Expensive Christmas me thinks

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Good morning all...

Well just came in to put a bit of brunch on as the old girl will be home from being saved at church in a hour (depending on how long the nattering nannies babble out in the parking lot).

[ozzy72]

You want expensive Doug? Try being married to my missus

[ctjoyce]

How do we afford it? We don't have children. Its as simple as that, and the fact that I am the only mouth to feed, unless I'm taking my girl out. Things like car payments, insurance, etc etc become much easier when you aren't loosing 60% of your income to dependents. I would say between all my shopping for various people I probably dropped close to $1200, and didn't flinch.

It also helps that I file my taxes as a full time student (which I am) Therefore I get all my state and federal taxes back minus my social security deposits which makes my refund check very fat and happy.

Cheers
Cameron

[Sir_Crashalot]

Sometimes I think that it's all about how much a gift has cost. This year I spend less than 100 Euro on gifts and that's for almost the entire family. If they don't appreciate, their problem. I bought my wife a gold necklace with matching earrings for 70 Euro (at 50% discount), the small nephews some 2 Euro toys, my father and his girlfriend will get a big box of chocolates (which they happen to like) and the rest will get some small things too. It's about the idea of giving, not about the amount of money in the bank.

Crash

[ctjoyce]

Well this is very true. And personally I have never looked at a price tag when buying a gift. I just take what people have on their lists, and do my best to get them what they want.

Cheers
Cameron

[Vapour01]

Modesty, ever heard of that, Cameron?

[Sir_Crashalot]

If people (adults) come up with a list of presents they want, I ignore the complete list and buy something completely different and as cheap as possible. If children come with a list most of the time I'll buy something from that list. Luckily there are only very few lists in my family.

Crash

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Good morning all...

I think we have always been practical, the old girl buys all year round and makes a note if she hears someone needs or wants something throughout the year.
We share our funds so gifts are always from the two of us unless I purchase something special for someone or the old girl.

I don't use credit cards unless it is for fuel for the aircraft, repairs or we are travelling.  I hate being in debt and the bank does not make much interest off us.    

We laugh at the grandchildren because there is always an argument who gets the Sears Christmas Wish Catalogue first, I think it was like that with our children too and I still like to look at the toy section but don't tell anyone.  ;D
Actually I can spend hours in a Hobby Shop or Toy Section of a large department store looking at the model railroad units, models/kits and building sets.  
The old girl says I am still a big kid at heart and I guess I am.

I am the Grandpa they all love, yeah, you bet.  ;D
I start phoning our grandchildrens homes at 05:00 to wake them all up and tell them Santa Clause has been, I even phone our good friends and neighbours who have young children to let them know Santa Clause has been.

What we really like is seeing everyone on the computer and what they got Christmas Day, sometimes these electronic gizmos do come in handy I must admit.      

Well good luck on your last minute shopping everyone.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Fozzer]

...if you want a cheap, low cost, Xmas...

..spend it with "Tight-arse Fozzer"......!

You Bank Balance will be as full after Xmas, as it was before Xmas...

...trust me... ...!!

Paul....With a Very Happy Bank Manager!.... 8-)...!

[H]

Your Bank Balance will be as full after Xmas, as it was before Xmas...

"0.00" is still zero. Your suggestion is so tempting.

8-)

[TacitBlue]

I don't usually spend that much on it either. I try to get things that the person either needs or doesn't know that they want until they see it. I got my Dad a couple of DVDs (westerns) and an R/C helicopter. R/C flying has become our father/son thing, and this micro sized heli that I got for him ($80) is the ideal step up from the one he has been flying.

Actually, we've already done our gift-giving this year. He got me a drill press set-up for my Dremel tool. He was excited to see it work, so he gave it to me early.

*check out the drill press here.

[pepper_airborne]

Easy enough for me too keep it cheap, i just dont do anything about christmas, didnt even have had the time to worry about it deu too my filled school schedules. Although i'm abusing the vaction as an excuse to do a lot of biking.

[Wing Nut]

At the risk of sounding a bit self-serving, I never consider money when buying a gift.  I always have tried to make people say wow when they open a gift from me, even if it's a co-worker or someone from church I don't even know.  That doesn't mean I don't ever look at the price; if something is several hundred dollars, of course it's going to need thinking about.  But in example, Olivia is extremely interested in bugs, animals, nature, etc. while Alexander is interested in anything mechanical or anything musical.  The answer?  Olivia is getting a microscope while Alex is getting an RC car.

We also decided that rather than go ballistic on presents, we would limit it to six per child.  That means I only have to buy three for each, and so does Tammy.  It makes things much easier.

And for whoever was talking about how it's so great that they don't have to buy for kids, you are SO in the wrong.  The first time you see your child fall in love with a gift you've given them to the point where they won't put it down, you'll understand.  

It's not about money.  It's about caring for another person...

[Souichiro]

I always plan to get people thing that I like giving to them.... Mostly completely useless articles and gadgets..... My most expensive gift is a 40 dollar book for my sister while my cheapest are a few 5 dollar items.....I spent around 300 dollars this year in total ( for 7 people )

My family however went totally berserk.... though many of them are small gifts there are roughly 180 presents downstairs already and I suspect that's not even 50% of what we'll end up with after everyone arrives ( well be with 14 people)

And of course there is the 13 pound turkey afterwards

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Good morning, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to one and all.  

A gift is like love, it should come from the heart.    :)

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug