Hey all you readers!
Thanks for all the comments, I love getting them and seeing how what I write gives you ideas or just makes you think.
The title of this entry I thought of on a whim i must say, but after typing it it got me thinking. How would one go about having an expensive Christmas on a small budget? Ah..I got it. You don't have to get it now, but by the end I hop e you have some sort of idea.
The economy is in the crapper, we all should know this, even if we are a bunch of hermits who live at the top of a mountain. It has reached everyone in all types of media; newspaper, radio, internet, television, word of mouth.
How do you have an expensive Christmas on a small budget? Easy. You first have to figure out what is important to you. Is that new electronic gadget, you know the computer that is small enough to fit in your pocket that is also a gaimng system, a gps, a phone, connected to the interent, a cable television, and a robot all in one? Do you actually need it? How have you gotten along without it your entire life?
You have to decipher the need from the want. In a classical christmas carol, there is a song that says "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" What the person doesn't know that in about four weeks from losing your teeth that new ones will actually appear.
What do you need? What do you want? The answers should differ from each other. Try asking all the people that you are buying for what they want and what they need. Ask them what they want first. They should respond by listing of material objects, or a simple I don't know. Then ask them what they need, some will be shocked, some will be true and answer your questions, some will answer the same as what the want, and some will not know.
If you aren't sure what to get them, make them something.They will appreciate it.
No idea what to make..here's my list for you...
1)Try knitting them something. Check out the Knifty Knitter website. I use it. It is a basic loom that you wrap and weave all together. Check your local craft store, most have them in stock. Michael's even had a set of four costing seven dollars which is a good deal!
2) Coupons...I know this sounds corny. Example..Good for one free night of babysitting...or Good for one night with the kids at grandma's...for a special night...(oh you get the point)
3) Homemade cards
4) a picture frame.. customize it...to make it from you, not a gift you bought at a store for them.
5) cookies...hey the big guy himself wants milk and cookies..,make them yourself don't go and buy them at a store and put them on a plate and call them your own.
5) You...yet again I know this sounds corny, but most people want to spend time with their loved ones over the holidays.
Remind yourself the true meaning of Christmas...
Things to do with your family to make it an "expensive" christmas..one you'll never forget
1) Put up the tree together
2) Bake cookies, make enough to deliver to some people
3) Volunteer at a soup kitchen
4) Watch Christmas movies
5) Read Christmas stories
6) Go caroling..so what if you can't sing..there will be jokes and memories to last you a while :)
7) Be together
8) Play games
9) Cook Christmas dinner as a family
10) Attend a Christmas Eve/Day church service
How to use a small budget...well you may just have to figure that one out yourself....
:)
Good suggestions
I'm always amazed at how little I spend on putting together Holiday feasts. The grocery stores practically give away the food. I always end up with at least one extra turkey, ham and prime rib in the freezer because the prices can't be beaten. It is important to read the grocery store adds and perhaps visit more than one store to get the best deals. And often if you invite people they insist on bringing dishes to contribute which spreads out the cost. It is by no means the cheapest meal you'll cook during the year but it is not too bad. Particularly when you consider how many meals of leftovers you get and spread the cost over them.
I really don't like a lot of the stuff that centers around Christmas. I'm not religious and the secular version of Christmas mainly seems to be mostly about spending too much money. But I do like the feasting part and I tend to treat the Holiday like a repeat of Thanksgiving only better. The best part is being with family.
We have certain family tradition meals that we have been doing for decades that cost very little and are family oriented.
For Christmas Eve dinner we make homemade ravioli. I'm not Italian but I love homemade pasta. But it is a huge production which makes it a perfect thing to make once per year with the whole family helping. It costs practically nothing. Flour, eggs, cheese and a little bit of whatever you stuff it with. The family get involved in the assembly line kneading, rolling, stuffing, cutting and crimping. It's fun and it is a treat.
On Christams morning, after opening stockings but before opening presents under the tree we make Eggs Benedict and some gourmet coffee that Santa always seems to bring. Again it is a very cheap thing. Muffins, eggs, butter, and some ham sliced off the main event to be eaten later in the day. It is again kind of a production. For example one person has to be dedicated to stirring the Hollandaise Sauce constantly and another person toasts and butters muffins and so and on.
And then of course there is the main feast. We usually cook ham but sometimes we go with turkey and occasionally roast prime rib. The latter is considerably more expensive but good.
I made a lot of my gifts this year. I ripped my DVD collection to DIVX format and burned copies for my family. DIVX movies play on video capable IPODS, ZENS, Zunes, smartphones, etc.