The Moderate Voice - Latest Comments in http://themoderatevoice.com/24912/24912/

Re: http://themoderatevoice.com/24912/24912/

GreenDreams — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:11:38 -0000

One year my mom sent me a card with a check in it. I chuckled and sent her one for the same amount. We laughed so hard, then agreed that the card is enough.

By mutual agreement with family and friends, we abandoned the commercial aspect of Christmas years ago.

Re: http://themoderatevoice.com/24912/24912/

jeff_pickens — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:10:18 -0000

Thank goodness for Amazon. Good book prices, free-shipping on orders above $25, and I don't have to drive to a mall. Other than that, the local bookstore or market in the town square to support those mom-and-pops who survive despite high rent and thankless regulations! Theirs is a labor of love, and they deserve some Christmas cheer despite the economy.

I agree with DLS, cash-basis low-footprint living is a worthy endeavor.

Merry Christmas all!

Re: http://themoderatevoice.com/24912/24912/

AustinRoth — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:47:12 -0000

About a 50% reduction here, but not all related to the economy. We also bought a couple of high-ticket items earlier this year we told our kids would affect the Christmas budget.

Re: http://themoderatevoice.com/24912/24912/

DLS — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:26:24 -0000

No spending plans here. Money is tight for me and for everyone else in the family, and the kids in our lives are all grown, anyway, and have come to view Christmas as we adults already do, that the Christmas gift tradition is meant for young (small) kids as well as abused and commercialized. I also face other, more important expenses that preclude Christmas gift spending. I'm also among the many who not only prefer cash-basis, low-footprint living, but who worry about the US economy.

Ho, ho, ho.

Re: http://themoderatevoice.com/24912/24912/

Manchester2 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:37:37 -0000

As a family, we'll spend about 20% less than last year. Christmas has never been extravagant with us.

Re: http://themoderatevoice.com/24912/24912/

pdg1066 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:58:38 -0000

I'm doing what I do every year, a lot of baking and making gifts. I also buy some things online, I hate going to the stores at Christmastime, really gets me out of the Christmas spirit. We also have made a few charitable donations. We are not too worried about the economy. My husband is a school teacher so his job is pretty secure. We also paid off the mortgage on our house about 3 years ago and are not planning on going anywhere. I work part time as a marketing researcher in real estate, and so far the market where I live is doing OK (San Antonio Texas). But I'm planning on looking into teaching at a local community college in the fall. We have always lived pretty frugally, so this is no big deal for us.