stocking stuffers, and it was so much fun! I think we will be doing the same this year.

As for celebrating, this is our first Christmas in our own home so we will be hosting the holiday here. Lots to plan!

Annie on November 20th, 2009

I was going to make calendars this year, but it’s not going to work out (my photos aren’t what I was hoping for), so I’ll save that for next year. It’ll be cards for most people, a camera for D, and perhaps some gift certificates for a few friends (book tokens, mostly, $15 each or so). I’ve got my budget set out and I shouldn’t have a problem meeting it.

As for Christmas itself, I’ve no idea what I’ll be doing. Most likely will be spending Boxing Day with some friends which is always nice, but otherwise nice and quiet.

The Asian Pear on November 20th, 2009

I’m making a small box of cookies for Bear and mailing it to him. The funny thing is… The mail will likely cost more than the cookies! Oh well, it’s the thought that counts.

Lisa.waterstone on November 20th, 2009

Amen, sistah! Gifts that create memories always outrank “stuff”. Well, usually LOL

RainyDaySaver on November 20th, 2009

Mr. Saver and do give each other Christmas gifts, but with my birthday 2 weeks before and his 4 weeks after, we tend to budget. Should be interesting this year, because now that we’re married and our finances are combined, it won’t be too much of a surprise if he uses the debit card to pay for my present We’re probably going to limit gifts to $100. Doing grab bags for the rest of the family, besides our parents, which will help.

Marilyn on November 20th, 2009

Hubby and I don’t usually exchange gifts. Usually we set a price limit, go out and buy our own gift (almost always something practical) and then we announce to the other person that we bought X for ourselves for Christmas. Now that our children are getting older we may change that…or not. After all I doubt the kids will actually care if their parents are opening gifts.

Looby on November 20th, 2009

We don’t tend to go above $40 for anyone in our families, and we only give to a total of 8 relatives.
I make gifts for the female relatives which is included in the $40, this year it’s jewelry, last year it was knitted items.

I also make all the Christmas cards we send, usually about 40, and this year I am also making card sets as part of the family gifts.

For each other we give something small; either something funny or something wanted, about $15. Apart from that we go for a nice meal or a weekend away if we haven’t had a holiday that year; this year we are spending a weekend in Whitehorse.

Frugal Dreamer on November 22nd, 2009

You all have great plans!

It’s so nice to hear when people don’t jump the money-loving-Christmas bandwagon! It sure makes me happy!

Rina on November 23rd, 2009

I always felt obligated, you know? My sister and brother in law are quite a bit wealthier than we are and love to buy tons of gifts – we always felt like we had to keep up but couldn’t of course; so every year it was feeling stupid and not good enough after the in laws Christmas get together.

This year, with the purchase of our first house, we’re just expecting people to understand and quite frankly – I’m glad to have the excuse. Don’t get me wrong, we’re still doing the homemade Christmas basket idea like I mentioned on the blog – but that’s it.

Bravo to the both of you for being willing to forgo a typical gift giving holiday in order to further your long term plans!!!

Heather on November 23rd, 2009

My husband and I haven’t exchanged gifts in years, for either birthdays or Christmas. However, last year he surprised me with an automatic starter for my van, and this year I *think* I am going to surprise him with a Wii. As hard as we try, sometimes it gets hard to stay “strong” and not give in to the gift giving spirit!

Frugal Dreamer on November 23rd, 2009

Heather: I remember that from last year!! And then it kept breaking on you – is it still working?? LOL.

Gayle Herbert Robinson on November 25th, 2009

Usually my husband and I give each other neat stocking stuffers. We give real gifts for birthdays. Two years ago,he surprised me with a trip to Hawaii for Christmas, he found rock bottom prices for airline tickets. I don’t know how or where, but he found them and we had a wonderful time.

WellHeeled on November 25th, 2009

Hey there – found you through SS4BC blog.

I have to admit I love presents. So my bf and I definitely exchange presents for birthdays and Christmases. Sometimes we also get each other “just because” presents. We’re also going to Disney World for our first big vacation together this year… so I guess that’s a gift we’re giving ourselves. And what an expensive gift that is!

Jessie on November 25th, 2009

I’m with wellheeled – I love presents. Both the giving and the receiving of them!

I have no doubt that my boyfriend and I will spend a few hundred dollars on the other – and that’s 100% okay in my book (as long as we don’t use credit or go into debt to do it).

It makes us both so happy to be able to give

Frugal Dreamer on November 28th, 2009

Jessie & Wellheeled: I hear yah! Who doesn’t like presents? And you’re right Jessie, as long as there is no debt, there is nothing wrong with gift giving!!

Maybe next year H and I will do things differently! Who knows.

Slinky on December 7th, 2009

“But we don’t believe in the gift giving for the sake of gift giving.”

Neither do I, but I guess I have a different opinion of what that means. To me it means giving gifts only when you truly want to. Since I haven’t had any Christmases or birthdays where I haven’t wanted to get my fiance a gift, he always gets a gift. Now, my extended family I have talked into doing a name exchange to cut down on the other gifts I’m “required” to give. And with less people to gift for, I find I actually want to give gifts again. It’s rather nice.

However, we don’t give gifts for Valentine’s, Sweetest Day, or (usually) our anniversary. Everyday is a day to appreciate each other so we don’t feel the need for a special day. We do generally take the day as an excuse to lounge around the house and play board games or something else together all day.

Frugal Dreamer on December 7th, 2009

Slinky: What you wrote, is exactly my point. I would rather buy H a gift, randomly. Because it’s something he loves and wants and has no idea it’s coming!

Christmas, in my opinion, is just the same as any other commercialized holiday.

It’s not that I don’t want to buy H a gift, but I would rather spend my Christmas holidays making memories with H. And surprise him later on in the year with a gift.

But next year we might do things differently! This is just how we have done things for the past 4 years!