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No Christmas this year, suggestions
November 17, 2015 at 5:34 pm
So part of the reason I was gone for three weeks was dealing with a serious family crisis that I don't want to get in to right now, but as a result of this, we find our selves this year in a serious financial hardship. We have never been big on gifts because we have a large family and we also do a lot in the community with giving and fostering relationships with those less fortunate, but this year we find ourselves in a unique situation of not being able to afford any gifts of any kind for anyone. Normally each child will get one big gift (usually $50) and maybe a few small gifts and then we reveal our family vacation for the following year. This year, none of that will be happening.
I'm looking for some suggestions of things we can do to replace that "Christmas magic" that our kids normally associate with the visit from Santa. In a way I think this is a good thing because we do so much as a family for those that are without, that now the kids get to sort of experience being without. We still have our basic necessities, but this year there won't be presents under the tree and that will be new for them. I'm not concerned with how they will take it, because they don't ask for much. Just curious if anyone has some ideas.
We still plan on caroling, working at the food bank, donating our old coats and shoes to the clothing drives etc.
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RE: No Christmas this year, suggestions
November 17, 2015 at 5:38 pm
Why not festivus all is like christmas but you are giving and getting presents like christmas.
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RE: No Christmas this year, suggestions
November 17, 2015 at 5:38 pm
(This post was last modified: November 17, 2015 at 5:39 pm by Alex K.)
That really sucks, but if you will spend time doing some charitable work together, that might just be the most memorable christmas they will have for a while!
But that being said, I'd be happy to chip in for a gift for your kids if there's a way.
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RE: No Christmas this year, suggestions
November 17, 2015 at 5:45 pm
(November 17, 2015 at 5:38 pm)Quantum Wrote: That really sucks, but if you will spend time doing some charitable work together, that might just be the most memorable christmas they will have for a while!
But that being said, I'd be happy to chip in for a gift for your kids if there's a way.
Oh no no, that's not necessary at all. I think we will really step up our charitable work this year to really emphasize the point that it is better to give than receive. Some ideas I liked were making cookies and delivering them to local police and fire stations, go to a local coffee shop just to buy someone else's coffee, plan a family adventure day.
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RE: No Christmas this year, suggestions
November 17, 2015 at 5:46 pm
Sounds great...
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RE: No Christmas this year, suggestions
November 17, 2015 at 5:57 pm
As a child, when we were on the outs we gave personal possessions away (gave my sister my music stand, got my grandpa's bolo tie from my dad), gave time/talents to each other away (i.e. I'll spend a week teaching you swimming) or made things. Stuff like that. It's not the gift but the thought, but I'm sure you know that.
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RE: No Christmas this year, suggestions
November 17, 2015 at 6:03 pm
(November 17, 2015 at 5:57 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: As a child, when we were on the outs we gave personal possessions away (gave my sister my music stand, got my grandpa's bolo tie from my dad), gave time/talents to each other away (i.e. I'll spend a week teaching you swimming) or made things. Stuff like that. It's not the gift but the thought, but I'm sure you know that.
Yeah we are on the same train of thought MH. Really just driving home the giving and charity. My kids aren't really in to the "consumerism" mentality anyway, so I don't think this will be particularly difficult for them. They always look forward to the reveal of the family vacation. This year, we are just going to say we have not decided on it yet. You never know we may be able to plan something a bit lower scale so i don't want to say it isn't happening.
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RE: No Christmas this year, suggestions
November 17, 2015 at 6:10 pm
(This post was last modified: November 17, 2015 at 6:11 pm by Athene.)
If you break down and feel like you must get the kids something, you could go to a Dollar store and buy them each a few of things. I used to consider doing that when my kids were younger, because most of their toys would be broken or lost within a week or two anyway. Sometimes within days.
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RE: No Christmas this year, suggestions
November 17, 2015 at 6:24 pm
What about a day where everybody draws or crafts a gift for another family member? Kind of like a secret santa, but without spending any money. Then everyone would have a gift on Christmas, but no one would have to spend any money to do so.
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RE: No Christmas this year, suggestions
November 17, 2015 at 6:25 pm
(November 17, 2015 at 6:24 pm)MentalGiant Wrote: What about a day where everybody draws or crafts a gift for another family member? Kind of like a secret santa, but without spending any money. Then everyone would have a gift on Christmas, but no one would have to spend any money to do so.
I like it. 
We are not made happy by what we acquire but by what we appreciate.
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