tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post103060206757845223..comments2024-01-23T23:07:00.959-08:00Comments on GRACEful Retirement: Holidays in GRACElandGrace.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03557395027685855901noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post-80325354244233809362007-12-26T21:48:00.000-08:002007-12-26T21:48:00.000-08:00Hi Grace. I chanced upon your blog and I like read...Hi Grace. I chanced upon your blog and I like reading your posts especially your desire to meet your retirement targets. <BR/><BR/>The amount of gifts should really not matter among families and friends. As the cliche goes, it is the thought that matters. I have never given anybody an expensive gift more than $10 during Christmas. If I give an expensive gift, the giftee would likely match it, which may not really be beneficial as far as his/her financial situation is concerned or is his/her heart may not be into it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post-57491765186950797902007-12-08T15:10:00.000-08:002007-12-08T15:10:00.000-08:00I usually spend around $100 each on my children an...I usually spend around $100 each on my children and about half that on my grandkids. They are grown or teenagers. Sadly what they want/need the most is cash or gift cards. <BR/><BR/>This year, I will not be able to do that much. It's been a year of financial setbacks and I started budgeting/debt reduction plan last month. <BR/><BR/>This is my first time on your blog, but I will be back. We seem to have a lot in common.CindyShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07964312785053381447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post-58880665697307688352007-11-18T16:12:00.000-08:002007-11-18T16:12:00.000-08:00Hi Grace,I spend $100-200 dollars on Christmas but...Hi Grace,<BR/><BR/>I spend $100-200 dollars on Christmas but not even on family. We don't exchange gifts. That's not to say we won't cheat with dining out around the holiday season or buying each other gifts AFTER Christmas on Boxing Day sales (Canadian).<BR/><BR/>No, that money is for gifts for charity or family friends' kids who are less fortunate.<BR/><BR/>But I'd like to ask if you can ask to cut back from your sister. Do you really need a Coach bag every year?<BR/><BR/>I know it's tradition and she needs pampering but ask her honestly if she uses the gifts you lavish on her. <BR/><BR/>Heck, ask everybody whether or not they still use what you give them and is it practical.<BR/><BR/>It just seems to me you carry quite a burden on your shoulders.mariamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03519112491039807488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post-13080710675434871272007-11-18T12:21:00.000-08:002007-11-18T12:21:00.000-08:00Mia, Thank you (and everyone else so far) for the...Mia, Thank you (and everyone else so far) for the comment. I do realize that my budget is on the high end. My personal goal is to see that I stick to that budget and that I not incur any further debt for Christmas. So far, it's fascinating to see how far apart people are on what they spend, from Louise on the low, low side to sjean (who could easily be one of MY kids!). I'm hoping for more responses, just to see what the general spread is.Grace.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03557395027685855901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post-54781162847848679272007-11-18T09:59:00.000-08:002007-11-18T09:59:00.000-08:00I come from a solid upper-middle class background ...I come from a solid upper-middle class background and never, in all my 40+ years, has anyone in my family ever gifted $150+ in presents to one person! Yikes, that's a lot of money you're spending. I love my family, they love me - but we don't measure that love in dollars. And we would never expect anyone to acquire debt, or neglect paying down debt, in order to gift us. I love your blog Grace, but I was so shocked when I read your planned holiday budget - and strangely, since I don't even know you, it makes me feel nervous for you and worried. If you were my mom I'd beg you not to spend $ on me! In fact, my mom sends us small checks for our birthdays and xmas, but I never cash them - I don't know if she knows because she's never mentioned it, but she keeps sending the checks. Maybe it's time to sit down and have a talk with your children, if you feel the inclination at all. Just yesterday I totaled up my gift spending (I shop all year long) and it was around $700 for 14 people, including my parents and my 3 children. I might spend another $100 or so. Maybe next year you can start shopping in January so you can take advantage of the online sales and coupon codes?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post-13501171994073600172007-11-16T15:26:00.000-08:002007-11-16T15:26:00.000-08:00my budget this year is $200. I spend $40 on my par...my budget this year is $200. I spend $40 on my partner & my kids. $5-7 dolars on nieces and nephew and $20 on parents. I refuse to go into debt so that someone else can get a 5 minute thrill of opening a present.I buy chicken instead of turkey and just a few bags of lollies. I reuse old decorations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post-79612472815533402772007-11-16T05:53:00.000-08:002007-11-16T05:53:00.000-08:00I spend about $10-15 on each niece or nephew (I ha...I spend about $10-15 on each niece or nephew (I have 10) and sometimes my parents, siblings and DH and I exchange names. We didn't do this last year and it saved us $40 because we limit it to $20 each for the adults. We buy for DH's parents, brother and grandmothers and usually spend about $50 each - more than I really want to, but it balances out with the total that we spend on my nieces and nephews.<BR/><BR/>All in all, we try to keep our holiday spending to around $500 or less - total and that includes both of us and now, our daughter.<BR/><BR/>DH's parents spend probably $150 on each of us and we receive money from his grandmothers. <BR/><BR/>I don't like that Christmas has become so material, but I try my best to compromise the effect that giving and receiving gifts has on the true meaning of the holiday.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10255588378022247619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601819916630680133.post-48348962368394195452007-11-15T16:11:00.000-08:002007-11-15T16:11:00.000-08:00I spend about 50/person, a little more for the boy...I spend about 50/person, a little more for the boyfriend. My parents spend a lot more on us (adult children), last year we got $400 cash along with a couple hundred in presents. But we usually don't get the cash, it was a special year.Sashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04434047348572516843noreply@blogger.com