Skinny Christmas

When I was small I had no idea that we were "lower middle class" (or poor according to my classmates). I thought we had a great life! Of course as I got into the Tween/Teen years I realized what our situation was really like.

Well, now I find myself in that same situation as my parents. Christmas FAST approaching and little money to go around. So what can I do to help my children have a good Christmas in this age of Want-Want-Want? Buying some items early and on sale has helped but I still feel like the tree will have an empty bottom.

My children are like other kids, always asking for the most expensive items in the store, drooling over commercials between the SpongeBob and Avatar cartoons, wanting the same things their friends bring to school.

I tell them frequently, not just at Christmas time, that THINGS are not what make us happy. For examples I will remind them of the toys they begged for that they no longer play with, of hamsters that I have to remind them to feed, water and clean their cages and of the dogs they won't play with at times. A gentle prodding is usually all it takes. And my children are good, thoughtful kids . . . most days.

My 11 year old son ALWAYS insists we put something in the Salvation Army bucket as we leave WalMart. And when I say always I mean always - even to the point of helping me look through my purse for some loose change. He is the most sensitive of my children to the needs of others. This Christmas he is getting a new bike, which we got on sale at WalMart for $40, a Bionicle figure, the King Kong movie and a homemade pillow. I know he will be content with these gifts even if it isn't everything he asked for.

My 9 year old daughter, however, is quickly becoming a material girl. I can see that I will need to give her extra lessons in the needs of others over the wants of self. We have for her a DVD player, on sale at WalMart for $30, a Bratz movie she has been drooling for, a doll of some kind, and a homemade pillow. She will need some comforting after this Christmas. Suggestions on this one would be greatly appreciated!

My 13 year old son is a step-son, my husband's from a previous marriage. He will get all he asks for from grandparents that think he can do no wrong. My husband and I have discussed this with his mother and she feels as we do that he doesn't need to get everything he asks for but she has her hands tied because of some other issues. He is a good boy, don't get me wrong. But he is by far the most advanced at the "I Want That" game. For Christmas this year he will be getting some new shoes, 2 new pair of jeans (which I may get from the second hand store since new ones look like old ones anyway - spray starch will make them feel new and he will never know the difference), and he will get a game card for one month of on-line play for a computer game he enjoys playing. He is old enough to understand the difficulty we are having and I think he will like these gifts. Oh, he is also getting a homemade pillow.

My 15 year old daughter is a shared child, mine from a previous marriage. Her father is good at making sure she has the Wants for Christmas. She is also very good at knowing the financial strain that can happen at this time of year. She is a great kid that enjoys staying home and spending time with her momma doing crafts, painting our nails or trying new hairstyles. This year she is getting a book from her favorite author, WalMart $10. A hairstyling thing that will straighten her hair, a music CD, some clothes and a homemade pillow.

All of my children will receive gift cards from my Mother and 2 sisters that live in Florida. Not as exciting as opening a package - but they will get what they want because they will be buying it themselves. The gift cards I get as gifts from them will be opened early and used to purchase items for my kids to fill their stockings and to equal things out between the 4 of them.

I have $100 exactly to last me until payday next Thursday (9 days away and 3 days before Christmas) so if you have any ideas to offer I would enjoy hearing them.

Thanks for reading and may we all remember why we celebrate this season - not for the gift getting but for the give we've been given - Jesus.

4 Comments | Post Feedback

I think that you do a good job with what you got for money on gift giving. I, however, know you aren't that poor if you are shopping at Wal-Mart. You do have a wonderful son there too. The dollar store is for people who are truly poor and having a skinny Christmas. My niece is like your daughter. She is a material girl to the max and she is only 5 y.o. What I did when she demanded the Bratze Doll with blonde hair. I went to a dollar store and looked for the knock off look-a-like doll. I got her and my other niece one. Then I got the one y.o. in our family a small Dora the Explorer doll only because she is 1 and would make a fuss. She loves the show and video that my sister rents for the little girl from the library. My nephews wanted something to do with Power Rangers, so I got them pens that looked like Power Rangers at the dollar store. My point is you are too materialistic yourself and wont shop elsewhere except Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is for the middle class not us poor when it comes to Christmastime. Your children follow the only example they have which is you. Start changing your habits and they will too. Oh I know you love Christmastime as do your children. Just love them for what they can be in the future and in the present. Especially that charitable son of yours, and may your family have a Merry Christmas.
Tanya

But I never claimed to be Poor - I said that my classmates called me poor - I classified myself as "Lower Middle Class" ($30,000/year and 6 people in the family isn't exactly rich).

And the only things marked as being from WalMart are the ONLY things purchased at Walmart. My gorcery shopping is done at a Save-a-Lot and household items such as cleaning supplies and paper products come from Dollar General. The items I listed like the music CD's and clothes all came from a local Thrift store.

Thank you for the post and thank you for reading and especially thank you for wonderful comments on my son, he truely is a blessing among my blessings.

If I read right, you want to make it look like there is more under the tree.
Put everthing in larger boxes with newspaper stuffing.

I know that it is past Christmas, but i have a suggestion for the future. If your daughter likes books, even if it is a newer one, search the internet for used. I have gotten a few books on half.com that look brand new for half off or more. You could do this for the dvd's and cd's also.

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