Christmas is going to be lovely this year
I mean that with as much sincerity as possible. Last year we were in two-mortgage hell (one home on the market, another just moved into in hopes of a calmer, uninterrupted with house showings holiday) and pockets that were shorter than usual.
For my husband and I, well this meant nothing. We don't buy each other many gifts for the holidays anymore. We do buy gifts (of course!), but usually they are things for the home. The Combined Gifts is what we call them. Personal, individual gifts are saved for birthdays--since well, they are individual days, aren't they? But for our son (and this year an added daughter) it meant we needed to creative.
Santa was as kind as he always is for a kid that had kept his status on the Nice List. But Mom and Dad weren't so lucky. Not that we pile gifts on our son, but at 4 years old, he knows what he likes now. And that is almost everything. We wanted the holiday to be as special as it always was. We had to get creative. That we did.
Creativity came in the form of gift cards. We earn points with our main debit card and boy did we cash in on them. In fact, we cashed in them for Toys R Us gift cards for shopping for The Kiddo, and then found Home Depot cards to fill in for our gifts. Then we had Pier One and a few Best Buy and nationwide restarant cards for family members.
Now don't get your undies in a bundle, we didn't hand out cards on the Holidays (not that there is anything wrong with that. In fact, if you don't know what I like, hand me a gift card. I have no problem shopping for myself). We selected gift cards with a purpose. The first bieng, could we buy something there for a family member--the second, how many points did it take from our 3 year stash of spending points.
The creativity didn't end there. The Kiddo hand-made his gifts for Dad (and me) and the grandmas and grandpas. Not only was that reasonably priced, it was absolutely adorable. My mother (his grandma) has her painted coffee cup next to her every morning. Framed school pictures with a personal note are hung on everyone's walls. And well, he's proud to have created gifts.
This year, I hope we can still use a bit of that creativity. I mean we all know Christmas isn't all about spending money, commercialism, materialism, or any other 'ism you can find. It is about being with family. Celebrating. Love. But, I like to give too. And having one less mortgage to worry about (the more expensive one), makes life easier and less restricted. So, we're going to enjoy it this year. And stock up those spending points for the next time we might need a little help creating something special.
[Yes. I do realize it isn't even Thanksgiving yet and I am discussing Christmas. And gifts. But around here, I need to start Christmas shopping early. This year anyway. I have a newborn. Not to mention the growing holiday crowds which I am growing to hate. So bear with me. Please. At least I am not overhauling the blog in Christmas lights and decorations, right?]
For my husband and I, well this meant nothing. We don't buy each other many gifts for the holidays anymore. We do buy gifts (of course!), but usually they are things for the home. The Combined Gifts is what we call them. Personal, individual gifts are saved for birthdays--since well, they are individual days, aren't they? But for our son (and this year an added daughter) it meant we needed to creative.
Santa was as kind as he always is for a kid that had kept his status on the Nice List. But Mom and Dad weren't so lucky. Not that we pile gifts on our son, but at 4 years old, he knows what he likes now. And that is almost everything. We wanted the holiday to be as special as it always was. We had to get creative. That we did.
Creativity came in the form of gift cards. We earn points with our main debit card and boy did we cash in on them. In fact, we cashed in them for Toys R Us gift cards for shopping for The Kiddo, and then found Home Depot cards to fill in for our gifts. Then we had Pier One and a few Best Buy and nationwide restarant cards for family members.
Now don't get your undies in a bundle, we didn't hand out cards on the Holidays (not that there is anything wrong with that. In fact, if you don't know what I like, hand me a gift card. I have no problem shopping for myself). We selected gift cards with a purpose. The first bieng, could we buy something there for a family member--the second, how many points did it take from our 3 year stash of spending points.
The creativity didn't end there. The Kiddo hand-made his gifts for Dad (and me) and the grandmas and grandpas. Not only was that reasonably priced, it was absolutely adorable. My mother (his grandma) has her painted coffee cup next to her every morning. Framed school pictures with a personal note are hung on everyone's walls. And well, he's proud to have created gifts.
This year, I hope we can still use a bit of that creativity. I mean we all know Christmas isn't all about spending money, commercialism, materialism, or any other 'ism you can find. It is about being with family. Celebrating. Love. But, I like to give too. And having one less mortgage to worry about (the more expensive one), makes life easier and less restricted. So, we're going to enjoy it this year. And stock up those spending points for the next time we might need a little help creating something special.
[Yes. I do realize it isn't even Thanksgiving yet and I am discussing Christmas. And gifts. But around here, I need to start Christmas shopping early. This year anyway. I have a newborn. Not to mention the growing holiday crowds which I am growing to hate. So bear with me. Please. At least I am not overhauling the blog in Christmas lights and decorations, right?]
